WAFDust Podcast

2022 was the year that Afrofuturism arrived at Burning Man in the shape of  architect Antwane Lee's "The Solar Shrine" - a piece inspired by his interest in Egyptology, African history and community.

Though conceived prior to the launch of Burning Man Organisation's R.I.D.E. initiative -  to attract more people of colour to the event,  the project was one of several created by Black artists attending the week long gathering for the first time.

We caught up with Antwane to find out more about his first Playa burn.

In the world of Burning Man what should a museum represent? How should it entice the audience into experience the art, and how different will it be from other museums? 

One project that will answer some of these questions is the Museum of No Spectators. It started as a virtual project, and will be one of a few pieces from the virtual burn that will be built for Burning Man 2022.

We chat with Absinthia, co-lead of the project to find out how the experience will offer participants a chance to take centre stage at the museum.

In WAFDust podcast #23 we chat with Kirsten Berg about  her third Burning Man honoraria award to create Drishti , which will be unveiled at the 2022 event.

Her work has  graced the hallowed rooms of the Smithsonian, the National Museum of Singapore, the San Francisco Exploratorium and of course Black Rock Desert.

Kirsten says her art is influenced by her yoga practice, and Drishti is the physical manifestation of a vision.

In WAFDust podcast #22 we chat with multi-disciplinary artist Luke Jerram, about "New Beginnings", the latest addition to our  exhibition at Ashton Court in Bristol. 

New Beginnings is the first in a series of coin sculptures to be made by Luke which are animated and completed by members of the public. Some sculptures will be temporary, whilst others, will be permanent, creating a slowly changing landmark in the landscape, a destination and focus for public discussion.

The giant wooden seed sculpture is proving to be very popular, as members of the public are invited to make a wish, as they hammer coins into the piece.

In WAFDust podcast #21, we explore what it's like to be a newbie on the Playa, by chatting with Psychologist  Annabelle Redfern who went to Burning Man for the first time in 2019.

Her clinical assessment is both a reminder of every Burners' first time, as well as a self-help guide for those planning to make the pilgrimage  whenever the event is next held.

This is also a question that comes up often in our  Clubhouse chats. 

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In WAFDust podcast #20 we finally install Trasparenza by Andrea Greenlees,  the penultimate piece in our inaugural exhibition at Ashton Court in Bristol. The process took two days, and a team of burners braved sun, wind and rain to place the acrylic monument next to the Rose Garden.

Trasparenza was first built for Burning Man 2016 and joins "Bristol Boo" by Paige Tashner, "Zlatico" by Cjay Roughgarden, and "Ohm Boy" by Hugo Farmer. All the pieces will be on public display in Bristol for the next 12 months.

Andrea talks about her inspiration for the piece, and hints about the trails and tribulations of creating and transporting big art for an event in America, while living here in the UK.

In WAFDust podcast #19 we gaze through the lens of photographer NK Guy, and check out his book the "Art of Burning Man, a project that took 16-years to complete.

NK Guy chats about building relationships with artists, having a photograph featured at the Smithsonian, and how Burning Man made him a photographer.

In WAFDust podcast #18 we check-in on the Burner community in the Netherlands with Bart Grob, & Ilana Sandelowsky.

They give us the lowdown on Burning Man Netherlands, the Art Jump grant programme used to fund artist's with transportation costs, and plans to showcase the science behind Burning Man art at Leiden 2022 - part of the European City of Culture.

In WAFDust podcast #17, Katie Eldridge is in conversation with Aaron Taylor Kuffner, creator of Gamelatron, sound producing kinetic sculptures.

Aaron explains how he took inspiration from Indonesia’s Gamelan, a thousand-year-old sonic tradition, to compose unique digital sonic immersive experiences, that have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, and Burning Man amongst other places around the world. 

In WAFDust podcast #16 we chat with Erin Douglas, creator of the Black Burner Project about her experiences as a person of colour at Burning Man.

She explains the inspiration behind the project, how a visit to Black Rock City can change lives, and her determination to document the event in a way that shows it is a safe place for her community.