Burning Man 2023 officially started Sunday, with tens of thousands of campers arriving in Black Rock City for the weeklong event despite demonstrators staging a short delay on the route to the gate. And drivers wasted no time registering their art cars to drive the playa.
Art
Burning Man 2023: See the Cutest, Wildest Art Cars on the Playa
Artists, mechanics, makers and wannabes create “mutant vehicles” to carry other Burners through the streets and across the playa. The cars can be everything from a tricked-out golf cart to a soundstage built atop a school bus to a custom-built jalopy of any shape or size.
But before these crafts can take flight at Burning Man, the Department of Mutant Vehicles must register each one and ensure it is safe for driving during the day, the night or both.
And since waiting in line at the “DMV” can take as long as it does back home during the first days of the event, Burners know the queue is the best place to see mutant vehicles before they disperse across Black Rock City.
While some art projects were a bit behind on installation due to a two-day storm delay, an impressive fleet of art cars hit the playa running—or not, as is the case with the reliability of some mutant vehicles. Burning Man’s 2023 theme, Animalia, made the scene extra wild.
‘Something Shady and Cool’
“We knew we wanted to build something shady and cool after last year,” said Rimi Shaffner, referring to the blazing temps of the 2022 event. Shaffner’s flying fish has wings that flutter in the breeze and offer not only shade but also a fine mist to those nearby.
Rimi and her husband, Chris, created Go Fish aka Swim Shady and brought it on a trailer to Black Rock City from their home in South Florida.
For a desert-based gathering, aquatic creatures and boats are always well represented on the playa. Sailing ships and speedboats, as well as sharks, crabs and fish of all types are easy to spot.
Legendary Burning Man designer David Best’s campmates pitched in and bought his famed Rocket Car at auction in 2021 to keep it in the Burning Man family. Built on a 1970s Cadillac chassis in 2003, the 40-foot-long cruiser is crossing the playa again this year piled with riders, looking like a cross between a Batmobile and a Landspeeder.
Best’s new ride for the playa is a bit more compact. Inspired by the look of a Mexican blanket, the sedan is striped with strips of auto tape he found at a junkyard. Artificial turf covers the interior and the two benches that have been carved out of the former trunk area.
“The junkyard is where I find all my materials,” said Best, who originated the Burning Man temple concept in 2000 and went on to design eight temples and countless cars over the years. The car doesn’t have a name, but Best wants it to remind people of the hardships endured by undocumented immigrants crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.
The meaning of the life-size animal on the roof? “It’s an orange horse,” said Best.
Cars Light Up at Night
At night, each art car mutates into a new creature, whether lit by simple string lights, neon bars or sophisticated LED displays—and of course, there are flames (because Burning Man).
El Pulpo Magnifico is back on the playa in 2023. The crowd favorite is a sweetly menacing flaming metal octopus built out of found materials, including muffin tins and aluminum pans.
“Art cars are Black Rock City’s public transportation—some people forget that,” said Best, meaning many mutant vehicles are built to hop on and meet other Burners as you get where you’re going.
Scroll down for more photos of the creative fleet transporting Burners at Burning Man 2023.
| Source: Maryann Jones Thompson for The Standard
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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