my virtual burn 2013
TRANSCRIPT
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Photobyme,inwhichitislearnedthatoneManisasgoodasanyother(TheMan,2012)
My Virtual Burna 2013 playa picture book
by Margot / Kerosene
http://kerosenekrew.wordpress.com/
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Prologue
Randomwaffles
Tobehonest,IwaffledontheBurnallyear.Ididnteventryforaticketwhenthey
wentonsaleandIpassedupafewthatwereofferedtomeoverthemonths.Butbythe
timetheBurnwasrollingaroundinthesummer,Iwasreadytogetinmycaranddrive
the2,700milestogetthere,trunkpackedwithmytentandabinfullofcostumes.Id
promisedmyapartmentduringthelasttwoweeksofAugusttoStar,whowashaving
surgerytoreattachhisretinaotherwiseentirelyblind,maybehedbeabletoseelight
andformsandthiswouldbethedifferencebetweenlivingalwaysindarknessorliving
withtheblessingoflight.Darknessandlightperhapsthemostbasicqualitiesthat
defineBurningMan.
Butbymid-summer,itwasbecomingobviousthatifIlefttown,Starwouldbe
frighteninglyonhisownwithaninfectedeyeandtheloomingproblemofwherehed
livewhenIgotback.Theonlythingtodowasstayhometohelphimgettodoctors
appointmentsandlookforhousing.SoIgiftedmyBurntoStar.Idstickaroundand
dothingsthatwouldhelphimhaveabetterlifeforever.Definitelytherightchoice.But
IwasIhappy?No,IwasdefinitelynothappytomisstheBurn.
ThatswhenIconceivedofmyvirtualBurn.IfIcouldntreallybethere,Icouldliveit
fromafar.IdaskfriendandacquaintancesIknewfromtheplayaandstrangerstoo
tosendmephotosfromtheirBurns.Afewsentmephotosfromtheirnon-Burns,
becausetheymissedthatthinginthedeserttoothisyear.Outofthose,Idwritethe
storyofmyownBurn2013.Theydid,andtheresultwasaseriesofsmallplaya
adventures,interactionsandfriendshipsalwaysmyfavoritethingaboutbeingat
BurningMan.Hereitis!Ifyoureadit,thenIcanhaveanotherlittleadventure,this
timewithyou,evenifIdontknowaboutit.Enjoy!
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Build Week
PhotobyKeeper/Stacy,aRangerandtheteacherattheone-roomschoolhouseinGerlach
Keeperdidntwantmetomissthepre-Burnsoshegiftedmeanearlyentrypass.
Meanwhile,backinNewYork,sinceIwasntleavingtownafterall,Iwasmadlylooking
foraplacetolivesoStarcouldstayatmyplace.ItextedPieterandaskedhimifIcould
usehisplacewhilehewasontheplaya.Ihadnttalkedtohimformanymonths,buthe
saidyeswithouthesitationwhenheheardwhyIneededhishelp,giftingmehis
apartmentfortwoweeks.Hechallengingmetomakeapairofspandexpantswhileon
myvirtualBurn.Atnight,afterdoingreallyhardthingswithStarallday,Idgobackto
hisplaceanddecoratetheinsideofhisrefrigeratortoblowoffsteam.
Yes,readers,Imadethepants.DecoratedRefrigerator,
aminiplayaartprojectthatnevermadeittotheplaya
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Day 1
PhotobyMario
IswungbyDistrikt.Endedupdancingwiththesetwoforasweaty30minutes.BeforeI
left,theguyslippedsomethingoutofhispocketaperfectlybakedcookiehe'dmadein
asolaroven.Anexplosionofchocolateandginger.Hegavemeasipofsomethingfromhiscanteenicecoldlemonadefromfreshlemons.Inevergottheirnames.
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Later that day
PhotobySteph.RainbowbyGod.
