When I first ventured out onto the Playa on my 2010 visit to Burning Man, I was immediately drawn to a large sculpture of a nude woman that struck me as being beautiful and full of life. The sculpture, I learned was titled Bliss Dance and had been created by the Bay Area artist Marco Cochrane based on his model, the dancer Deja Solis. Bliss Dance would go from Burning Man to Treasure Island next to San Francisco and is now on permanent exhibition in Las Vegas. Here’s what Cochrane had to say during the unveiling of the sculpture in Las Vegas:
What I see missing in the world is an appreciation and respect for feminine energy and power that results when women are free and safe. It seems obvious to me that feminine energy is being suppressed and that this must change. If we are to find real, lasting solutions to the problems facing humanity, men and women must be able to work together as equals. Bliss Dance is intended to focus attention on this issue.— Marco Cochrane, Feb. 2016 press release
This sentiment also applies to the two other sculptures that Cochrane created for Burning Man as part of a trilogy: Truth Is Beauty in 2013 and R-Evolution in 2015. I consider myself privileged to have been at Burning Man on each of these years. Truth Is Beauty is now on permanent exhibit overlooking the BART station in San Leandro, California.
An 18-foot rendition of Truth Is Beauty and several other art works from Burning Man were recently on display at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington DC. An introduction to the exhibit stated:
Burning Man, one of the most influential events in contemporary art, is both a cultural movement and a thriving temporary city of more than 70,000 people that rises out of the dust for a single week each year in late summer in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. During that time, enormous experimental art installations are erected, some of which are then ritually burned to the ground. The desert gathering is a uniquely American hotbed of artistic ingenuity, driving innovation through its philosophies of radical self-expression, community participation, rejection of commodification and reverence for the handmade.
Nora Atkinson, the Lloyd Herman Curator of Craft at The Renwick went on to say this about the exhibit’s title: No Spectators
“‘No Spectators’ is a long-standing saying on Playa. You are encouraged to fully participate. It’s all about being there, being fully present, and not just observing. Two of the ten principles of Burning Man are radical participation and radical inclusivity, meaning that there are no outsiders. Everyone is part of the experience.”
If both of these statements seem a bit familiar, they reflect what I have been saying about Burning Man art and Burning Man in my posts over the last several years. In ways, I believe that Burning Man has been fostering a mini-renaissance in art and is now being recognized world-wide for its contributions.
R-Evolution, the last of Cochrane’s trilogy was actually scheduled to be exhibited on the National Mall in Washington DC between the Washington Monument and the White House. The group responsible for moving and installing the sculpture had written to me and asked for permission to use photos from my blog in a documentary it was preparing for the exhibit. The exhibit was cancelled. It may have been that the idea of a giant nude on the mall was too controversial. Anyway, here is one of my favorite photos of the sculpture:
Peggy (my wife) says what she loves about sculpture is that it is three dimensional art that you can touch and feel as well as see. One of her favorite things about Burning Man is that the art has an up-close and personal aspect, a hands on policy. Most museums have a hands-off policy. The three dimensional aspect of sculpture also has great appeal to me. I believe that that you should be able to appreciate sculpture from any angle. I’ll use the concluding photos on this post to further look at the three sculptures.
BLISS DANCE AT BURNING MAN 2010
TRUTH IS BEAUTY AT BURNING MAN 2013.
R-EVOLUTION AT BURNING MAN 2015
That’s it for today. NEXT POST: UFO’s, aliens, and a giant robot at Burning Man.
23 thoughts on “The Magnificent and Powerful Art Of Marco Cochrane… My 11 Years at Burning Man”
ralietravels
They are wonderful. The interior armature is visible in the night shots. What did he use for the skin?
Curt Mekemson
Good question, Ray. The sculptures use steel rod and tubing connected by steel balls for the structure. They are finished with a stainless steel mesh skin. –Curt
cindy knoke
WOW! Stunning.
Curt Mekemson
It was fun to watch people’s reactions out on the Playa, Cindy, especially women. Wonder, awe and appreciation. –Curt
Alison and Don
All three are brilliant! As are your photographs, and especially Marco Cochrane’s appreciation and respect for feminine anergy and power. It is so heartening to see something like this.
Alison
Curt Mekemson
Freedom from fear and freedom to be are two concepts that run deep throughout Marco’s work, Alison. Thanks, much. –Curt
Andrew Petcher
I like the entire gallery but my favourite is the one taken by your friend Tom!
Curt Mekemson
Pretty special, Andrew. He caught exactly the right moment. It helps to get up early and Tom has a good instinct. –Curt
GP Cox
A venue for art that many would never see and enjoy otherwise. You continue to bring us the genius of Burning Man and for that I thank you!
Curt Mekemson
And you are welcome, G. 🙂 It’s always fun for me. –Curt
GP Cox
Do you think you’ll be going back?
gerard oosterman
Such stunning nudes and so many going around on bicycles. Great show again, Curt.
Mél@nie
impressive, interesting, awesome talent… MERCI! 🙂
Animalcouriers
Can see why they approached you for your photos. Really wonderful sculpture.
spanishwoods
Just such beautiful images Curt.
Dave Ply
Remarkable!
Sue Slaght
Curt I have seen the sculpture in Las Vegas! I walked around and around and as you spoke about Peggy’s thoughts I recalled how I loved touching the statue. The inclusivity of Burning Man very much appeals to me. No one is an outsider. There’s a philosophy the world could grab hold of.
thetrippertales
i wish to visit this festival one day.
Curt Mekemson
It is definitely worth it!
Crystal M. Trulove
Bliss Dance is my favourite because it makes me feel joy. Do you know if the same model was used for all three? The size of these is one of the best aspects. I recently watched an interview with artist Nelson Makamo, who creates very large portraits of regular people living ordinary lives, often with joy, often children. In the interview, he said part of the reason for the size was so that viewers were compelled to engage. I guess a person can’t help themselves but immerse when the subject is so much larger than life.
Curt Mekemson
The answer is yes, Crystal. The same model was used for all three sculptures. And I like the comment on engaging. These three sculptures certainly engaged the people I saw looking at them. Women, I noticed, often struck the same pose and had their photos taken with the sculptures. 🙂 –Curt
Crystal M. Trulove
Oh I love that some women struck the same pose for a portrait!
Curt Mekemson
Peggy was one. 🙂