Burning Man: Art in the Desert and the Irish involvement in 2011
Burning Man 2007 was the spark that lit the fire in me and out of those embers came mutantspace. It is one of the largest arts and culture festivals in the United States and takes place annually during the last week of August in the temporary Black Rock City that springs up for the event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.
On Friday I received details from Burners Ireland about the award given to Dubliner Diarmuid Horkan, cofounder of the International Arts MegaCrew (IAM), who was awarded the commission to create and construct the official 2011 Temple project for the Burning Man event. The Temple is the largest art commission awarded by Burning Man, and this is the first time this commission has gone to an international artist.
The International Arts Megacrew, lead by Horkan, has named this year’s Temple the “Temple of Transition.” Made of wood, the Temple of Transition will take the form of a 120-foot tiered, hexagonal central tower, surrounded by five 58-foot tiered, hexagonal towers. These towers are vaulted and lofty, cut with a profusion of gothic style arches at every level. The Temple is ceremonially burned at the culmination of the event.
“After a decade of ever increasing involvement in Burning Man, it is an indescribable honour to be entrusted with creating this incredibly challenging and complex art project,” said Horkan. “The Burning Man Temple is really the spiritual heart of Burning Man, and will take the coordinated efforts of over 150 dedicated crew members to create. We hope to ensure that it delivers an experience of reverence, reflection, peacefulness and togetherness for the entire community.”
According to Elizabeth Scarborough, Associate Director of Art Management for Burning Man, “During its week of existence, over 50,000 attend our events, enjoy our hundreds of art installations, and help us to create the fifth largest city in Nevada. The Temple is a sacred installation for our temporary city. The Temple traditionally is our largest funded project, and therefore, being selected as its artist is both and honor and a serious responsibility.”
A series of fundraising events to help raise additional funds for the project will be held around the globe including an event in Dublin in early July. For more information visit www.temple2010.org or contact Teresa Moiola with the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs at +1 775-232-3531 (USA).
Congratulations Diarmuid. Wish I was there
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