Brad Templeton's Photography
The Art

The Art

Always astounding is the art of Black Rock City. Many artists of remarkable talent come to Burning Man, and build their ephemeral art. In many cases to burn it at the end, but always to take it away when done. Some projects (like the Bone Tree) return year after year but many are new or changed each year.

While some of the art it silly, much of it is quite impressive. Here are a few I got to photograph, considering I did less art photography due to the dust.

The heart burns fire while the plastic chapel glows behind it
a006_3.jpg
(682 x 1024 - 39K)
The heart burns fire while the plastic chapel glows behind it
Inside the glorious mausoleum, light filters through the jigsaw panels.
a008_5.jpg
(1280 x 853 - 198K)
Inside the glorious mausoleum, light filters through the jigsaw panels.
At night, the plastic chapel (rebuilt temple of burning book) glows through its intricate patterns of plastic art
a022_22.jpg
(1280 x 835 - 119K)
At night, the plastic chapel (rebuilt temple of burning book) glows through its intricate patterns of plastic art
Lite-brite camp built a giant Lite-brite.  K. plays with it.
a025_25.jpg
(1280 x 853 - 98K)
Lite-brite camp built a giant Lite-brite. K. plays with it.
The merry-go-round, at moonrise
atplay.jpg
(683 x 1024 - 51K)
The merry-go-round, at moonrise
The cat beast, known as Flock, one of the most striking sculptures, with the moon rising behind it
cat-sunset.jpg
(683 x 1024 - 49K)
The cat beast, known as Flock, one of the most striking sculptures, with the moon rising behind it
The plane crash and the Ziggurat
crashed2.jpg
(1280 x 853 - 82K)
The plane crash and the Ziggurat
Wide angle view of the plane crash
crashedplane.jpg
(683 x 1024 - 56K)
Wide angle view of the plane crash
The burning banners returned for another year
(1280 x 853 - 51K)
The burning banners returned for another year
Wheel of fortune and the Man
(683 x 1024 - 48K)
Wheel of fortune and the Man
Buckminster Fuller's nose
(1280 x 853 - 59K)
Buckminster Fuller's nose
Field of Lanterns in the desert
(1280 x 853 - 78K)
Field of Lanterns in the desert
Low view of field of sunflowers
(1280 x 853 - 88K)
Low view of field of sunflowers
Name of this piece is unknown
(683 x 1024 - 40K)
Name of this piece is unknown
Cabin of the ThinEds
(1280 x 853 - 84K)
Cabin of the ThinEds
Woman sits among the dancers
(1280 x 853 - 65K)
Woman sits among the dancers
Title unknown
(683 x 1024 - 79K)
Title unknown
Title unknown
(1280 x 853 - 76K)
Title unknown
Wind driven bells
(1280 x 853 - 87K)
Wind driven bells
The Flock in sunshine
(683 x 1024 - 69K)
The Flock in sunshine
Atop the Ziggurat as whirligigs turn.  This is the place from which several of my panoramics of the Esplanade were shot.
(1280 x 853 - 81K)
Atop the Ziggurat as whirligigs turn. This is the place from which several of my panoramics of the Esplanade were shot.
The Ziggurat, with very tall steps.  Site of some of my panoramas.  It burned after the man.
(1280 x 853 - 98K)
The Ziggurat, with very tall steps. Site of some of my panoramas. It burned after the man.
The Coliseum.  At night, the pipes on the ground reflected laser beams in the dust for war games.
(1280 x 853 - 93K)
The Coliseum. At night, the pipes on the ground reflected laser beams in the dust for war games.
The maze.  Around the central structure is a large standard maze.  Participants enter and must find their way to the center for stairs to the top.  At the top they can see the patterns and taunt the lost.   Then they can slide down a fire pole to avoid having to run it again.
(1280 x 853 - 76K)
The maze. Around the central structure is a large standard maze. Participants enter and must find their way to the center for stairs to the top. At the top they can see the patterns and taunt the lost. Then they can slide down a fire pole to avoid having to run it again.
A few windows in the maze showed the various layers, all the way to the central room.
(1280 x 853 - 85K)
A few windows in the maze showed the various layers, all the way to the central room.
A couple leaves the maze by sliding down the fire pole.
(683 x 1024 - 72K)
A couple leaves the maze by sliding down the fire pole.
The 3-D maze.  You entered on the 3rd level, and had to make your way through various sneaky routes to the top.  Ladder was only for entry and for the claustrophobic to escape.
(1280 x 853 - 102K)
The 3-D maze. You entered on the 3rd level, and had to make your way through various sneaky routes to the top. Ladder was only for entry and for the claustrophobic to escape.
The wonderful mausoleum.  On the wood, people wrote the names of the dead and other things which would symbolically burn.  Sadly I had two dead to write in it this year.
(1280 x 853 - 145K)
The wonderful mausoleum. On the wood, people wrote the names of the dead and other things which would symbolically burn. Sadly I had two dead to write in it this year.
Near the south end of the city, including emerald city.  The soft surface here kept me away from it too much.
(1280 x 853 - 117K)
Near the south end of the city, including emerald city. The soft surface here kept me away from it too much.
Crouching figures at sunset
(1280 x 853 - 58K)
Crouching figures at sunset
Crouching figures in the day, with usual dust storm behind and other Playa activity
(1280 x 853 - 87K)
Crouching figures in the day, with usual dust storm behind and other Playa activity
A globe, at sunset
(1280 x 853 - 107K)
A globe, at sunset
(683 x 1024 - 62K)
"Fronds" at sunset
The perennial bone tree.
(683 x 1024 - 67K)
The perennial bone tree.
Remains of the Ziggurat after burning (and shoveling I think)
(1280 x 853 - 74K)
Remains of the Ziggurat after burning (and shoveling I think)
From underneath the Flock into blue sky.
(1280 x 853 - 77K)
From underneath the Flock into blue sky.
Through the legs of the Flock to southern camp.
(1280 x 853 - 114K)
Through the legs of the Flock to southern camp.
The mini-mausoleum with a casket for suicides used to frame the main Mausoleum.
maso-framed.jpg
(655 x 1024 - 132K)
The mini-mausoleum with a casket for suicides used to frame the main Mausoleum.
Spinning head with moonrise
moonrise-head.jpg
(683 x 1024 - 47K)
Spinning head with moonrise
Child plays on the merry go round at moonrise
playground1.jpg
(683 x 1024 - 68K)
Child plays on the merry go round at moonrise
K. plays on spinning head with full moon
swinging.jpg
(683 x 1024 - 64K)
K. plays on spinning head with full moon

Burning Man 2001 Index

The Art | Vehicles | Scenes | People | Before the Burn | The Burn
Camps | Critical Tits | The Man

Panoramic Photos for this trip