I found this lady sphinx quite amusing. In fact, much of the art at Burning Man has an element of humor to it.
I am going to be on the road for the next few weeks, so I decided to produce several blogs that might be of interest to my readers but would be easy for me to do: Voila—The Best Of Burning Man series! I’ve now been to Burning Man for ten years starting in 2004 (and will be going again in 2015, assuming I get two tickets and a vehicle pass). Each blog will feature a top ten category such as top ten sculptures, mutant vehicles, etc.
Now, this is important. 1) These are from my perspective. Other people will have different points of view. 2) I never see everything that is available to see at Burning Man. There is simply too much. So it’s quite possible that I have missed some really great things. My apologies. 3) I missed 2011. 4) These photos are not in order of choice. That is beyond me. (Grin)
Basically, this series will include a brief introduction and then my top ten choices. There may be captions on my photos, or not. Finally, while Peggy and I have taken the majority of these photos, I have also included photos from Tom Lovering, Beth Lovering, Don Green, and Ken Lake… all members of our ‘tribe,’ and friends.
Series 2: Sculptures under 20 feet tall
While the large sculptures tend to attract the crowds, smaller works abound at Burning Man. Often, they are exquisite: sometimes they are humorous. These 10 are among my favorites:
“I shot an arrow into the air…” A graceful archer aims his arrow at the sky.
I found these cats with their unique look way out on the Playa.
This dinosaur skeleton was also wandering the Playa.
Large letters forming words such as love, mom, and ego make their way to Black Rock City annually.
The Center Camp Cafe is always filled with art, such as this large hand.
One year a whole family of these fun creatures were out on the Playa.
These cubes climbing high into the sky weren’t actually that high. They were an optical illusion.
One year, regional groups sponsored art at Burning Man. This impressive bull came out of Texas.
Number 10 was a toss-up. I couldn’t choose between a fiddling rabbit…
…or a Queen Bee with boobs. NEXT POST: Photography, paintings and murals in my Top Ten Series.
29 thoughts on “The Best of Burning Man: The Top Ten Series (2)… Smaller Sculptures”
shoreacres
Hard to choose, here. The fiddle playing rabbit and the cubes rank high, of course. And I’d not seen the archer. I like that. But what interested me most was the blue dog. Do you know the work of George Rodrique? He was a Louisiana icon, along with his Blue Dog. He may even have made it to Burning Man. He would have fit right in.
Curt Mekemson
I’ve always like the Blue Dog series, Linda, a favorite of mine. And yes, I suspect Rodrique would have fit right in at Burning Man. –Curt
Bruce Thiesen
I lkke the colorful creatures, represented here by the blue one. Under 20′ seems large, but of course it is relative. You seem optimistic that year eleven is in order. Btw, how does this work? Do you sleep in tents when you go there? Do you bring a lot of stuff and therefore need a vehicle pass or is your vehicle also sleeping quarters?
Carrie Rubin
These are great. I still can’t get over what a visual feast this must be to attend. The juxtaposition of those monstrous and colorful structures against the stark desert is so appealing.
Alison and Don
Don’t actually love lots here, but do love the cubes – guess I’m more into beauty than weird 🙂 Okay I like the archer a lot, and the two green cats make me smile. 🙂
A.
livelytwist
The cubes are it for me. I would have loved to see the optical illusion.
gerard oosterman
Breasts with huge pulsating nipples seem to dominate in some of the artistic endavours. A bit intimidating but that’s art for you. I am amazed to how much work the participants go to. A great show..
gerard oosterman
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Curt Mekemson
I found the queen bee hilarious, Gerard, but maybe the artist was working on the earth’s fecundity. 🙂 –Curt
Chips Off the Old Block
The bull is my favorite. The fiddling rabbit is fun. Great photos!
Curt Mekemson
Isn’t that bull fantastic? And what a great representative for Texas. 🙂 There is a turtle that goes along with the rabbit. –Curt
White Postcards
Big or small the sculptures at Burning Man are awesome! I like how you’ve captured the green cats. -Ginette
Curt Mekemson
Those cats are one of my all time favorites, Ginette. What they may lack in grandeur, they make up in personality.:) –Curt
Animalcouriers
Love the cubes. What a place to wander round.
Curt Mekemson
I’ve taken a number of photos of those cubes. The optical illusion always amazes me. As of wandering, every few feet brings something new to ponder over. –Curt
Crystal M. Trulove
Well at least they put a bikini top on the bee, to keep her decent! I think I like the cubes best, and the hand. I noticed that when my eyes saw “EVOLEVOLEVOL,” my brain translated it as “evolve.” That’s a nice residual effect of another side of love.
Curt Mekemson
Yes, there was a bikini top. lol How it was hung was another issue. And I hadn’t noticed the evolve message. Good observation Crystal. Love with out evolution is often a dead end street. –Curt
Holistic Wayfarer
I agree. It IS a toss-up. Gee…
Curt Mekemson
It often is D. Part of what I am trying to capture with this series is the variety of creativity as well as the best. –Curt
Holistic Wayfarer
Have to say I appreciate their commitmt and work ethic. 1-2 yrs prep!
Curt Mekemson
And here folks just thought Burning Man was a big party in the desert… 🙂 –C
Holistic Wayfarer
Hey, the best parties (i.e. WEDDINGS) need professional organizers!
Curt Mekemson
🙂
Oh, the Places We See
Love the sphinx and the rabbit playing the violin. How are these sculptures transported? And are they in the open? Under the sun? I’m really mesmerized by this whole process.
Curt Mekemson
Both were favorites of mine as well. Trucks are the answer. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
Now what happens at the end of the event? Surely not everything is burned, right?
Curt Mekemson
Most of the art goes home with some rather spectacle exceptions, which I am going to do a blog on. The best pieces that go home are now making there way into communities as public art. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
Love that these are being preserved.
Curt Mekemson
Yes!