#fertility2.0

[stylishpurplederp]

[nileshdglasses]

Burning Man : The Temple of Juno

The temple at Burning man this year was the Temple of Juno. From the temple's website (http://templecrew.org/juno.html) "This year's temple is also known as 'The Temple of Juno'. The theme for this year's Burning Man event is 'Fertility 2.0'. Juno was a Roman goddess who had many roles and epithets; among those that she held were as a fertility deity and overseer of childbirth, a protectress of women and the community, and a preserver of marriages. "

The temple is one of the most spiritual places at Burning Man. You can feel the spirituality and depth as soon as you step in and it was very moving to read all the messages that people had written on the walls on the temple. Usually they write messages and remembrances for people that they have lost in their lives.

On Sunday night, they burn the temple.

[nileshdglasses]

Burning Man : "Compound I".... Mirrors, Mirrors, Mirrors

Loved this piece of art on the playa at Burning Man. It's called "Compound I". It's focusses on "I" as art.. an art piece featuring each and every one of us at Burning Man. Read more about this project at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cofone/compound-i-burning-man-2012

From the words of the author from their kickstarter page --

"Compound I/eye" challenges our sense of separate-ness from art, as it simultaneously presents the concept of eye as instrument of reflection and 'I' as object of reflection.

Up close, the sculpture reinforces a familiar sense of self by placing us at the center of each reflective lens. Stepping away, we see our image simultaneously contract and overlap with everyone else' onto the mosaic globe before us – nodes in a composite of shared reflection. 

Circling around "Compound I", its many reflected lights follow us… as if we are being watched. Looking into the shifting centers of the glistening lenses, we meet our own gaze. As we realize it is our sight and form that animates these pupils, our sense of separate-ness from the art is challenged.. 

Are we, the unrelated observer, watching from behind the seemingly impermeable membrane of our own eye? Are we watched by the seemingly animate Compound I? In front of the lens, or behind the eyes?

 We consider the strange totem of orbs before us.. once an object behind an artist's eye, now beheld by ours. As visual impressions pass through our eyes, a cascade of imagery unfolds; visual resonance, contagious and ripe, ignites the imagination, engendering new forms, perhaps to be brought back over the threshold to share on our side of the lens..to spark another mind's eye and echo the creative chain yet again.. behind the eyes, before the eyes.. 

The eye as instrument of reflection, the 'I' as object of reflection - boundaries blur between perspectives of inner and outer, personal and collective, to convey a picture of interconnectedness – us as facets of a compound “I/eye”

[nileshdglasses]

Burning Man : Wall Street Art

One of the big art pieces this year at Burning Man was Wall Street. From the words of the artists - "Burn Wall Street is a large scale, outdoor art installation that is sprouting powerful conversations countrywide.  By bringing individuals from the Occupy and Tea Party movements together, this project asks participants to put their political identities aside in order to talk about common principles and goals for financial reform." Check out their website for more information - http://burnwallstreet.net/

This art piece changed a lot from the first days of burning man to the days before the burn. Initially it was all clean and proper buildings and by the end of the week, it was all covered in graffiti and spray paint messages and was being vandalized each day.

They were supposed to burn the wall street structure on Friday night, but they were unsuccessful at it, as apparently, a bunch of people decided to occupy it and not move out.. the actual burn did happen though, but it was on Saturday night rather after the burn of the man.

[nileshdglasses]

Burning Man : Iphone needs to cool down before you can use it

While at Burning man,  I saw this warning message for the first time ever on my iphone -- "Iphone needs to cool down before you can use it"... It gives you an idea of the heat during the daytime in Black Rock City...

[nileshdglasses]

Burning Man : Dust storms, Whiteouts, dust, dust, dust everywhere...

This year, Burning Man was particular dusty and windy - hence tons of dust storms at the spur of the moment. One night, it was total white out for most of the night. Goggles, respirators and other protection from the dust was crucially important this year. While the dust storms and white outs is a unique experience to be stuck in, after the first few whiteouts, it becomes more of a hassle than anything else, but definitely this is the one of the key things that contributes to the atmosphere at Burning Man

[nileshdglasses]

Burning Man : El Pulpo Mechanico - The Fire Throwing Mechanical Octopus

One of the most awesome fire art cars at Burning Man was the "El Pulpo Mechanico". Definitely if there were prizez for most creative, most awesome, most fire throwing, most crowd attracting, most mysterious, most charismatic, El Pulpo mechanico would have gotten all my votes !!

From their official website - http://www.elpulpomecanico.com/ , it seems that El Pulpo was designed and created by 3 persons and was made mostly from scrap and recyled metal. From the artists' own words -- "The "El Pulpo" is a combination of art and technology melded together. We built this knowing that it would be fun to watch as the giant cam spun up through the center moving the tentacles and eyes in and out while fire spewed from the tentacles and head. No hydraulics or computers were used in this contraption. We built the sculpture primarily out of recycled and used junk found at our local scrap yard."

After Burning Man, there has even been the Chuch of El Pulpo Mechanico created, where followers of El Pulpo can worship the Great El Pulpo (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Church-of-El-Pulpo-Mechanico/145321738896203)