World in Flames: Black Rock City’s Burning Man Festival
History
First held at San Francisco’s Baker Beach in 1986, Burning Man started as a Summer Solstice celebration organized by Larry Harvey and Jerry James. The next four Burning Man events took place in Baker Beach, before it moved to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert in 1990. In 1995, a small cash entrance fee was charged for the first time, and since then, the fee has been increasing steadily- a 2015 entrance ticket will set you back $390. Tickets are available to all, but the priority given to veteran Burners sometimes makes it a bit difficult to get a ticket if you’re a newbie.
Art Exhibitions
Burning Man primarily features outsider and visionary art, although anyone can display anything that they choose. Each year’s event is themed, which gives focus to the exhibitions. The theme for 2015 is Carnival of Mirrors. Albeit the art created each year is different, there are a few recurring elements. Two things featured each year are the Man and the Temple, both of which are ritually burned on the last weekend. Every year, a different artist is invited to design and build the Temple, which serves as a focal point and community space for the entire week.
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