Your 2019 Temple: The Temple of Direction

Drum roll, please…Burning Man Arts is thrilled to announce that we have selected the 2019 Temple: “The Temple of Direction” by Geordie Van Der Bosch.

Every year, we explore a spectrum of design submissions from our community’s artists and builders, and we approach our decision with the goal of creating a special physical space on playa for Black Rock City’s citizens to share their reflections.

The Temple of Direction was chosen for its elegant simplicity, and we can’t wait to see his vision come to life!

Side entrance

The Design

The Temple of Direction is a linear space, capturing the elegance and austerity of the torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Japan, where the artist has previously lived.

The linear lines form a passage that expands into a large hall, eliciting both a physical experience and a metaphorical journey. It’s a space that responds to the openness of the playa by creating a framework that encourages you to travel from end to end.

This linear form reflects the passage of life with its beginning, middle, and end. Throughout the structure there are areas that reflect this journey: narrow & wide spaces, bright & dark spaces, and tunnels that create intimate physical settings. Meanwhile, a large central hall, an altar, and many shelves for offerings create the setting for our collective experience.

Lanterns will decorate the exterior and interior of the 180-foot-long, 37-foot-wide, 36-foot-high Temple, and there will be four entrances facing the four cardinal directions of Black Rock City, 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.

The Artist

Geordie Van Der Bosch calls himself a West Coaster, having lived in every state that borders the Pacific Ocean. He is also a traveller who has called Japan and England home. Geordie’s many lives also include time as a skateboarder, surfer, competitive cyclist, and martial artist.

He is a San Francisco-based builder with a Masters in Advanced Architectural Design from the California College of the Arts, and he’s been practicing architecture in SF for 12 years. Geordie is a board member of Precita Eyes Muralists and a member of Brass Tax, a creative collective that specializes in music and events.

This will be Geordie’s eighth year on playa, where he’s been a camp lead of the famed Black Rock Roller Disco and experienced the challenges of building on playa, dealing with unpredictable weather, and working with people from different backgrounds and abilities. He’s also been a Fire Conclave drummer, and has played with the Playa Pops and the Burning Man Orphan Band.

“Here’s a guy who’s a regular guy, but he’s an exceptional regular guy,” one of Geordie’s references said.

A bird’s eye view

How You Can Get Involved

Building the Black Rock City Temple is a significant undertaking. It’s also a chance to realize a dream and create a space for thousands of participants to have meaningful experiences.

Interested in joining the Temple Crew? While Geordie and his team already have some roles filled, they will be looking to the community to help bring the Temple to life. The build is planned to take place primarily in Oakland, and interested folks from other locations can get involved, too. We expect a call for volunteers to come sometime in the spring.

Finally, building the Temple is a big financial commitment. The grant covers only a portion of its total expenses. The crew will begin fundraising in early 2019, so please stay tuned for ways to support them!

About the author: Katie Hazard

Katie Hazard

Katie Hazard (yes that’s her real last name) is the Associate Director of Art Management for Burning Man. She leads the selection, placement, and installation of over 400 artworks annually in Black Rock City and beyond. She’s been passionate about arts administration and grants management for many years; she has a degree in Art History from the University of Notre Dame, worked at the Art Institute of Chicago, and spent 10 years at Harvard University as a Senior Grants Manager. Katie’s first year on playa was 2000, and she volunteered for 10 years (DMV, Man Base Lighting, art build crews, theme camp organization, Fire Conclave) before joining the staff in 2013. Katie is also a certified yoga teacher and has been a practitioner of Buddhist meditation for more than a decade.

132 Comments on “Your 2019 Temple: The Temple of Direction

  • Arturo says:

    Way to go Geordie! This temple looks amazing!

    Also, it should read “Black Rock Roller Disco,” not Black Roller Disco.”

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  • Kim Sykes says:

    Geordie has been talking about this for some time! So proud to see his dream coming to fruition!!

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  • HOOKER WHEELZ says:

    Love its severity, can’t wait to see it.

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  • Lynne says:

    my comment is No Comment, but this looks like a lot of plywood is going to be used……IMHO….

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    • Roberta says:

      Maybe it will be hemp plywood

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    • Fiver says:

      It would be nice if there was a way to offset some of the burning of wood at the event by planting. If the Temple uses amount of wood, perhaps make it mandatory to plant trees to offset said the burning of the structure after the event.

