Steampunk, the fantasy world where life and machines meld together, is fairly common at Burning Man for costumes, art, and mutant vehicles. This horse is one of the best examples.
As noted in my last post, I’ve been sorting through and categorizing my Burning Man photos from the 11 years I have attended the event: 2004-5-6-7-9-10-12-13-14-15 and 17. I’ve created 15 categories and will do posts on several of my favorites from each category over the next several weeks.
In my last Burning Man post, I introduced some of the larger animal mutant vehicles that roam the Playa at Burning Man. Today is the turn of the smaller mutant animals, like the horse above. Check out the head and the expression in its face. If my innards looked like the horse’s, I’d be a little wild-eyed too. Usually if you see gears used like this, you can assume that you’ve entered the world of steampunk.
It would be really hard to find a horse more opposite from the steampunk horse!
There aren’t a lot of insects normally found on the floor of the Black Rock Desert. In addition to being hot and dry, there aren’t any plants. When Burning Man comes to town, so to speak, things change.
One of the most impressive bugs to ever visit the Playa was this praying mantis.Being buggy means being buggy eyed…And it doesn’t get much more buggy eyed than this.Any decent beetle needs a shell…Right?Now here’s a sweetie, a dung beetle. It rolls up a large dollop of poop and drags it along behind. I think it is supposed to be the home for its new children.
Burning Man has its share of fur bearing mammals that slip into the mutant vehicle category.
The cat car is a favorite standby that makes it back to Burning Man year after year.The kitty from the rear. I confess to finding the tail pipe rather amusing!A cool cat of a different color!Rabbits range from this friendly, furry fellow you’d probably allow up on your bed if he weren’t so big.To this guy you wouldn’t let in your house…To this one. You would probably get a rabies shot if you encountered it.Dogs are few and far between. And this one may be a cat. Anyway, one way or the other, I have probably insulted the dog or cat kingdom.This robot looking dog is wearing a pink tutu, which is what I expect to see at Burning Man.Normally, one avoids polar bears. But a polar bear carrying a rose? (Photo by my friend Tom Lovering.)A small, Chinese dragon? Or is it a duck?Now this is a duck! I think. It shoots fire out of its head at night.Everyone recognizes chicken pox. Especially if it is labeled. I’m guessing that this mutant vehicle moves across the Playa slowly. (Photo by Don Green.)I’ll wrap up today’s post with the king of beasts hitching a ride on a what… a whiskered slug? Do you have a clue?
NEXT POST: These mutant vehicles came out of the deep. There is something fishy about Burning man…
15 thoughts on “A Steampunk Horse and other Small Mutant Animals… 11 Years of Burning Man”
Wow, Curt, this Burning Man really seems to bring out a vivid and wild
creative streak among people. Amazing and fun. I will read your next post
as it might give me a clue who this Burning man was and why he inspires.
We have some fun days with creations in England but nothing to compare with
what you have shown us. Thank you.
The amount of creativity boggles, Miriam. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be featuring different aspects of the creativity. The Man part dates back to the 80s when a wooden man was burned on a San Francisco beach as a memorial. Each year, the Man is built in the center of the Playa and then is burned on Saturday night of the week-long event. Each year the 40-foot fall Man is built in a different setting. I will do two or three posts focusing in on the Man and the burn. –Curt
Despite my affection for the furry kitty, I must say that the praying mantis caught my eye this time. But look at this horse! A Canadian blogger I follow posted it today — I’m not sure where the photo was taken. Do you suppose a renegade Burner has moved north?
Checked her out and you are right, Linda. She’s fit right in. Lots of Canadian’s at Burning Man.
Those renegade Burners are always slipping back and forth across the border, Linda. The mantis is just plain fun. I don’t think I have seen it back at Burning Man again. Maybe it got its head bitten off. 🙂 –Curt
What a gorgeous post! They are awesome and I love just this kind art. Some models are quite sinilar what we have here. Thank You sharing this post with us.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Wow, Curt, this Burning Man really seems to bring out a vivid and wild
creative streak among people. Amazing and fun. I will read your next post
as it might give me a clue who this Burning man was and why he inspires.
We have some fun days with creations in England but nothing to compare with
what you have shown us. Thank you.
miriam
The amount of creativity boggles, Miriam. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be featuring different aspects of the creativity. The Man part dates back to the 80s when a wooden man was burned on a San Francisco beach as a memorial. Each year, the Man is built in the center of the Playa and then is burned on Saturday night of the week-long event. Each year the 40-foot fall Man is built in a different setting. I will do two or three posts focusing in on the Man and the burn. –Curt
You’ve excelled yourself this time Curt! So many incredible beasts and so many cats 😀 The steam punk horse might win, by a head.
I’m thinking it must be a cat kind of place, AC. 🙂 That horse is magnificent. –Curt
As cool as art cars! Love the duck and horse, but that preying mantis is the one I want!
Always been a favorite bug, Phil. They don’t come much more creative. –Curt
Burning Man has always been a favorite topic for your posts!!
It’s a matter of having umpteen thousand photos of strange things, G. 🙂 –Curt
Despite my affection for the furry kitty, I must say that the praying mantis caught my eye this time. But look at this horse! A Canadian blogger I follow posted it today — I’m not sure where the photo was taken. Do you suppose a renegade Burner has moved north?
I found the artist’s name — Dixie Jewett. Her work really is cool, and would fit right in at Burning Man.
Checked her out and you are right, Linda. She’s fit right in. Lots of Canadian’s at Burning Man.
Those renegade Burners are always slipping back and forth across the border, Linda. The mantis is just plain fun. I don’t think I have seen it back at Burning Man again. Maybe it got its head bitten off. 🙂 –Curt
Do you suppose any of these critters are in danger of extinction? Or perhaps what we have to look forward to with bioengineering run amok? 🤪
These creatures morph quite often, Gunta. 🙂 But, fortunately they don’t do it on their own. That’s my biggest worry about AI and bioengineering! –Curt
What a gorgeous post! They are awesome and I love just this kind art. Some models are quite sinilar what we have here. Thank You sharing this post with us.
Have a good day!