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Maker Culture (Gallery 202)
Burners devote themselves to the gloriously useless. Not unlike makers, they like to play and tinker for the sheer pleasure of seeing what will happen.
–-Richard Polt
One of the most overlooked questions about Burning Man art is, why do people make it? Regardless the size of project -- whether a massive installation or a cache of pendants -- certainly, there is no money in it. Most artists put in long hours year-round preparing for the event, yet of the hundreds of artworks placed each year, only a portion receive funding from the Burning Man Project and grants, while generous in resources, rarely cover the full cost of production. To supplement the assistance they receive, artists run crowdsourcing campaigns to help realize their projects. And at the end of the event, many artworks are destroyed, given away, or mined for parts to begin the next installation. So what is the motivation?
Simply put, Burning Man art may be the ultimate expression of the maker movement made by a network of enthusiasts that has risen in response to digital culture, who share passion for making and a custom of enthusiastic knowledge and resource-sharing. Digital tools and easy online communication have helped maker culture spread quickly, promoting a blend of handcraft and cutting-edge technology in an atmosphere that fosters ingenuity and learning by doing, and values every individual's unique contribution. One of the beauties of Burning Man art is that so much of it is created by people who don't identify as "artists" at all, but as engineers, programmers, architects, or inspired novices. These permeable boundaries give the work its engaging, populist character; it often lands somewhere between art and other realms.
Though most art for Burning Man is made in advance, the weeks leading up to the event provide a space for experimentation amid a supportive, talented community and under extreme test conditions. Many projects still fail, but the challenge is the pursuit. A cheerful slogan, "the playa provides," reminds Burners that things have a way of working out through the kindness of strangers. Interestingly, some perennial artists admit they could forgo the actual weeklong gathering, but thrive on the preparation phase and the community built through it, with all its infectious energy. They enjoy sharing their skills, tinkering for the thrill of new discoveries, and creating for the pure joy of contributing to something larger than themselves as they entertain and inspire their fellow attendees. |