On Burning Art
I am currently collaborating on a 35' diameter, 15' tall art piece called The Śiṣya, a piece about loss and transformation, which we will burn as one of the official burns at Burning Man 2016. The immediacy of the experience will be part of the art. We are currently at 90% of our fundraising goal with just hours left in the fundraiser. Any contributions and shares will be appreciated.
The following is a story from my dear friend Matthew Sturm who went to Haiti for a week where they created a tool bus, painted and repaired bridges and buildings, ran a fundraiser, and even launched a Haitian chocolate bar. The fundraiser culminated in burning an art piece they had constructed and this is a story of how burning art changes the art.
You start with a vision. This art will express something deep within you to the world. Then you build a coalition, you share the vision and watch it grow and morph as more people engage with the project and add their personal touches. You spend your time and money, you work hard, you argue. And eventually, your project comes to life.
And then you did it, it’s on display for the world to see. You admire it. Your team admires it. Friends and other folks get to see your project and: yeah it’s pretty cool…
And there you have it.
Unless, you decide to burn your art. That changes everything.
Even before the burn, your art becomes an experience. People go from being art spectators or appreciators, to entering into the unique present-moment magic of the art.
They become part of the art, because the art is now this present moment. The impermanence brings immediacy.
During the burn, there is a climax of energy — all of these people focusing their energy on this piece of art. Consuming your art energetically, as the flames consume it physically. And it takes on a life of its own. Your art experience is creating meaning for everyone present. And that’s a deeply rewarding outcome for art: to create meaning.
I remember being in Haiti, on top of this warehouse roof lighting off fireworks, and then looking down at the circle of people surrounding our wooden heart as it went up in huge flames. Then this guy Pat ran right in front of the heart and bowed down in front of it — here’s a photo from my vantage on the roof:
It was EPIC.