ImetamysteriousmanwhocalledhimselfGyahnnPhrooom.Hehadwithhimasmall
timetravelmachinethatenabledmetoattendBurnspastandfuture.Ispentafewdays
zoomingaroundvisitingplayafriendsIhadntyetmetorhadlongsinceforgotten,
attendingBurnsbeforeIeverthoughtofgettingaticketandBurnsfarintothefuture.I
metmyselfseveraltimes,encounteredplayalovesovermanydecades,andspenta
combinedtotalof42.8yearsontheplayaduringBurn2013.
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At the Airport
PhotobyFreakinFrankie
AtamezcalbaroutbytheBlackRockCityairport,Imetthesethree,whohadjust
parachutedontotheplaya.Ibeggedandbeggedthemtotakemeonmyveryfirstjump.
Theyinsisteditwasfartoodangerous.Butthemezcalworkeditsmagic.Atdawn,we
jumped,mestrappedtotheguylikethebabyJesusinaholidaycrcheandthetwo
womenspreadingtheirdresseslikeangelswingsintherosyfingersofmorning.
PhotobyBriana
Aftermyjump,Imetthisteeny,tiny
littleairplanepilot,ridinganplane
constructedoutofametalthimble,
offeringfreeridestopretty
bumblebees.
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Light and Darkness
PhotobyZac,whomIhavenevermet
Sometimesthebesttimesontheplayaaretheoneswhennothingatallishappening.
Thatnight,Anjagotmarried.
Backhome,thetwobrilliantandgenerousdoctorswhooperatedonStarseyeweredisagreeingabouttreatment.Itwasconfusingandscary.Then,inaflash,Starseyehealed.
Themostexcitingtimesweretheoneswhenhecouldseelightandform.Itwasalways
whiteagainstblackorthereversethethickwhitelinesofacrosswalkagainstblack
pavementorapersoninablacksweatshirtpassingawhitesky.Thisisjustthebeginning,
wehope.ThedoctorsaidthemechanismofStarseyeiswellaligned.Now,itsamatterof
hiseyelearninghowtotalktohisbrain,anaturalpartofthehealingprocess.Stressisa
knowndestroyerofthisprocess.Star,closetohomeless,needssafetytolearntosee.
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W h a t i s i t t h a t w e l o v e ? . . .o r , th e M y s te r i o u s B o x A d v e n t u r e .
PhotobyLaurent
Laurent,aFrenchscientistwhomImetatapancakehouseonedustymorningatBurningMan2012,sentmethisphotoformyvirtualBurn.Hehadntmadeitouttotheplayaeither
thisyear.Theobviousmessagewasinthewords.ButwhenIlooked,IrealizedIdidnt
knowwhatthisboxorstreetcabinet,asLaurentcalleditactuallywas.Adumpster,I
thoughtatfirst.AsphotospouredinformyvirtualBurn,IsentLaurentonaresearch
missiontofindoutmoreabouttheseboxes.HewanderedthestreetsofVancouver.His
firstguesswasthatitmightbeapad-mountedtransformer.Hesaid,Thereisrefrigeration
andthethingisdefinitelyelectrical.Ononeofthem,Isawateenyhighvoltagewarning
post,butnothingasvisibleasitshouldbeifitwereatransformerbox.Laurentsroom
mateimagineditwasaphoneswitchbox,buttherewasnogiantwarningofriskofdeath.
Atlast,LaurentfiguredoutitwasforDSLinternet.Hewroteme,saying,Theboxwas
visibleinGoogleStreet,butthelovesignwasn'tthereandtheboxitselfwasdifferent.It'smodularinnature,andsinceGooglephotographedit,therightcabinethasbeenchangedto
matchtheleftone.Sonowitremindsmeeitherofaheart,ortheheadofarobot.Ilikethe
factthatthislittlepieceofhardwareiskindofalive,it'sskinchanges,andit'sabletoevolve
itselfstructurallytoo.I'msohappytoseethesestreetcabinetsnow.Streetsarelessvapid
sinceIhuntforthem.Theyreeverywhereonceyoulookforthem.Idon'tknowwhomade
that'Love
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Beauty
PhotobyRaj
ThesegorgeousplayabeautieswerefromafashionhouseinMilano.Theyworenothingby
silk,neverconsideringtheheat,andifonlythepicturehadincludedtheshoes!
