Culture Labs on the Playa

copy_of_2009_brc_culture-labs_map_3I just have one more thing to tell you about before I finish my packing, do the last of my cooking and get out on the road to that BIG thing in the desert.   Haven’t you always wanted to know more about the outreach groups of [BM]?  You hear they are placing art in China, and solar in Nevada, are creating community activists everywhere, and have events hosted locally as far away as Spain and as close as Silicon Valley.

I have a special place in my heart for the outreach groups, [BWB], [BRAF], [BRS] and The Regional Network, and have to admit a bias for the Black Rock Arts Foundation since I blog for them, but all of the outreach groups are out there creating our culture and making a difference the other 51 weeks of the year.

So here is a chance to meet them all under one roof as they have teamed up once more to create a unified presence on the playa, known as… The Culture Labs!

The Culture Labs, housed under one large pavilion (which might look familiar… it’s one of the pavilions that surrounded the Man in 2007 and 2008!) will host interactive activities, art projects, events and gatherings (which are listed in the What Where When guide).  Together they will breed and propagate our culture to be carried into the default world.   Friendly ‘lab assistants’ will be available to talk about their various programs and projects to you.

The center of the Culture Labs will hold a giant petri dish and microscope (containing a video camera)!  You will be invited (but not required) to lie underneath the microscope and tell the story of YOUR personal evolution.  At night, they will project these recordings on a 50 foot rear-projected screen.  Each outreach group will also be hosting cocktail parties and mixers specifically for their group at the Culture Labs.

So stop by and say hello, they are looking forward to meeting you!

About the author: Affinity

Affinity

Affinity, a Burner since 2000, was legally married on the Playa in 2001, was wedding coordinator and then training coordinator at Burning Man, before becoming the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF) Social Media Coordinator and an Advisory Board Member. An attorney, she served on the Board of Directors of the Western Pension and Benefits Conference. She interned with the Human Awareness Institute for 10 years. She writes about how art is envisioned, produced, created, installed and its afterlife.

2 Comments on “Culture Labs on the Playa

  • Patrik Kusek says:

    Hi Affinity,
    Just thinking about you this time of year. Miss you and hope to see you soon. Great blog!

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  • Mars says:

    Ooo, I totally love this petri dish project/installation idea at Culture Labs. I’m wondering what sort of time limit they have for people’s statements. Sometimes it takes me a minute to get to my point. Especially if I start singing…?!

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