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      • Fiver says:

        Wow I added a bunch of < symbols around some letters there (If the temple uses X amount of wood, then plant Y trees) but the symbols made the letter disappear and also messed up the formatting of my comment..

        Anyway, my point was, make it mandatory to plant trees to offset whatever wood your project used when burned.

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      • Milkman says:

        This is already standard practice by timber companies. Something like 6 trees are planted for every one felled.

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      • Robin Russell says:

        Melissa Barron does a wonderful project called “Art for Trees” which does just this. I believe she started it in 2013 when she was part of the team who created the Temple of Whollyness at Burning Man. Check out the project here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/art-for-trees-burning-man-2017#/

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      • Ernie says:

        Melissa Baron of Art for Trees has raised money to plant trees for the last five years on Indiegogo. So far more than 40,000 trees have been planted to offset the wood used at Burning Man. Don’t know if she’s planning on a 6th year.

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      • Inani Shrodinger says:

        One of the previous years temples only used wood from dead trees that were creating a fire hazard in national forests. I like that level of depth in planning and creation. Those guys and gals had a fucking ETHOS!

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      • Pooh says:

        The phrase “make it mandatory” makes my Burner soul itch…

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    • Rootcanal says:

      Yep a huge waste of wood in MHO.

      Sad to see three really bad Temple selections over the last three years.

      1. Another architect boosting his ego and generating buzz for this business to profit from the event. His profession is an architect and his work is mundane.

      2. Seems to be a friend of the selection committee. It’s not what you know but who you know.

      3. Not at all creative.

      4. Lacks imagination.

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  • Christopher says:

    This looks incredible, can’t wait to see it in person.

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  • ZN says:

    Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, what an investment.

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    • Carl Senica says:

      I was concerned that the committee would swing the pendulum back way to far this year after The Galaxia fiasco. We have gone from a overly complex basically unbuildable conceptual structure in 2018 to the most simple basic form for 2019.

      Fushimi inspired? If you take the dimensions of this structure and translate to text and then translate from Japanese to English you get the word:

      B- O- R- I- N- G

      The artist lived near a shrine for a while and this was his inspiration? So deep…..

      And another professional architect marketing his portfolio. This is becoming a showcase for architects and if last year is anything to go with: they bring big egos and reject community.

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  • Elias says:

    Behold the glory, big ups big burns ❤️

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  • Lucia says:

    I thought at first glance how simple alnd then it started to move me through the picturea then it’s in the shape of an eye! And I started to tear up.

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  • sir william says:

    This would get torn apart in freshman architecture school crit. Sad.

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    • Deltaforward says:

      Damn, LOL. That takes me back to my first year of architecture school. Thanks for the laugh. Indeed, would get slaughtered. Hopefully the scale will make up for the banal design.

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      • gina says:

        Why do you think its banal? Its seems simple, elegant and I like that its an eye from the bird’s eye view. Since I’m not an architect, I’m wondering how an architect would critique it and why.

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      • Butterfly Mahonsie says:

        I certainly hope you both have built something on the playa.

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      • Nut Job says:

        Oh no! It’s banal?! Someone should tell these guys who are getting payed millions of dollars to build structures with clean lines and open spaces all over the world! Thanks guys!

        https://www.curbed.com/2015/12/16/10620698/modern-architecture-legacy-today-architects-contemporary-resurgence

        It’s in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps not a beauty to your eye, but it is our Temple, and, when fully built, with playa dust blowing through it, and the pieces of bared soul attached to its many sides, there will be beauty. Creation. Appreciation. Conflagration. It is the way we all bind together in the most beautiful place on earth. If this is lost on you because you took a class on architecture, don’t go. I for one hope we can stand together hand in hand and watch as the blood, sweat, tears, and tribute of thousands burns to become something so much more than a structure. To me, this is the definition of beauty. See you there brothers and sisters.

        Love,

        Nut Job <3

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  • mikemai says:

    I’ll be watching for volunteer call to help out with pre-build. Please add me to any email lists to that end.

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  • Decible says:

    amazing and congrats! I can’t wait to see it in person. is it large enough with space for everyone’s messages? seems a little small.

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    • Kim Sykes says:

      Think of the horizontal boards as lines of paper… your memorial written low or high, your art or poster hung on the repeated posts and shelves inserted to support objects. It’s going to be a lovely hall with your messages as the focus.

