The spectacle that is Burning Man comes to northern Nevada’s 400-square mile Black Rock Desert for one week each year. This year, it begins on August 30 and continues through Labor Day and, as he has done for the past five years, local artist Bryan Tedrick will leave Sonoma behind as he totes an enormous piece of public art into the 107-degree desert.
What exactly, you ask, is Burning Man? According to the web site, trying to describe the event to someone who has never been is like trying to describe color to a blind person. Suffice to say, however, that this once-a-year event brings together tens of thousands of people to be part of an experimental community – Black Rock City – dedicated to community, self-expression, and self-reliance. Art is an enormous part of the experience and attendees are encouraged to make each year’s designated theme come alive with either an art installation, camp, costume or something else entirely. There are few rules but one – everyone who attends participates. And when they depart a week later, they leave no trace of ever having been there.
For Tedrick it took years of coaxing from friends before he decided to take the plunge and experience Burning Man for himself. Once initiated, he was hooked. At first, Tedrick simply brought along a piece of his art. But for the past three years, Burning Man has commissioned and paid Tedrick to create a sculpture for the event. One previous effort – giant wings – can be seen outside Kenwood Restaurant. A photo of last year’s piece – entitled Portal of Evolution, complete with crow’s nest – made the front cover of the art section of “The New York Times.” Visit artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/even-the-butterflies-are-tough-in-the-desert-world-of-burning-man to see the sculpture.
It should be noted that the first Burning Man was built in 1986 and ignited on San Francisco’s Baker Beach to honor the Summer Solstice. There were 20 participants. Today’s Burning Man project is considerably larger, funding close to 45 different pieces of art costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000.
In keeping with this year’s theme, Metropolis, Tedrick decided to create a Minaret. Minarets have been used as light beacons, wind catchers, as well as platforms to call people to prayer. “Given the theme, I felt an architectural piece would be appropriate. Thinking of desert architecture and knowing vertical forms show better in the flatness of the desert I thought of a tower shape. Wanting to maintain a certain spirituality, a Minaret seemed to be the obvious spire of inspiration,” said Tedrick. “I read multiple associations into this piece; a spinal cord, a phallus, a mushroom, a scepter, totem and snake. All celebrate spirit and life energy. This piece then is a power spot to gather round and join.”
According to Tedrick the Minaret’s three sections are like vertebrae. People can climb on the outside and once halfway up, they can enter the main tube and take an interior ladder up to the top, where a platform under the dome gives a bird’s eye view of the surrounding landscape.
Not only is this year’s sculpture the tallest ever created by Tedrick, he is also collaborating for the first time with other artists to bring this piece to life. Santa Rosa native Sudhu Tewari will be lighting the Minaret with LEDs and motion and sound activated devices. Additionally, there will be a spot – a six-foot horizontal arm – for aerial acrobats to perform on the piece using a trapeze, silk ribbons or whatever they choose.
“It is incredibly exciting to see how much creativity is going on out there. It really is one big performance stage with everyone putting on a show. The best way for me to participate given my talents is to bring sculpture.”
For those who would like to get a glimpse of Tedrick’s Minaret beyond these pages, the piece will return from the desert and a “short stack” will be exhibited at Santa Rosa’s Handcar Regatta, which takes place in Railroad Square at the end of September.
