Wandering through Time and Place

Exploring the world with Curtis and Peggy Mekemson
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  • Tag: New York City art ant Burning Man

    • The World’s Largest Cockroach… Burning Man 2013

      Posted at 5:00 am by Curt Mekemson
      Oct 12th
      Burners blithely ignore the fact that they are about to be attacked by the world's largest cockroach. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

      Burners blithely ignore the fact that they are about to be attacked by the world’s largest cockroach. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

      They grow things big in Texas. Just ask a Texan. But I never thought that the folks from the Lone Star State would fess-up to having the world’s largest cockroaches. Apparently they live in Houston. Regional Burners from the area brought a replica of one to Burning Man. Eventually it was sacrificed to the fire gods, burned up. But, hey, that’s what Burners do, right?

      Houston was one of 24 locations from around the US and world that brought art to Burning Man 2013 to represent their regions. The Dutch bought a windmill, for example. Utah had a rock arch. Sacramento featured a riverboat and Reno a wedding chapel. You get the point.

      The Netherlands brought a windmill to represent their regional group in Holland.

      The Netherlands brought a windmill to represent their regional group in Holland. (Photo by Tom Lovering.)

      Burning Man is big on regionalization. Groups are now located in areas ranging from France to Taiwan and Israel to South Africa, as well as all over the US. Their art this year was organized in groupings around the Man and burned simultaneously on Thursday night. It made quite the bonfire.

      Texas cockroach at Burning Man 2013.

      A front view of the Texas Cockroach. The media center was set up to teach facts about the cockroach, such as they will be around long after humanity has gone the way of the big lizards.

      Utah regional art at Burning Man 2013.

      Utah chose to represent one of its famous rock arches, the type you find in Arches National Park. It also featured petroglyphs, a subject I have written on in my blogs. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)

      Arches National Park

      One thing Utah has a lot of is beautiful rocks. I took this photo at Arches National Park.

      Dinosaur National Monument petroglyph.

      Nor could I resist posting this petroglyph I found at Dinosaur National Monument given Burning Man’s 2013 focus on aliens. This guy and his dog are about as alien as you get.

      Dinosaur national Monument petroglyph.

      I may have seen this guy walking by our camp. I am surprised Utah didn’t include him on its arch.

      Idaho Marvin, regional art at Burning Man 2013.

      Idaho produced this sculpture that they named Marvin. (Photo by Tom Lovering.)

      Reno appropriately produced a wedding chapel. My parents got married at a Reno wedding chapel. But did it make me legitimate? Hmm.

      Reno appropriately produced a wedding chapel. My parents got married at a Reno wedding chapel. But did it make me legitimate? Hmm. (Photo by Tom Lovering.)

      Sacrament brought the Playa Queen, which represented the Delta King, a Sacramento Riverboat that once carried passengers between Sacramento and San Francisco. Before that it had carried rice. It was brought over from France by the grandparents of a friend of mine, Jean Snuggs.

      Sacrament brought the Playa Queen, which represented the Delta King, a Sacramento Riverboat that once carried passengers between Sacramento and San Francisco. Before that it had carried rice. It was brought over from France by the grandparents of a friend of mine, Jean Snuggs.

      New York regional art at Burning Man 2013

      I found New York’s piece, a representation of the iconic top of the Chrysler Building to be particularly graceful.

      New Orleans regional art at Burning Man 2013.

      There was something fishy about New Orleans.

      Lithuania art at Burning Man 2013.

      Peggy and I were particularly interested in Lithuania’s regional work, which featured birds. While we were at Burning Man, Peggy’s sister, brother and cousin were visiting with relatives in the country. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)

      Burning of Lithuania's regional art at Burning Man 2013.

      Our connection with Lithuania’s art brought us back to watch it burn on Thursday night.

      Burning of Lithuanian Regional art at Burning Man 2103.

      The piece comes tumbling down.

      Washington DC's pyramid at Burning Man 2013.

      The glowing remains of Washington DC’s pyramid stand behind the embers of the Lithuania’s work. 22 other regional pieces were burning at the same time.

      New York City's regional art burns at Burning Man 2013.

      NYC’s art piece burns on the right.

      The East Bay Area structure burn.

      The East Bay Area’s structure burns.

      I've included this because of what appears to be an eerie face burning at the bottom.

      I’ve included this because of what appears to be an eerie face burning at the bottom.

      Beth and Tom Lovering, along with Peggy, glow in the firelight from the burn.

      Beth and Tom Lovering, along with Peggy, glow in the firelight from the burn.

      NEXT BLOG: The incredible ceremony surrounding the burning of the Man.

      Posted in Burning Man | Tagged Arches National Park, Burning Man, Burning Man 2013, giant cockroach at Burning Man, Idaho art at Burning Man, Lithuania art at Burning Man, Netherlands art at Burning Man, New Orleans art at Burning Man 2013, New York City art ant Burning Man, Regional art at Burning Man, Reno art at Burning Man, Texas art at Burning man, Utah art and Burning Man
    • Bush Devil Ate Sam

      The Bush Devil Ate Sam is an important record and a serious story, yet told easily, and with delightful humor. This is one of the most satisfying books I have ever read, because it entertained me thoroughly AND made me feel better informed. —Hilary Custance Green: British Author... Click on the image to learn more about my book, the Bush Devil Ate Sam, and find out where it can be ordered.

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