Playa Time: Dust to Dust

Dust to Dust further illustrates the ethereal nature of Burning Man. this time lapse directed by Matthew Goodman adroitly paints the picture of Burning Man.

Steve Jobs

Returning from Burning Man this year, I was delayed due to the brakes failing on the truck I had recently purchased. That led to an encounter far more interesting than driving with no brakes 87 miles from Black Rock City to Fernley, Nevada fully loaded, towing a 4,500 pound mutant vehicle.

During my sojourn, I stopped near Reno to rest for the night before driving over the Sierra. The hostess, who I’ve known for ten years, of the fine restaurant where I ate that night, introduced me to the Vice President/General Manager of the hotel/casino, John Jandali. Mr Jandali is an 81 year old who immigrated from Syria in the 1950s. He is responsible for the dramatic turn around and success of the hotel/casino where we met. More remarkable is the story behind this man. Before I divulge that, I spent an hour talking with him about Burning Man. He had the impression many people have that Burning Man is all debauchery and weirdness. He was astounded and delighted to learn that Burning Man is managed as non-profit corporations. He was fascinated and intrigued with how it is produced and the culture it has spawned.

Here is what I learned about Mr. Jandali. He fell in love with a woman in Wisconsin where he worked at the time. She became pregnant with his child. Her father would not allow them to marry because he did not want his daughter to marry an Arab Muslim. She was forced to give up the baby for adoption. Years later, after the woman’s parents passed away, she married John Janaldi and she eventually died. The baby they gave up for adoption, was Steve Jobs.

Apparently, Steve Jobs never acknowledged his biological father, saying that his adoptive father was his father.

Every computing device I have used since 1984, has been an Apple. Hail Steve Jobs! Thank you John Janaldi.

Temple of Transition 2011

This video exemplifies the beauty and power of the Temples created at Burning Man.

Home…

This video by KJ and Stephen Spins sums up Burning Man’s 2011 spirit very nicely.

Dr. Really? Tutorial at the Mind Shaft Society at Burning Man 2011

Dr. Really? provides a tutorial at the Mind Shaft Society camp at Burning Man 2011. This tutorial was inspired by Camp Narc next door who had been busted by the BLM Rangers. Following the bust and legal advice Mind Shaft Society members provided, Camp Narc put up a sign pointing to the Mind Shaft Society indicating that Free Cake was available. Whenever a Burning Newbie entered the Mind Shaft Society looking for Cake, Dr. Really? sat them down to watch this one minute tutuorial, then asked them to record their Write of Passage in the large Mind Shaft book. They were then given Creative License from the Bureua of Artistic development. Then they were redirected back to Camp Narc to inquire about the Free Bacon and Ice Cream.

The Mind Shaft Society on 7/31/2011

The Mind Shaft Society, a collaboration of artistic scientists, prepares the exhibit for the Bureau of Artistic Development where you can delve deep into the Mind Shaft and come back with Creative License.

The Devil Drives by Funki Porcini

Amon Tobin is among my favorite DJs. Funki Porcini, aka James Braddell is from England, and has been making amazing music and film too since the mid 90′s and according to some sources, was a major influence on Amon Tobin. This video appeared on Amon Tobin’s web page recently and it is really so good that I want to share it here. Make sure you turn up your sound and “if you ain’t got riddum, you can’t dance widdum”.

Bliss Dance on Treasure Island

Here is another excellent video from Roy Two Thousand. This video showcases Bliss Dance by artist Marco Cochrane and the Bliss Dance Team. Bliss Dance is a figurative sculpture celebrating women’s empowerment, created for and first installed at Burning Man in 2010. This installation is on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay and is a project of the Black Rock Arts Foundation for which I serve as president of the board of directors. Bliss Dance is the first work of art to be installed on Treasure Island since it was created in 1936 and 1937 for the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Pataphysical Slot Machine ~ a long work in progress!

The Pataphysical Slot Machine is a conceptual hallucination created and fabricated by Dr. Rheinbrain ~ Extraterrestrial Anthropologist, Dr. Fabio ~ Renowned French Anthropologist, and Dr. Really? ~ Chief Anthropologist. They are all Esteemed Pataphysicists! Pataphysics is to Metaphysics, as Metaphysics is to Physics. The Pataphysical Slot Machine was conceived during the winter of 2010. It is an artistic antidote for civilization.

Spire of Fire in Reno, Nevada

An Expedition over the Sierra revealed the Black Rock Arts Foundation Civic Arts Committee placed Spire of Fire next to the RiverWalk in downtown Reno. Spire of Fire, by local Reno artists Steve Atkins and Eric Smith, is BRAF’s fourth installation at the Foundation’s public art venue in Reno, Nevada. Black Rock Arts Foundation Advisory Board member Maria Partridge and Richard Johnson along with BRAF & Burner volunteers spearheaded a tremendous effort once again to bring Burning Man art & culture into the default world.