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  • Both Balls says:

    How will it have 4 entrances facing the 4 cardinal points of the city? The man is at the center of the city, not the temple…

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  • Inani Shrodinger says:

    SUPER BORING! What are you THINKING!? Who the hell is on this “committee” and how do I get their job? I’m sorry but your pragmatism is KILLING the ethos here. I fucking HATE committees! They always land on the most trite, banal, BULLSHIT! Very sad to see this happen with Burning Man… This *IS* commodification folks! You didn’t elect ART you elected a “product”. Deny all you want, that *IS* what just happened. I know what I’m seeing here.

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    • Bea says:

      It makes me sad reading your rude and disrespectful lines. That’s not the burning man culture! Where is the loving confrontation, the sense of community? The difference to the default world? Perhaps time for a change and a Start for your metamorphosis?

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      • Inani Shrodinger says:

        The “Burning Man Culture” is whatever comes out of my mouth! I am Burning Man… Ha ha ha! ‘The hell you know? There’s never been a shortage of assholes at BM and I am happy to be counted amongst their ranks. This is funded with public money, so YEAH, I have opinions about it! I would never be so vociferous about a private project. This is a weak offering and I’m not shy about saying it!!!

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      • Callileah says:

        Well, Bea… this person is very clear about their position, asserting that they name themself an Asshole and proud to be one.
        Also, pretty clear that their ego is quite large. Seems their comments are more of an attempt to gaslight, to gain attention. This person does NOT represent Burning Man. Someone who speaks this way very obviously does NOT know or follow the 10 Principles. This person IS the negative element that is invariably attracted to such wonderful situations as BM. Thankfully, for all their non-sense, they are only about 1% of participants. And who knows? Perhaps, when they behave badly, the Universe will unleash some of its displeasure upon them….3 fold, too. ;)

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      • Callileah says:

        Well, I’m not going to critique a project, when
        A. I don’t know the criteria it needed to meet.
        B. I don’t know all of the considerations the Designer took into account, especially the environment the Build will take place in.
        C. I don’t know, from the Designer, what they hoped to achieve.
        D. I don’t know myself how challenging & difficult it was to meet objective Project Criteria, as well as the aesthetic Ethos I would be trying to achieve to fulfill the Vision I had, AND create a Powerful Spiritual Place that all other will recognize as such & have meaningful interaction with on the Playa.

        Here’s what I do know.
        A. I will be thinking on a Design for the Temple.
        B. I will request the information from Burning Man concerning Temple Project submissions.
        C. I will pay close attention not only to the actual Structural needs, but far more importantly, to the Burners who visit it, asking them questions about how THEY think & FEEL about the TEMPLE.
        D. Distill what I discover into a synergy of what is physically & logistically practical and what Burners think/feel is a Temple Space for conducting the Spiritual Work they need to do.
        I don’t have a definite year that I will be making a Temple Project submission, only that I will do it when I feel I have all the components together in order to give it & my fellow Burners my best effort possible.

        I will say to all those who have been putting such negative comments here.
        Don’t think you can criticize that which you so clearly do not understand & so clearly made no effort whatsoever to do yourselves. You have never built a Temple.
        The only people who have the credentials to be critical are those who’ve been through the whole process, beginning to end. Those that have lived the experience of pulling-off such a daring feat.
        And those other ppl who have already posted can see, that those Burners have NOT made such idiotic, mean-spirited, inane, uninformed, and lazy comments.
        To those who have made such comments? STFU. No one cares one bit what you think. You are NOT Burners. You are NOT MAKERS. You are NOT CREATIVES.
        Come back to the table when you mature & have something worthy to actually CONTRIBUTE. Otherwise, keep your snarky,whiny bitching to YOURSELF.

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  • Ginger says:

    Please do not feature a selfie bridge at the center of the temple.

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  • Ruth A Talisman says:

    I’m by no means a ‘temple’ person. I absolutely love the simple design. (Not a fan of curly cues or filigree.) I can’t wait to see it.

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  • Suz Kaufman says:

    I appreciate all the space for the memorials. The overall design seems underwhelming, and while I’m not sure I agree with the negative remark above about commodification (??), I have to wonder if it will make an interesting burn. Another commenter above said they didn’t like filagree woodwork, but honestly, that is what makes a fire breathtaking, the openness of the design. Glad there is a Temple for those who will make their pilgrimages this year, no matter the opinions, including mine.

