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Burning Man Kicks Off in High Gear
31-Aug-2008
Written by: Jessica McCumber
The art festival attracts nearly 45,000 people.
The Burning Man Festival, a Nevada desert tradition since 1990, takes a week to celebrate art, and sfgate.com reports that this year's is looking to outdo itself.
Everything is bigger this year, from sculptures that rise 10 stories to fur covered double-decker busses with fog horns. Even the sandstorm was big this year on opening day, shutting the entrance gate down for a full seven hours.
One notable piece of art showing this year's theme of the American Dream was a 10-story steel-frame tower built by union workers and equipped with a stairwell going all the way to the top, known as Babylon.
It was made out of recycled materials, and the rumored $700,000 for building and transportation was reportedly financed to pay tribute to a Greek grandfather who was an early builder of Las Vegas. The structure even had a projection booth combining different parts from different people to make one person.
Reportedly, nearly 45,000 people came Thursday to Black Rock City, a temporary 9-mile perimeter city just for the event, to camp in motor homes and tents. There were even “theme camps” that provided yoga sessions, martinis, and dance clubs for crowds.
The Festival is built on a few rules and tradition though. Ice and espresso are the only things sold as buying and selling is forbidden. This means people are responsible for themselves bringing their own shelter, food and water for a whole week in the desert.
And, of course, on Saturday, the last night of the festival will have the ritual burning of a 40-foot wooden man for which the festival is named.
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