Every year in the wilderness of the Black Rocks (Black Rock Desert) in the U.S. state of Nevada is taking place, one of the world's largest festival of contemporary art. The event is called Burning Man ( «burning man»). The main feature of this festival is that to take part in it could anyone. Burning Man festival lasts all week, but during this short time, the participants have time to turn the desert site into a fantastic city. The main idea of the activities - «radical self-expression».

Burning Man began in mid-1980's in San Francisco. Local artists Larry Harvey (Larry Harvey), James and Jerry (Jerry James) invented an interesting ritual: the summer solstice on the day they met with friends at one of the most beautiful beaches in the city and burned a large wooden sculpture. Later they moved to Nevada, where artists Kevin Evans (Kevin Evans) and John Law (John Law) was carried out in the wilderness, a small festival Zone Trip # 4, A Bad Day at Black Rock. They staged performances, as well as to build the sculpture and burned them. Thanks to Harvey and James, the event is a new «chip» - the burning of 12-meter wooden blockhead, and then a new name - Burning Man.

Sundress radio quickly spread information about new interesting events throughout America. At Burning Man started coming artists from all states. In 1997, the number of participants in the festival was 10 thousand people! A decade later, in the hot desert nevadskuyu 47 thousand have already arrived wanting to show themselves and their creations.

«radical self-expression» permeated the entire atmosphere of the festival Burning Man. People create insane sculptures (many of which are moving and spew fire), the installation of the incredible building materials, and organize performances, concerts and theatrical performances. Many participants specifically for the festival invent itself unusual outfits. And some even flaunt naked: nudity at Burning Man - common. At the festival there are no attributes of civilization, in particular, money and cars. Instead of money, people exchanged gifts, but as a transportation use «car-mutants», such as giant muffins motor.

For the festival is a special platform designed for ceremonial burning of a wooden man as well as other sculptures and installations. In addition, every year at Burning Man build the temple, which then also burned. Each member can express the festival, as he wanted. Some conceive grandiose expensive projects. For the most impressive ideas Organizers festivals grants.

Every year, organizers of the event to invent a special theme: the 2006-m - «Hope and fear», the 2007-m - «Green man». This year, the creators of works of art invited to reflect on the idea of «American dream».

The festival will begin August 25 and continue until September 1.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: burningman.com , artinvestment.ru