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  • Chris Jas says:

    I f***ing love it <3 <3

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  • James says:

    The design is utterly ridiculous… zero creativity whatsoever… what a lame choice… blah

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    • Dreamie says:

      I’m looking forward to seeing your temple design next year!

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      • WeatherWarden says:

        Ha! Exactly! These mock critics are buffoons. They’ve never designed, let alone built anything, especially not in an extreme environment….to fairly exacting requirements & Ethos. They are morons. Just angry, jealous, entitled Tools complaining bc they can.
        You want to complain? Put your Concept ON THE LINE, then. Design & SUBMIT. Put your creation IN THE ARENA and see how you fare.
        Can’t?
        Didn’t?
        Then just keep your angry, BS comments to yourself.

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  • Roberto Dobbisano says:

    “13 steps”

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  • The Hustler says:

    I love the juxtapositions the design brings to the table: severe and rectangular but elegant, big but cozy, confining but open.
    It looks like the walls or main elements will be mesh or open in some way. I wonder if it will make a sound when the wind blows through.

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  • Kate says:

    Where can we sign up for notification as to when the volunteer builder applications open? (located outside of SF – can only help on the playa)

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  • RaveLord says:

    Amazing! It’s beautifully simple. Congratulations Geordie , I knew you’d do an amazing design. Can’t wait to help you build this thing

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  • F'in Happy says:

    I like the interior the most, especially with the shadows of darkness on the light wood. The exterior seems kinda plain. I’m wondering what the lighting will be like. It could be more striking at night than in the day

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  • shazbat says:

    Butt-ugly.

    Also, quite the spin (and insult) to claim Japanese shrine architectural influence with all those boxes and right angles.

    Short construction time clearly ruled the day, a further sign of the degradation of Burning Man. It’s bad enough you’ve wrecked the Man, but the Temple??!!?

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  • Scout says:

    Wait, if he has “lived in every state that borders the Pacific Ocean”, has he also lived in Alaska and Hawaii? Because those aren’t part of the West Coast, colloquially.

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  • Jill Capello says:

    Congratulations! The design looks amazing & unique. Looking forward to seeing it in person!

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  • Boob Grazer says:

    Very simple comparing to last year design, I would say nah to this choice unfortunately. The temple is a huge deal to some folks including me and I would truly appreciate some effort in building it, with this design all I see some basic archetic with no thinking (tunnel). Using some fancy words and imagination of describing it doesn’t make it “wow” to me and to other I assume.

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    • Jeff Jones says:

      To the social “nay sayers” and “rule makers”: Involvement is a curative tonic. A universal truth is that we don’t know what we don’t know. Late opening of the temple is a major problem. The smallest “ hitch in ‘er get along” can require scores of man hours (girls don’t go there) to remedy. Late opening of the temple means that people who have already responded to the “ behind schedule” call are asked to continue the “push to completion” and give up their event time. I don’t believe that I am the only one that needs to recuperate after the build. I’m certain that timely completion is a top priority for the committee. I think, that, and David Best’s (et.al.) desire to slow the spiraling cost trend, has led to more conventional construction designs (stacking blocks). Criticism, derision, and judgement are out of control in the default, not the same thing as “critical analysis”. It’ amazing, millions of volunteer hours. What peacetime effort is its equal. Thank you Larry (et.al.). P.S. I think “thank you Larry” can be a thing to remind us about acorns and oak trees, not to diminish anyone elses contributions,

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      • Dremie says:

        Jeff Jones, thank you for your words. Please, more people like you in this world!

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      • Fascinator says:

        Jeff Jones- Thank you for your reasoned insight and words. I will admit that my first, knee-jerk impression was not very favorable. I tried imagining myself in a space that impresses me as somewhat “boxy”, especially after last years’ swirl of open lattice in Galaxia.
        Still, I step back, take a breath, and know that it may grow on me. It already has a bit as I’ve looked beyond some preconception I may not even know I had.
        In person, there will almost certainly be pleasantly surprising elements that cannot be discerned in the sketches.

