Basking in Burning Man: Scenes from Friday amid the love and good energy (SLIDESHOW)
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 09/03/2011 - 12:37pm
BLACK ROCK CITY, Nev. — As Friday turned to Saturday here, it has been better-than ideal for Burning Man guests with calm winds, a bright (and hot!) sun and relentless love, fun, art, peace and lots of good energy. Thus far with this report, not a hint of high winds, which trigger whiteouts and misery.
It was day of wandering the vast Black playa, enjoying the hundreds of art exhibits scattered about. And the range was vast — cluster balloons lifting riders a 100 feet above the spectators. And giant letters spelling out L-O-V-E, where Burners could climb inside the O and stretch-out. And a metal mesh nude torso that practically invited climbers to crawl over her.
But probably the most visited structure was the Temple of Transference, a building rebuilt every year with a new theme. This year's includes one tall minaret-shaped tower, surrounded by three smaller ones. The towers included niches where Burners could write notes in remembrance — most often to "Mom" or "Dad" and frequently to a lost pet or sweetheart.
Thusday night 11 couples exchanged vows at the Temple. An ordained minister performed the rites.
"A lot of people who have never attended a Burning Man don't get it," said Vince Johnson of St.Croix, Minn. "They think it's all dope and parties and undressed women. They don't see the serious side."
Well, there were many women going topless, perhaps one out to 20, and thery seemed cheerful and happy to talk and pose if asked nicely.
The overall mood at the Temple, where cymbals and gongs rand out South Asian religious music, was quiet and respectful; when the nude yoga chanter rose no one seemed to notice his nudity.
The Center Cafe is the ongoing center fore free enertainmenet — singers, acrobats, yoga demos continue all day and into the night. This all take place in a vast net of panels held together by cables. The Cafe is one of two places where anything is sold in Black Rock City. The other is the Arctic Ice House.
At the Burning Man's imposing edifice Burners climbed stairs to view the playa, where more than a century ago pioneers brave the arid desert, en route to California but sometimes settling in Nevada.
The Man's nigh night is tonight, Saturday around 9 p.m. after the burning of some smaller buildings and a salvo of fireworks, flames with crawl his legs while 50,000 Burners sit in a wide circle around the man, cheering as he goes up in flames.
Sunday will be a sort of anticlimax as most of the scattered art works on the playa are torched. And then it will be time for Burning Man staffers and volunteers begin the work of cleaning up the playa. That means nothing that belong there is left.
To be continued ...
