As so many of us are well aware, the eclectic event Burning Man is not just TTITD (“that thing in the desert”) – it expands beyond so much more than its presence on playa as Black Rock City for a week of the year. This is becoming more and more true as the large-scale art built for, or displayed at (or both) the event is being increasingly displayed across the globe.
According to DCist, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery announced just last week a new exhibit called “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man” next Spring. It will be open from March 30, 2018 through the following summer, with a close date of September 16.
The exhibit will include large-scale art installations erected for the event, event jewelry and costumes and will focus on the “maker culture” the event so wonderfully embodies. Needless to say, we’re curious to see how this will be represented in a museum setting, as capturing the feel of Burning Man is quite the endeavor – maybe they should throw a bit of playa dust on the ground.
Marian Goodell, CEO of Burning Man Project, said about the exhibit:
“Through this ambitious exhibition, more people will have a chance to engage with Burning Man’s ethos, which has given rise to a thriving year-round culture spurred by a growing global community of participants. We’re looking forward to this excellent opportunity to showcase the elements of Burning Man that are helping change the world around us for the better.”
The exhibit will also include archival photos and documents from the Nevada Museum of Art’s Burning Man archive that describe the festival’s origins and growth over time.