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      • Musical Guy says:

        I think you are dead on with your support of this design. Galaxia was never meant to built in the desert, not out of wood, and not by the team that didn’t understand the deep end they were diving into. Way too many people and resources had to “rescue” that project—and sadly, people who had to leave before it was done didn’t get a Temple to mourn at. Simple isn’t bad–and have to success is just getting it done. I like the sheltering aspect of the walls, and their abundant surface area will help people make the Temple their own. Downside? It might take a while to burn! I mean, it’s gonna be sturdy. But I’ll support it, I’m sure I’ll cry at it, and I’m glad that it will be ready to go early in the event.

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      • Inani Shrodinger says:

        Well Spoken. The design is still junk. I appreciate your acrobatic vernacular. But trite is trite, and trite ain’t right!

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    • Bea says:

      That’s a metamorphosis- start with the change and see it with different eyes. I like that the Temple already starts challenging our mind…. I am sure the burners will transform it to a spiritual place.

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  • MacGyver says:

    I like this design. It seems simple at first glance, but has embedded features that I think will grow on people as they walk around and through it. I like the thinking about lots of places for people to place messages or memorial objects. Please include me on the message list for potentially helping build it.

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  • Yelena Mna says:

    I don’t get it. Should we just put a few legos together next time and call it a night because it’s easy? You’ll hardly ever hear me criticize anything publicly, but I feel like saying “the king is naked”. Is it just me? What happened to intricacy, skillfulness, creativity, craftsmanship? Are we going back to thinking inside the box? What were other options if this was selected as a winner? Last year I thought to myself: just because you don’t think it’s amazing doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t. But this year, I’m sorry, are we just gradually regressing to Burning a bunch of wood on the beach? It’s something holly to a city of people, can we maybe make it look better than a mediocre children’s playground in grandmas backyard? Maybe add some adult craftsmanship to it? Art of architecture, physics? Seriously.
    And I’m sure he is a great guy, but it doesn’t make him the best temple architect. Apologies if it’s harsh, but this is bull$!t. And I never thought I’d write that on BM blog. I think it’s time BM publicizes all the entries and allows the people to choose the best!

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    • Dremie says:

      Yelena, I really look forward to your temple design next year! I’m sure it’s going to be great!

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    • Henry Chang says:

      IMO, it would be a terrible idea to let “the people” make decisions on Temple selection because “the people” as a whole simply aren’t qualified to judge a very important criteria: whether or not a proposal is feasible from a logistical standpoint. If “the people” were allowed to make the choice, there definitely would be some serious disasters, like Temples only being half constructed by Wednesday.

      There may very well be some other designs which were very inspiring, but do the people behind those proposals have the wherewithal to pull it off? Constructing that scale of structure in 15 days is highly non-trivial and failure is simply not an option.

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    • Inani Shrodinger says:

      You aren’t wrong. I feel cronyism at play.

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    • The Hustler says:

      Well, at least your negative comment had actual complete sentences that made sense. However, like the other negative comments, you’re not offering anything.

      OK, fine. You don’t like the design and think yours is better. That’s cool.

      But, what don’t you like about this design?

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  • Mark (Firefly) Walsh says:

    Beautifully austere…

    I am in awe.

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  • Margaret Kranyak says:

    Learn from history, Yelena. Look at 2006, all those weird stupas. Look at 2010, the temple of flux. We have always gone in different directions. sometimes they will resonate with you. sometimes they will resonate more for others. History is a long arc. This could be beautiful. It will certainly be meaningful. And as always, you are free to do better. Its a big canvas out there.

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  • Garburator says:

    The Temple, The Man, Black Rock City, the Playa, these things are nothing except what we create them to be… this will be The Temple… not a collection of wood, or an artists design, or an architects dream… it will be the Temple because we the citizens of Black Rock have agreed that whatever it is that gets created in this space for this short week of time will be The Temple. It matters not who likes it or who does not… this will be the Temple. Please add my email to any call for volunteers for the build crew.

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  • Tina says:

    I love everything art, but I agree with the majority. Hate to agree with them too. The design doesn’t have to be extravagant… but dang. Sighs. Maybe it will look better in person. Staying optimistic.

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  • sphenoid says:

    The thing is that once you get out there and experience Oneness templeing, none of this will matter…you’ll walk up on the silence, do a couple laps and forget how you felt out of your comfort zone today

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  • Matthew says:

    He probably, spent 4 weeks designing this in CAD. Your kids could do it in 4 hours in Minecraft!

