Wednesday, January 2, 2008

about the Temples





For eight years now, large Temple installations on the Playa have been hugely meaningful, important parts of the Burning Man experience for its thousands of attendees. While they are beautiful in a purely design sense, they have also created spaces where people are given the opportunity to acknowledge death, places that help people to let go, places of healing and forgiveness and transformation. Designed by David Best in the years 2000-2004, Mark Grieve in 2005 & 2006, and again by David, with Tim Dawson, in 2007. They truly epitomize the connection of art to community--- created with the help of teams of volunteers working together; contributed to and invested with personal meanings by participants on the playa-- who bring their words, photos, and tears to the space; and communally celebrated, in the burning ceremony that takes place on the final Sunday night of the event.
Our show pays tribute to these temples through a collection of photographs from over the years, and a short film by
Jane Sullivan following the Temple of Forgiveness ('07) from building to burning.

Top 2 photos: Scott Hess, other photos Lisa B, '05 & '06

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