PhotobyKimpossible
Randomout-of-placebeauty.KimpossiblegiftedmethisquietwalkinaVancouvercemetery
duringBurnweek.Youcanseethetombstonesifyoulookcarefullyintheshadows.
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Something Weird and Ugly
Sometimeinthemiddleofallthis,myeyegotreallyinfected.Thishasneverhappened
tomebefore.Starseyehadbeeninfectedmuchofthesummer.Itwaspainful,sapped
himofhisenergyandmadeithardforhimtoconcentrateordoallthehardthingshe
gotupeverymorningtodo.NowIfeltatinybitofthat.Itwasverystrange,likeIhad
somehowbecomesoconnectedtohimthatItookonasmallpartofhisexperience.
Hereswhatitlookedlike:
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Day What?
PhotobyRyan
AndthisnightGodknowswhathappenedthisnight!DidIeatthelittlecakethatsaid,Eat
me?OrmaybeIdrankthedrinkthatsaid,Drinkme.Oritcouldhavebeensomeweird
ancientspiritoftheplayadecidingtohavesomefunwithme.Inanycase,Ifoundmyselftransformedintothishugerubberduckie.Peoplerodemethoughthenight.Wegotdirty
together,wesharedsomesweat.Ididntgetsmallagainuntilthesuncameup.
Backhome,anotherkindofSaywhat??wasgoingon.StarwasworkingashardasIve
everyseenapersonwork,tryingtogethousing.Becausehesblind,findingahomeis
harderthanjumpinginhiscar,seeingapartments,andthenpayingforonewiththemoney
heearnsfromhisjob.Itinvolveslargegovernmentbureaucraciessetuptohelppeopleget
housing,butwhethertheyactuallydodependsonByzantinerulesandifthepersononthe
othersideofthedeskwantstohelporpreferstosittherelikealumpoftoxiccoal.Starand
Iwenttoalotofappointments.Itwasshockinghowmanypromisesweremadetohimand
howmuchofnothingeverhappened.IfIhadntseenitwithmyowneyes,Ineverwould
havebelievedit.Starwaskindoflikefightingforhislifeanindependentlife,withhisown
apartmentandhisownkeyversusaninstitutionalizedlifeinafacility.Amazinghow
manypeoplewerejustsosurethatthesecondchoicetheonlyone.Imsayingthisallvery
calmlynow,buttherehasreallybeenquiteabitofrageonmypartattheshabbywaymy
friendhasbeentreatedandhowpeopleplayedsoeasilywithchoicesabouthislife.Star
hadtobesostrong,sosmart,soperseveringtoostrong,smart,andpersevering.Noone
shouldhavetogothroughallthatjusttogetthebasicbuildingblockofadecentlife
HOME.
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Chariots and Their Many Uses
PhotobyMr.WA,whomadePepeOzansNarwhalswimagain.
MoreNarwhalnuttiness.IthinkmaybetheytrailedthisbehindtheNarwhal. Ontheplaya,Mr.WAandhiscrewweresailingtheNarwhalacrossthedust,making
mobileperformanceartonacar-whaleamalgam.
Backhome,wewerepackingallofStarsstuffupandstashingitinthetrunkandback
seatofmycar,makingitimpossibletoparkonaNewYorkCitystreetandthus
renderingitfairlyimmobile.
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Last Day
PhotobySteve
Iranintothatguy,Phrooom,again.Hehadasad,lostlookinhiseyesandwhenhe
handedmethetimetravelboxthistime,heturnedhisbackandwalkedaway,kicking
upatrailofdustthatobliteratedhim.
