Burning Man: See Surreal Sculptures, Landscapes From Annual Festival
Nevada’s Black Rock Desert glowed neon after thousands of “Burners” set up camp in the sprawl for the 31st annual Burning Man gathering. This year’s theme, “Radical Ritual,” gave artists free rein to populate their temporary city with assorted shrines, temples and icons of their own designs. Check out dazzling, transcendent scenes from last weekend’s festivities with this gallery of photos by Andrew Jorgensen.
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‘Step Forward’
Carros de Foc and Miguel Angel Martin Bordera’s giant teenage girl puppet sculpture, titled “Step Forward,” walks and talks, interacting with Burning Man’s participants to learn from them – and to, tenderly, teach them her values.
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Action Figure Family
Jeff Allen Ricks sculpture lights up the desert at dusk.
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‘Phoenicopterus Rex’
A giant flamingo by Josh Zubkoff stands 40-feet tall as a “Welcome Home” sign for the festival attendees.
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LED Leaves
Ténéré offers shade to wanderers, adventure to climbers and transcendent community to those gathered beneath its 15,000 LED leaves.
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‘Dragonfly Mating Ritual’
Ed VanDyne and Rocky Mountain High Flyers Guild creation.
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Kalliope Art Car
Mikey Lion and Jonjo Williams play on top of the Kalliope art car while the Man burns on Saturday night.
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Flame Shooter
The Bounce art car shoots flames as burners dance in front of it during the Man burn on Saturday night.
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Bloomin’ in the Desert
The 40-foot tall “Bloom” sculpture by Peter Hazel sits in front of center camp.
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‘Firmament’
Burners gather and lay under the canopy of LEDs of Christoper Schardt’ art piece.
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Art Cars
Art Cars gather around DISTRIKT camp as the sun sets.
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Desert Throne
Sarah Herndon takes in the sunrise on an unknown art piece.
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Biking Across the ‘Playa’
Juliya Dan bikes across the playa, the term Burners use for the dry lake bed in the Black Rock Desert.
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‘Tower of Not Babel’
Yoga on top of “The Tower of Not Babel” as the sun sets over the Temple in the distance.
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Sunrise Play
Bob Moses plays on the Robot Heart and Mayan Warrior Art Cars at sunrise Thursday morning.
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Desert Hearts
Mikey Lion plays for a packed house Tuesday night at Pile Place camp.
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Sunset Sirens
Sally Smithson (left) and Alex “Cookie” Heredia after a strong sunset.
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Peaceful Contemplation
Burners climb on and explore artwork.
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Dragon Breath
A dragon art car shoots fire at as the sun rises over the Man in the distance.
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Ego Trip
Burners gather at Camp Ego Trip at sunset.
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Christina Art Car
The Christina art car cruises across the playa as a biker follows.
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Burners Gather at the Man
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The Man Explodes Into Flames
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Temple Burns
Burners watch in complete silence as the Temple burns Sunday night.
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Sally Smithson, Alex ‘Cookie’ Heredia
Strike a pose – at sunrise.
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Temple Walk
The lamplighters walk toward the Temple at sunrise.
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Welcome Home
DJs Porkchop and RYBO play at the Monday night Welcome Home party at camp Ego Trip.
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Land of the Rising Sun
Burners climb atop the Robot Heart art car as the sun rises over the Man in the distance.
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Attack of the Art Cars
Massive art cars cruise across the playa.
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Love Makes the World Go Round
Girls dance on top of the Robot Heart art car at sunrise.
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Sand Skippers
Kiersten Winant and Lauren Hillstrom skip toward the “Phoenicopterus Rex,” a giant flamingo sculpture.