Comments on: Burning Man inspires creativity because it gets past “art”

By: Jack Trash

Jack Trash — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:24:43 +0000

Here’s an interesting way to think of it: The word “artist” contains the object “art”, whereas if you call yourself a “creative”, it contains a verb, “create”. It sounds simplistic, but the difference to me implies action versus objects. Process versus output.

Most “artists” I know are creative within their chosen mediums, but limited outside of their areas of expertise. A “creative” is more apt to try something, just for the sake of creating, and usually does not care so much about the last 5% of the quality of the finished product (“I made it, it works, it is good enough…”). This is more akin to the BM creatives. I don’t think we get a lot of respect in the serious art world because you cannot sell very well that which was not intended to be sold. Plus, there needs to be scarcity, and the collective energy of production for art and expression at BM is still gushing forth. Someone once told me “Art at BM is the by-product of a critical mass of creative people, not the intention or the goal. If it was a gathering of athletes, an Olympics would ensue. Same thing. Now get off my cooler, I need some ice…”

Btw, CM, love your articles. The Mask one is one of my favorites…

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By: Akiba Kiiesmira

Akiba Kiiesmira — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:48:23 +0000

Great piece of writing and a great insight. It resonates clearly as a law of life. Burchard talks about living a charged life by injecting our lives with something new. The newness provides the (creative) spark. Art must have new life energy running through it. So, a great piece of art continually summons new energy, that is what makes it great, just like great people, they inspire new behavior from us. Ah, artistry is such a teacher.

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By: uCoz Scripts

uCoz Scripts — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:24:33 +0000

This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally
I have found something that helped me. Thanks a lot!

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By: skip rathnaw

skip rathnaw — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 00:45:03 +0000

creativity??? burningman has been on my bucket list for some time. for about a year i have read many blogs and stories relating to burningman. i have often said to myself, if i should get to burningman, what would i create to give as a gift? i have no creativity. i can volunteer skills but no gift.
in my readings about burningman i came up w/ the term ‘out of the box’. i wondered ‘is this creativity’? i think i saw a story that said ‘apple’ and ‘google’ had many of their people at burningman. some for the creativity, some looking to recruit these who think ‘out of the box’.
perhaps someone can explain, is creativity inate or learned?
what a wonderful experience exists a burning man

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By: Flabio

Flabio — Fri, 25 May 2012 23:29:18 +0000

I like to go see new bands in clubs. Before they get their first paycheck. Before they start advertising their selves. This is when the best creations occur.

Many bands put out one good album. After that, it is over.

Burning Man can make a space for creativity to return. Where something happens that allows you to find yourself again.

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By: Finn

Finn — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:31:08 +0000

I find it helps to think of “art” as a process, an act, instead of an object.

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By: Davey Silva

Davey Silva — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:25:56 +0000

Well said and beautifully written. Cheers, friend!

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By: Darren B

Darren B — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:08:25 +0000

Excellent post.
I stumbled across this post quite by synchronicity.
I’m reading the book “Shoeless Joe” by W.P.Kinsella
(the book that was made into the movie “Field of Dreams” starring Kevin Costner)
and I came across this passage in the book;

” “I think it is quite charming”,Salinger says,his eyes twinkling.”In these days when anything goes in literature,movies,and even TV,to think there are some places so isolated,so backward,so ill-informed as to what’s going on in the world that they can still get all hot and bothered about something as innocent as “Catcher”. I mean if there ever was a crusader against sin,it was Holden Caulfield”.
….”Maybe banning or burning my books could become an annual event in these little uptight communities,like re-creating the first flight at Kitty Hawk.”

When reading that I thought wouldn’t it be good to make a Burning Man of
“The Catcher in the Rye” novels
(or just place them at the Burning Man’s feet at least),
just to say to those people who like to burn copies of the book
(because they hate it) that we burn it to because we like it,and take some of the power back off these book burners.-)
So I came here to suggest this idea and stumble on this great little post about creativity where you mention;

“We don’t need it as a salve to get through our daily lives
(which Schopenhauer thought it was) because our moment-to-moment lives are their own salve. Ordinary moments are filled with ambient creativity: we have no idea what’s going to come next.”

Well here’s another sync – I had just read a passage on page 115 of
“Shoeless Joe” that mentions ointment (salve);

“It had been five years since I met him.A chance meeting that resulted in our buying the farm.I have encountered little ghosts of Eddie Scissions these past five years:a hubcap in the grass that must have belonged to a vehicle of his,a can of Zambuck Ointment found on a shelf high above a door in the machine shed – ointment Eddie must have rubbed on aching joints when he came in from the fields.”

This book deals exactly about the subject that you have written in the above post,so maybe it’s a sign that your friend should give it a read…and the movie is worth a watch,too.And you don’t have to like Baseball to like this movie,either.
I sure don’t like it that much as a sport…but it works here.
Great book.Great movie.

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By: temecula

temecula — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:33:14 +0000

i like krug. it tastes better than larry harvey’s ass.

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By: Klaatu

Klaatu — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:40:00 +0000

And all this time I thought that going to Burning Man was supposed to be fun… Fuck, now I have to analyze it, sheesh, what a Bummer. Don’t take me wrong, I just go so I can take a break from thinking… [thankfully it's a big place]

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