slim44

Wow, Saturday night’s two burns of the Man and the oil derrick installation entitled “Crude Awakening” were incredible.  The word on the playa is that the Guinness Book of World Records was on hand to judge if the oil derrick burn was going to be recorded as the world’s tallest fire.  The sculpture itself is a 99-foot oil derrick surrounded by metal figurines made of Tesla coils.  The artists who created this piece are Dan Das Mann, Karen Cusolito, Black Rock FX, Pyrokinetics, Nate Smith, Mark Perez and MonkeyBoy.

Crude Awakening is a biting commentary on modern day society’s dependence on oil.  At the base of the derrick were nine metal worshippers.  Oil is the new religion of the 21^st century, and the figures were bowing to the derrick in positions of religious fervor. This was one of the more controversial pieces at this year’s Burn given the theme of Green (Eco-) Man and the recent media spotlight on the effects of global warming and the ongoing U.S. led- war in Iraq.

The burn of this project was a spectacular display of pyrotechnics, sound artistry, and performance art.  I loved the 15 minute pre-burn fireworks show set to patriotic music, like the National Anthem.  Any American could feel the significance and irony of the piece.

In another twist of irony, Crude Awakening seemed to trump the burning of the Man at this year’s gathering. Most people I spoke to were more impressed with the oil derrick burn because of its impressive 1000-foot flame.  A mushroom cloud emerged as the fire blasted from the base of the derrick.  A fog machine was used to cover the area surrounding the piece in the Deep Playa-- truly a work of art. Every detail was thought of.  The burn was originally scheduled for Friday afternoon but because of an intense dust storm that day with winds up to 80 mph, the burn was postponed until Saturday after the Man burned.  Definitely anti-climatic.

 The Man—

This year’s official burning of the Man went without a hitch.  So much anticipation was in the air after the unexpected Tuesday early morning arson act by alleged old-time burner, SF-based Paul Addis, 35. Flyers were made by the Black Rock Rangers as a joke, stating that Mr. Addis was going to be at Center Camp Friday and Saturday afternoon to sign autographs. This of course did not happen. I have a feeling Mr. Addis will not be coming to BRC ever again.

Folks at this year’s burn were divided about the arson act. Some argue that it’s a form of self-expression and that it takes the event back to its roots of “No Rules,” the way it was on Baker Beach in SF in 1986 when the founder, Larry Harvey, set the first Man on fire. Others believe that it’s a form of disrespect to the spirit of the event.  Someone could have gotten seriously injured, but no one did.  The Emergency Services Fire Department (EDS) were on hand as the Man was burned on Tuesday. Apparently, someone had noticed a man shimmying up the pyre supporting the 40-foot Man, and had alerted EDS. I was not witness to the event, but it must have been a sight to behold—the Man burning amidst the backdrop of a full lunar eclipse, sometime at 3 am in the morning.

The real burn was preceded by 15 minutes of fire performers in the 2nd ring.  The first ring was empty and manned by ESD firefighters; the audience sat at a safer distance in the third ring about 30 meters from the Man.  The overall burn was rather long, at about 20 minutes, and you could feel the audience stirring as the Man burned.  The pyre supporting the Man included five thick log beams.  Dust swirlies emanated from the Man in a northern direction as the wind blew.

After the Man toppled, the masses rushed in to the center to dance in counter-clock wise fashion around the massive bonfire.  The mood was hedonistic and celebratory, loud and uncontrolled.  The first 5 rows closest to the fire resembled a mosh pit, everyone feeling the undulations of the crowd.  My friend hoisted me to his shoulders and I was able to get a great look at the blaze from the 3rd row.  I was briefly able to get to the first row directly next to the fire. Some crazy man took his picture just about a foot from the flames. It is a dangerous place to be given that any stray elbow could knock a person into the burn.  I stayed for only a few seconds because it did feel too hot and too easy to fall in. I preferred the buffer space of one human body.