Burning Man 2001,
aug 27th - sept 3 2001
http://www.mofo-records.com/bm2001/
I just spent the last week in my favorite city in the world. Black Rock City.
This city only lasts for 2 weeks out of the year. It has streets, a town center, 30,000 great citizens,
a medical center, newspaper, and tons of great art and clubs that rage all night. There are no vendors,
no exchange of cash and only friendly compassionate humans coming to enjoy art, music and each other. It is
impossible to describe burning man. You have to visit.
This year I traveled up with my friend terry in a truck loaded down lookin like the Beverly hillbilly's! We arrived on
Monday and scoped out a great location at 8:30 and Enlightment. Our friends streamed in over the week and our camped
swelled. We constructed to T Dome with great excitement. While it did not survive the 70 mile an hour winds by day 3,
it was a great attempt. It is better to try and fail, than not to try at all. Next year we are much wiser. The conditions
at burning man can be 100 degrees or 40 degrees and winds can tear your camp to shreds. but its all part of the challenge.
http://www.mofo-records.com/bm2001/
Terry and I enjoyed the first days in the week exploring burningman. the art was outstanding and the clubs were rocking.
if you can imagine the biggest club, in the desert, with the best sound system, with the best dj, with the coolest people,
in the craziest costumes, in the most extreme environment, all for no monetary gain. just for the music. then multiply your
vision by 50 clubs just like it all with different themes and no less effort put in. that is burning man at night. Glow in
the dark dinasours, art cars, bonfires,hundreds of fire twirlers and dome clubs.
One awesome art installation this year was the Mausoleum. This structure was built for a young man who was lost to suicide.
The artist built it in several weeks and as you can see by the pictures it is amazing. Very intricate. Also, each piece of
wood has messages written on them by people during burning man this year. messages to others we have lost, or notes to
ourselves, or things we want to leave behind. The power of this exhibit was amazing. you could not pass within the walls
without crying. I have lost a girlfriend in college to suicide and was completely moved. the silence inside, is only
broken with the power of all the messages inside. they seem to cry out with thousands of voices when you walk through.
These messages only exist until the structure will be burned on Sunday night, as all art at burning man will. This fleeting
temporary art is the nature of burning man. Wow. The burn itself was Saturday night and was outstanding. the energy is
intense and the vibe insane. again, you really can't describe it so i won't try.
Sunday the rest of the art is burned and we had a great ride in a cool art car. some other highlights of burning man:
walking up to a full on gourmet spread at a random camp (and being invited to join)
The Alien Lounge
an insane goa-sci-trance session
being able to say hello to anyone and get a hello back maybe more
energetic compassionate and wonderful people. all of them.
music, art and friends
Camp Chubby
The 14 hour adventure getting to Black Rock City with T.
Scoping out our plot of land
Pre party with terry and meeting our neighbors
Setting up the T-Dome (Yeah!)
Welcoming all our friends
Jammin out at pinky's on those long hot afternoons to my favorite DJ - HUGO!!!
Eating and drinking
The Mausoleum. Very moving.
The BURN!!! WOAHHH!!! Glad we all hooked up.
Impromptu House party back at camp with all our neighbors
Stumbling around in a white-out and finding the mausoleum after all.
Standing on the Catherine's car for the burning.
hot sex in surround sound exhibit out on the playa.
Riding around the playa in Catherine's art car!
Jim's guitar playing with my snoring as backup singer.
Goodbyes to new friends
Hope to see more people come out next year.
And to Camp Chubby Campmates - you all rule!!
With a sad goodbye to ann, I flew off to frankfurt from San fran and was lucky enough to fly right
over pyramid lake and the PLAYA! it was awesome!
Here is a link to some other really great photos of burning man this year!
http://www.weinberg.net/bm2001/
Arrived in munich and am now headed to budapest to meet my mother.
Take care all!
maitland
