So who needs an African Safari? (grin)
A journey to Burning Man is a voyage into one of the world’s most creative environments. A kaleidoscope of art, costumes, theme camps, and live performances constantly demand your attention. Mutant vehicles are another form of marvelous creativity. In my last blog I introduced you El Pulpo Mecanico. Here are some other favorites of mine from Burning Man 2104.
A horn of plenty? (Photo by Tom Lovering.)
I would say that this Burner is quite proud of her Rhino.
The all-seeing eye and… (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
…its mutant vehicle.
Speaking of eyes, I caught this man-sized one on a mutant vehicle the night they burned the Man.
Peggy found this dragon out on the Playa while the owners were away. Good thing they didn’t leave the keys. Giddy-up! (Photo by Tom Lovering.)
Close up of the dragon’s head.
This is a rather attractive fellow with gossamer wings.
Imagine for a moment you didn’t know what was happening and you saw this creature of the deep emerge out of a dust storm.
A steampunk horse shows off his inner workings. The carriage is also quite unique.
Another steampunk vehicle with a unique look. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
Large mutant vehicles such as this bull can accommodate a number of people.
The same bull at night provides a perspective on how dramatically different mutant vehicles can look when the sun goes down.
This Cheshire Cat rolled by our campsite.
Lady Sassafras built by the Crown Collective of New Orleans is made from debris left over by Hurricane Katrina.
Mutant vehicles come in all sizes as this ATV demonstrates. Every square inch of available space is covered.
Close up of the decorations. I liked the dog.
This three mast sail boat makes a good conclusion for this blog on the mutant vehicles at Burning Man 2014. Next blog: A huge sculpture known as Embrace.
36 thoughts on “A Giant Rhino, an All-Seeing Eye and Other Mutant Vehicles of Burning Man 2014”
Carrie Rubin
These are pretty amazing. I love the giant eyeball. Wonder if its monocular vision is a challenge or if its size compensates for it. 😉
Curt Mekemson
Size matters. LOL –Curt
Carrie Rubin
🙂
livelytwist
I admire the dedication of the creators. Wow, who needs an African Safari? Carrie Rubin has asked my question. Somehow, the Eye fascinates me.
Curt Mekemson
The eye captured me as well. I suspect such a big eye could see quite well. LOL As for African Safari, there are lots of interesting creatures wandering the Playa, but I was kidding on who needs a Safari. My month trip though East Africa in a VW bug ever so long ago was an experience not to be missed. 🙂 –Curt
livelytwist
Ha ha, I knew you were joking as was I. I’m impressed by the range of ‘creatures’ I can only imagine the dedication that went into their creation!
Curt Mekemson
Hundreds of hours, I’m sure. 🙂
cindy knoke
WOW! Amazing~
Curt Mekemson
🙂
Alison and Don
Another wonderful Burning Man post. I think my favourite is The Eye, but I’m thrilled by the exuberant creativity of all of them.
Alison
Curt Mekemson
Thanks. 🙂 It always amazes me what people do in preparation for Burning Man, Alison. So much of the work must take weeks, if not months. And I can’t even begin to guess at the costs involved. But there is always a high level of creativity. –Curt
The Writing Waters Blog
Isn’t imagination and diligence to complete a project wonderful?
Curt Mekemson
Very much so. –Curt
evelyneholingue
Creativity at its best. Love the Sassafras, especially because it’s built from the debris due to Katrina. I also find the horse and carriage pretty cool. All are definitely amazingly ingenious and fun to admire. No doubt they are even better in the desert. That must be something to drive these art pieces to the event and bring them back home!
Curt Mekemson
The bus Sassafras is built on was used for evacuating people from Katrina, as well. And isn’t the horse something– steampunk at its very best.
Most of the mutant vehicles are brought in on trailers, some being driven by semis. Wouldn’t it be something to see the all seeing eye driving up the road? 🙂 I suspect that might create a few accidents from gawking. “I am sorry officer, but this big eye drove by…” –Curt
gpcox
Burning Man has encased every person of the highest imagination and creativity I’ve ever seen. If Hollywood was smart they’d send their special effects people there for training!!
Curt Mekemson
I think, as I have noted before, GP, it has become a mecca for artists. I suspect it has its share of Hollywood artist types involved, especially those that live in the Bay Area. –Curt
gpcox
That’s good, maybe they’ll give some ideas to the failing attempts at TV programming.
Animalcouriers
They seemed to have excelled themselves this year. What a crazily wonderful group of vehicles and their creators. Rhino has to be my favourite!
Curt Mekemson
This is just a smattering of the art cars/mutant vehicles at Burning Man, AC. Rhino was a favorite of mine as well. And the all seeing eye. 🙂 –Curt
Gator Woman
What an awesome event!!!!
Curt Mekemson
Yes, it is. 🙂 –Curt
Gator Woman
Maybe next year we can make the trip~
Is it a private event?
Curt Mekemson
Open to anyone and now operated by a nonprofit. Tickets are hard to get however. You have to be poised with your finger ready when they go on sale. Go to the Burning Man site and sign up for Jackrabbit Speaks if you want to be kept up-to-date. –Curt
shoreacres
Every new photo made me think, “This is my favorite!” And then, another photo would come along. I do think the steampunk pair and the Cheshire Cat have to top the list. And, Lady Sassafras. Just hearing the word “Katrina” still gives me chills, but they’ve done something wonderful with it — rather like the carvings done from the destroyed oak trees in Galveston after Ike.
Curt Mekemson
We walk around in awe, with the same feeling Linda. What will people think of next? I remember the oak tree carvings, a reminder of peoples ability to bounce back. –Curt
sixdegreesphotography
Well you know which one is my favorite..Why indeed, it’s Lady Sassafrass!!
Curt Mekemson
No surprise there. 🙂
hilarycustancegreen
I am making funny faces and sighing here. In my sculpture days, between more ‘serious’ would I would make fun pieces, usually with reference to a dragon (and always on a large scale), I would have had a ball creating the kind of mutant vehicles you show above. I love the rhino, because it feels like a rhino and the dragon in particular.
Curt Mekemson
A wonderful world exists between serious and insane for the mind to play. I would love to see some of your sculpture, both serious and playful. –Curt
Anonymous
The fire breathing dragons have always been my favorite. Fortunately a few always seem to show up each year we are there!
Curt Mekemson
Couldn’t have Burning Man without fire breathing dragons. lol
Mustang.Koji
These were not cheap to construct! Wow! We would be interested in seeing a Curt/Peggy entry the next time. 🙂
But that dragon’s face – it reminded me of some of the characters in Transformers!
Curt Mekemson
No, they aren’t cheap, Koji. And the creativity is always incredible. My mutant vehicle is a bicycle with a Toys Are Us horse head attached. 🙂 It does neigh, however. –Curt
Jamie Lyn Weigt
Loved the photos! I hope it’s all right that I reblogged/featured you on my own blog today; those dragons were a perfect fit for my daily post. Full credit given, of course, and now I’m following and will be checkinng out more of your adventures!
Jamie Lyn Weigt | Writing Dragons Blog
Curt Mekemson
Absolutely, Jamie. Sorry I took so long to get back to you. I’m on the road. And welcome aboard! Glad to have you following. –Curt