Itimetraveledfar,farintothefuture.It'sunclearifBurningManwillstillbehappening
ontheplayabythetimethisphotowillbetaken,orhappeningatall,orevenifhuman
beingswillstillwalktheplanetEarth.Possiblythisyogapractitionerwasmerely
anothertimetraveler.Inanycase,Isatfaroffandwatchedherbendandrustleinthe
dustforabouthalfanhourbutIneverapproachedher.Neitherdidsheapproachme.
Liketravelersinafardistantplace,wedisdainedourown.Shewasbeautiful.ThenIleft.
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Day 1 Again
PhotobyCariLee
Onthis,thelastdayofmyBurn,ItraveledbackintimetothefirstBurn.Notthefirst
timeaMangoterectedinthedesert.ImeanreallytheveryfirstBurnatthebeginning
oftime.Isawthisbeautifulsunrise.
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The Magic of Gifting
BeforeanyBurns,virtualorotherwise,startedthisyear,IdaskedTy,thecreatorofthe
NecklaceFactoryAwardsforoutstandingplayaartprojects,topullsomethingfromthe
GREATBlackRockCityBoutiqueandsenditalongaftertheBurnalittleplayagift.
Thisiswhathesentme:
Margot,
If I have my storystraight, it seems that youskipped your Burn this
year so that it would bepossible to help a friendthrough a tough time.
A selfless andcompassionate act likethat certainly deservesrecognition.
Congratulations.
You are the Winner of a2013 Necklace FactoryAward of High Merit and
Honor.
Tys2013poster,patchandpin.
Thepinhasabatteryandlightsupblue.
Itissoundactivated.
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PostscriptImissedgoingtotheplayathisyearbuttheplayacametomeinmanywaysinthe
generosityoftheBurnerwhogavemehisapartment,inthepicturesthatfriendsand
strangerssentmeformyvirtualBurnandtheinteractionsIhadwithpeopleabout
them,inthechallengetomakeanewcostumeandthefunofcreatingaminiplayaartprojectinmyfriendsrefrigerator,insubtlecostuming,intheNecklaceFactoryAward.
IgottotakeAnjatotheplayaforherveryfirstBurn.Igottoconnectwithplayafriends
IprobablywouldhavemissedifI'dactuallybeeninBlackRockCityamidst60,000
people.Imetstrangerswhobecamenewplayafriendsthroughtheirparticipationin
myvirtualBurn.Imadeaspecialefforttolivethetenprinciplesathomeoverthelast
twoweeksofAugustand,morethanthat,Itriedtolookforandfindthemagicofevery
daylife.Itwasnthardatall.2013wasmythirdBurn.Ifoundoutthattheplaya-of-
the-mindisapowerfulplacetobe.Igottoburnreallybeautifullythisyear.
AsforStar,hesignedhisleaseandmovedinyesterday.Therewere
forcesattheVeteransAdministrationwhoarepushingforthisdisabledU.S.
veterantobepressuredintoahospital
housingfacility.TherearesomanypeoplewhoobstructedStaralongthe
way,whodiscriminatedagainsthimanddoubtedhispowertolivefree.
Andtherearesomanywhohelpedin
bigandsmallways.
Itismyheartfeltwishthatovertime,
asStarlivesinasafe,quietplacewherehecanrelaxandshapehisown
life,thathiseyewilllearntotalktohisbrainonceagain.
T h e E n d . . .?
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Dedication
ThisBurningMan2013artprojectisgifted
toStar,toeveryonewhoofferedthingsalongtheway,
andtoyou,deardustyreader.
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Many thanks to:
Charles/Star
Pieter/BriteliteBriana
Ty
Stacy/KeeperLaurent
Kim/Kimpossible
Benoit/Mr.WASteph
SteveCariLee
Mario
FreakinFrankieZac
AnjaRaj
Ryan
Alex/NomadCampShowUsUrPits
TheNarwhal
Mary/YesheWangmoBeckett/SarahRuchel
Ms.Hopkins,Ms.Freeman&Audy
andmanyothers
Dusty hugs,Margot / Kerosene