AS EMAILED FROM BURNING MAN, 5 am August 31st...
I am in the middle of the desert celebrating the burning man festival. I am 'going to bed early' by most people's standards... I am in the only place where someone could ask you "hey did you see the guy dressed as Santa Claus driving the giant flame throwing spider?" and you could say "I'm not sure...what color was the spider??"
Earlier tonight I stood in the middle of the desert while a 5 storey tall solid wood pirate ship rolled by and a flaming throwing car right out of MAD MAX stopped to shoot out some 20 foot long flames. Nearby was a giant SHARK (made from three buses) that has a sofa in its mouth. Numerous other art cars darted all over the place. Have you ever seen anyone in a tiger fall from the sky or a woman in fish net stockings? Well the parachutists here tend to get fancy. Imagine the most amazing stuff you have ever seen all put into the MOST inhospitable place you have ever been! The dust is utterly insidious. It gets EVERYWHERE! We had a dust storm so bad last night while I was out on the "playa" it was impossible to navigate even with ski goggles. Some completely stopped moving to wait it out. The photo to the right is of one of the 'lesser dust storms' that just slowed traffic a wee bit.
I will do my utmost to make this show a warm, welcoming and friendly show much like the actual event. |
