Burning Man

Burning Man is an annual, week-long festival held in late August, in the dry, scorching heat of the Nevada sun. The name “Burning Man” comes from the main event of the festival;  igniting a 70 ft wood structure, epitomized as the figure of a man. People travel here from around the globes, some come in RV’s, while others, in profusely decorated cars; either way, they are all coming to enthrall themselves into the art world and have a good time.What makes people endure the 107 degree heat? Large scale projects of sorts are the specialty of Burning man artists. Whether it be a life-sized ship, sunken surreally in the desert ground (see below), or an automobile disguised as a deep sea creature (to the right), the art is hardly  unnoticeable making for a dream-like experience. During the night, after the sun goes down and goosebumps arrive, the expansive grounds light up with glow-sticks and LED lights. It is arguable that more people are out at night than in the day; while the daylight may offer opportune lighting to see small details, certain unique perspectives and characteristics blaze up when the world gets dark. 

The first Burning Man was held in 1986 with an eight foot man structure and but a fraction of flame of the up to 80 foot structures that they build today. The Burning Man is built throughout the duration of the week long festival. Planned and drawn out by artists, then created by the labor multiple people from the ground up, it is ultimately engulfed by the flames the people who built it. This symbolic bonfire ritual is held on a Saturday night, the last night of the festival to wrap up and “burn up” the festival. The art displayed at the Burning Man festival attracts thousands of people every year and the number is rising. With such abstract ideas and eclectic art, it’s no wonder Burning Man has such an immense pull on people.