At Burning Man all the works of art, like our inhibitions, are on full display against the vast emptiness of the ancient dry seabed, known as the playa. Some artists are fortunate to get placement on the inner playa (and partial funding from Burning Man), near the camps of 65,000 burners. But out in the deep playa are some equally stunning works, waiting to be discovered. You can pedal your bike or hop on a mutant vehicle to get there.
What’s the best time to venture out on your
discovery mission? It depends. Some artworks are wonderful by daylight, though
they are hard to find in the dust. At night it’s easier to find some of these far out
pieces, their light or fire a beacon in the dark.
Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Here's a short list of my "hidden" favorites this year:
1. Sonic Runway by Rob Jensen. Way,
way out there in deep playa, I first saw this piece in daylight and loved its
minimal effect against the horizon. It’s nearly invisible by day.
At night, dazzling sound-activated LED lights make it a huge hit with burners.
2. La Victrola by La Victrola
Society. In the outer reaches of deep playa the mammoth Victrola plays soft
music and offers a resting spot for burners in a dust storm.
3. jack champions murder by jack champions
murder. This murder (flock) of 5 playa-scale crows inspires a range of
interactions. Even more bizarre, I saw a live crow walking nearby, the first
live bird I’ve ever seen on the playa. This work is high on the burner scale for
weirdness and humor.
4. TRASPARENZA by Andrea Greenlees.
More intimate in scale but a real gem, TRASPARENZA appears like delicate dusty lace
during the day. By night its light changes color and mood constantly.
5. Awakening by Ryan Elmendorf
and Nick Geurts. Though the colossal size of this sculpture makes it visible even
in the deep playa, it has a hidden surprise inside the head. The darkened
interior space contains a camera obscura.
6. Wittgenstein, Da
Vinci, Rachmaninoff by London Committed. A multi-sensory, participation piece, it’s covered
in images of knot designs by Leondardo da Vinci (da Vinci’s Workshop being the
theme of this years Burning Man), sayings by the philosopher Wittgenstein, all
set to music by Rachmaninoff. Inside are ropes and instructions for burners to
make their own knots, as they contemplate philosophy and listen to music.
7. Electric Renaissance, a Tribute to
Cadillac Ranch by Heliotropics. Even at nine feet tall, this piece might be
missed in the wide flatness of the playa. It’s CAD-like structure is quite
beautiful as you move around to view it. Note the Tesla body, a humorous nod to
the emergence of electric cars.
8. El Pulpo Mecanico by Duane Flatmo. This
longtime Burning Man favorite has no fixed location. As a “mutant vehicle,” it roams
the playa, jetting fire from each moving leg, warming up burners in the cool night
air.
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