Burning Man returned to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert last week as tens of thousands of burners made their way back home to the temporary metropolis for the first time in two years due to the pandemic.
The weeklong gathering is a celebration of self-reliance and the community is encouraged to explore various forms of creative expression. This year’s theme was “Waking Dreams” and featured a variety of imaginative and interactive art installations like the colorful “Petaled Portal” by David Oliver, the massive, climbable piece known as “The Paradisium” by Dave Keane and the abstract “The Scum Thundercloud” by Bjarke Ingles.
A woman stands with her bike at the “Petaled Portal” by artist David Oliver as a dust storm passes through on the playa during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Statue by artist Michael Benisty during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A woman checks out the details on “GAIA” by Marco Cochrane with Julia Cortell from Petaluma, Calif. during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Newlyweds Ania and Philippe Labouchere dance during a sunrise party while attending Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A man rides his bike between “Atabey” by artist Nino, right, and the El Pulpo Mecanico art car during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“The Man” stands above a dust storm during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People gathered at the “Paradisium” by artist Dave Keane and Folly builders during dusk at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) P
A mother and her two children make their way across the deep playa during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“Diptown” by artist Stanislav Shminke during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People are silhouetted as they past “Strong Magic” by artist Jessica Levine during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“The Skum Thundercloud” by artists Bjarke Ingles and Jakob Lange during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Lamplighters carry lamps during their daily procession at Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Participants check out “Seed of Dreams” by artist Martin Taylor and the Chormaforms Art Collective during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A person balances on the “Beam” by artist Benjamin Langholz as a plume of smoke rises from a burn during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A man is silhouetted against an art installation at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Two participants battle in the Thunderdome during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“The Dreaming Goddess” by artist David Bell burns during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Statue by artist Michael Benisty casts a shadow on the ground during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The sun sets behind “the man” during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Fire dancer Sergio Garcia, of Long Beach, morns the death of his friend, Justin “Fluffy” Morris in the temple during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Fireworks go off during burning of “The Man” at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People climb to watch a Thunderdome fight during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People sit inside “Point of View” by HYBYCOZO during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“Black! Ase” by Erin Douglas and Black Burner Project from Baltimore during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Diplo performs to a large crowd at Camp Question Mark during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People are silhouetted against “The Skum Thundercloud” by artists Bjarke Ingles and Jakob Lange during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Children are silhouetted as they play with “Point of View” by HYBYCOZO during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Bakuza Olguin dances in front of “the Paradisium” during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Hechi-Ken Hamazaki, right, performs a Red Tea Ceremony at Burning Manduring Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“The Man” burns at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“The Man” burns at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Lamplighters are silhouetted as they carry lamps during their daily sunset procession at Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Burning of “Effigies” by Strange Design during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People ride their bikes near the temple during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Statue by artist Michael Benisty during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Helena Houdova poses during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Bakuza Olguin dances with her scarf in the deep playa during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“Sonic Sphere” by Kugelauditorium during Burning Man 2022 in the Black Rock Desert of Gerlach, Nev.during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People gathered for a sunrise party at the Robot Heart art car during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“Bop Bear” by Fnnch during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Aluna Lua dances during a morning gathering in the deep playa at Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Man during sunrise at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People watch a light show underneath the “Paraluna” by artist Christopher Schardt during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Lasers from an art car light up the sky as the statue by artist Michael Benisty stands in the deep playa during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A windsurfer passes by the “Petaled Portal” by artist David Oliver during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A participant balances on the “Beam” by artist Benjamin Langholz during dusk at Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People make their way inside the Temple at Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Fireworks go off during burning of “The Man” at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach in Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Participants design and build all the attractions that together form this pop-up city, as well as organize all activities and events. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, with soaring temperatures and a dust storm that nearly canceled what many consider the main attraction, which is the burning of the wooden man effigy. A dust storm kicked up late Friday evening, significantly decreasing visibility and it blew into the late afternoon on Saturday. Eventually it cleared and the burning went on as scheduled.
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Attendee Aaron Glassman of Las Vegas, Nev. said he’s been to Burning Man 11 times and has never seen such an intense combination of excessive heat and frequent white out dust storms.
“It made it one of the more challenging experiences I’ve had in all my years going,” he said. His camp, dubbed Pranksters in the Pines, all worked together to hold their area together as the dust blew. “It was a quality reminder of how we depend on each other out here.”
Glassman said he felt sympathy for anyone out there for their first burn.
“This was a harsh rite of passage for any virgin burner based on the weather,” he added.
That didn’t seem to bother first timer Justin Bishop of Laguna Hills.
“Experiencing the burn with thousands of people was the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced,” the 25-year-old said. “You can’t experience anything like that unless you’re there in person.”
For many, the “Waking Dreams” theme was spot on with how it felt to be able to return to Burning Man.
“Living back the reality of Burning Man and not the default world, it’s a dream to be back here,” said veteran photographer Danee Hazama. He was born in Pasadena, but has lived in Tahiti, French Polynesia for over two decades and has been photographing Burning Man for seven years. “For me (living in Tahiti), it’s turquoise lagoons and coconut trees and all green … paradise. But sometimes we all need change.”
