On June 21, 2018, the solstice and anniversary of the first Burning Man in 1986, we invite you to connect, reflect and celebrate the life and gifts of our original instigator and firestarter, Larry Harvey. If you don’t know much about Larry, you can read some moving tributes here in the Journal, as well as on the public memorial site.
Larry lived a life of purpose, play, creativity and service. One of his greatest talents was making opportunities for others to co-create in imaginative ways. The results sparked a network of participatory events, which gave rise to a year-round community and a global cultural movement. #thankslarry
Who were you before you found Burning Man? Who are you now? What are you inspired to do? How do you want to see more Burning Man in the world?
On June 21 we invite and encourage you to join a global Burning Man celebration in honor of Larry by igniting your purpose and radiating your passion in ways consistent with the 10 Principles, whatever that means to you.
Join us for a day, an hour, or a moment on June 21.
A Day: Consider the impact of our worldwide community contributing its sizable talents, gifts, and resources on the same day. Express yourself through clothing, host a storytelling gathering, build some art (and burn it, or not), gift something, volunteer, or organize a park clean-up. Engage with others in ways that reflect the best of Burning Man culture. What are your gifts?
An Hour: Join us in creating a global resonance of activity by gathering with your local community and sharing a meal, organizing a direct action, telling stories around a campfire, or anything else that speaks to you. The hour around sunset is a special time of reflection on the solstice, no matter which hemisphere you’re in. Where would you like to be?
A Moment: The moment of sunset. As the sun sets around the planet, we’d like to honor all that being alive and active means to us and express gratitude for our lives, our gifts, and our community.
Here in the SF Bay Area, the birthplace of Burning Man, we will join the wave of celebration at 8:35 pm PDT, as the sun dips below the horizon. We invite you to pause, (light a candle, howl at the moon, meditate, laugh, sing a song) and reflect on how Larry Harvey and Burning Man have affected your life.
However you choose to express your gifts and gratitude, contribute to our collective story by sharing photos, video, and special moments at larry.burningman.org and on social media with the hashtag #thankslarry. Participate by going live on Facebook from your own celebration. Be sure to mention Burning Man and use #thankslarry, so we can see it and amplify it on our page. We’ll use our proverbial bullhorn to bring together everybody around the world participating in this moment. Tune in and follow the global wave of gratitude at larry.burningman.org and facebook.com/burningman.
You can also join our global Facebook event to easily keep up with the celebration around the world and share yours with everyone.
Other opportunities to participate:
This Sunday, June 3 at the Desert Arts Preview, we will also take a moment to honor our original founder. Join us! And stay tuned for the announcement of an inspiring memorial event at the Castro Theater celebrating the life and legacy of Larry Harvey on July 14.
If you’re moved to support the art and philosophy work that Larry loved, we also invite you to support the Larry Harvey Art and Philosophy Fund.
Whether it’s for a day, an hour, or a moment, let’s hold Larry and each other in the light, and celebrate not only the life and gifts of Larry Harvey but also our own.
Top photo credit: Josh Lease
What did I read recently? “From plumber to Icon of the Apocalypse.” Suits him well, I think.
I’ll be participating, in my way.
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Thank you for sharing this!
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Every fact of science was once damned. Every invention was considered impossible. Every discovery was a nervous shock to some orthodoxy. Every artistic innovation was denounced as fraud and folly. The entire web of culture and ‘progress,’ everything on earth that is man-made and not given to us by nature, is the concrete manifestation of some man’s refusal to bow to Authority. We would own no more, know no more, and be no more than the first apelike hominids if it were not for the rebellious, the recalcitrant, and the intransigent.
This year…let’s blow lid after daily lid off this fucker!
Larry & all…thanks for our modern day spark!
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Good said. From a fellow writer.
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Where is the celebration taking place exactly?
Thanks
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That’s up to you! This is an invitation to gather, co-create, and celebrate wherever you are, with whoever you want to be with! Please share your stories at larry.burningman.org.
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Stoked to figure something out in DC!!
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Hi Megan,
I live in Gerlach and guide visitors to Fly Ranch. Zac tells me you are good friends with Mayor Schieve. I’ve recently been working with her to bring Kasita micro-homes to Reno. I’ve also spoken with Matt Schultz about local artists painting murals on Kasitas.
Do you think it makes sense to invite her to a Celebration for Larry in Reno, maybe at The Whale? Also, what do you think about giving her a tour of Fly Ranch?
Thanks,
Gordon
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I’ll be celebrating Solstice at Stonehenge…he’ll for sure be in our thoughts and in our hearts ♥️
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I’ll be there.. would love to connect
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Hopefully he’s being kept on ice so we can have one more year of Larry on the playa. It would be a great chance for everyone to get one last selfie with him. And when he starts to defrost we can Weekend at Bernie’s. It’ll be a blast!
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Larry was the catalyst for all that Burning Man has achieved and continues to bring so many people to the love and family that come from the Playa. But he was always “the man in the hat” …. humble, gentle, teacher, friend, the warmth of his smile could comfort even the most ragged moments. I’d like to burn a hat constructed of organic materials (straw or such) on the beach in San Francisco where he began the journey we all came to embrace. Commit to helping the ever evolving beauty that was his vision to continue to grow.
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I was lucky to meet Larry and Crimson on my first burn. I had only been on the playa a few hours and wondered into 1st camp and he and Crimson were warming by a fire. I spoke with them in detail about different esoteric life stuff. Then suddenly a woman cam over and told Larry she enjoyed his speech. That’s when I found out it was Larry Harvey!!!! Wow and Wow…. I felt so lucky that he was the first person I met at burning man!! My birthday is June 21st and I will definitely be whooping it up for #thankslarry❤️
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Michele, we are on some-same wave pulse in that this is my 20th burn in a row and at my first burn in 1999, I met Larry Harvey at the Bone Tree (something I had marveled at in Gerlach all year). I had left home Friday with such complications, but was there at the Rangers Station w/n the first hour giving Larry my candid explanation of my State of Awe. Still feeling it!
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Hi Polar, this will also be my 20th in a row, since 99, and I’m getting very excited… oddly, I only met Larry last year when he camento visit our Golden Guy minibar installation. I’m so grateful we got to talk. I owe a great deal to Larry and his vision and his gift for inciting collaboration and participation!
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I would like to go to baker beach but because of work I sadly I will not make in time so instead I’ll just be at Monterey, CA instead probably will howl at the moon and such in his memory.
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Inspired and forever alive in all of us #thankslarry
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