    *snark* *snark*

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  • Anti M says:

    I haven’t been near one of the Temples since about 06 or so, too much death in my family over the years for me to bear. But this year I will be bringing MyLarry’s kilt and ashes. He passed 8/27/18. By random happenstance, MyLarry and I also lived in Japan, and we both know Geordie on playa. Worlds collide. I can see the Shinto I influence, the torii gate lines, and this resonates with me. I know MyLarry would too.

    For those criticizing the design, get the fuck over yourselves. We will burn the fucker and have another the year after. It will all be okay.

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  • NEOMI says:

    Im sorry, i dont get it.. the last temple was mind blowing, so so emotional, so accurate, what is this??? where goes the deep thought of building a temple in this wooden something??
    I dont like it, hope this is NOT what im going to see this year.

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  • Peaches says:

    Always trying to top last years design is not what building the Temple is all about, right?
    I´m very much looking forward on seeing this on the playa!

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    • Musical Guy says:

      I agree with your “topping” perspective. There is this sort of terrible narcissistic trap that opens if Temple starts going down that pathway.

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  • Salman says:

    IKEA flat pack temple?

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  • Youboreme says:

    The first pic looks like the symbol for the Japanese Yen ¥. I suppose it’s fitting when you consider the “direction” of your wannabe alternative hippy fest is towards capitalism. Well done.

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  • Slat says:

    Temple of the wrong direction.

    Last years temple was lovely from the outside and from a distance…but upon entering, its hundreds of orange ratchet straps made me sad and there was no magic in the labor. I was for the first time, uninspired by the temple…. and i felt robbed of an essential experience.
    The temples in past years (especially Davids’)
    Have been edifices of such power and grace that tears would come upon entering. One could not help but to feel awed by the mastery of design, the inspired architectural intention and the thousands of hours of craftsmanship and labor… not to mention the beauty!
    Making a temple that is simple and easy to build is traveling in the wrong direction …it is exactly what takes away from the spirituality and purpose of a structure that means so much to so many.:(

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    • Dreamie says:

      Slat, the 2018 temple didn’t open until Wednesday and cost waaaay more money than it had to. I’m looking forward to your temple design next year- I’m sure it’s going to look great and you’ll do a fab job!

      https://www.rgj.com/story/life/arts/burning-man/2018/08/30/burning-man-2018-temple-galaxia-opens/1145338002/

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    • MissChief says:

      As someone who spent 28 days fixing those ratchet straps, we put every bit of magic and soul from ourselves into those connection points to build you a temple strong and true

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      • Fascinator says:

        MissChief- Please, accept my appreciation for the aesthetic, and the WORK involved in installing and sustaining those ratchet straps. I LOVED them. I was fascinated by the ingenious use of such a “simple” device. Those bright orange joints SCREAMED: “See what a community of several, humble servants can do to further the experience, functionality, beauty and SPIRIT for the MANY”? It was like thousands of hands working together to hold that temple together. Yes, I was thankful to see those bright orange ratchets. They were integral and beautiful.

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      • Musical Guy says:

        I honor your effort; I think the design and the design process might have asked too much of the crew.

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    • Aaron says:

      Although irrelevant to this discussion of this elegant and beautiful temple, please consider the magnitude of every element. Instead of thinking of a ratchet strap, imagine bamboo lashing like the kind used for scaffolding in China. Except this lashing is intended to hold 10k pounds of tension each. If you understood the amount of weight that was literally hanging above your head as you looked up at that orange strap you would appreciate it’s beauty no matter what color it was.

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  • Sara says:

    I wish I felt more inspired. I bet in person it is more moving. A bit of a let down from last year.

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  • Amanda says:

    Yay Geordie!!!! I’m so proud of you! I can’t wait to see this (and I’ll be keeping an eye out for build days).

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  • Risque says:

    Any Over/Under on number of injuries of goofs trying to jump the gap?

    Just sayn’

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  • youkidsgetoffmylawn says:

    I agree with a previous poster: remove the selfie bridge….for sure it will be populated by Instagram addicts posing with fish lips and pristine outfits.

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  • Dave Matthews says:

    It’s the temple!
    Like : A popular watering hole burns down,
    All the patrons go across the street to the other watering hole,
    It’s the same vibe, different wrapper.

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  • kyle says:

    I just went to japan last year and it was an amazing experience and also i went to fushimi inari shrine toooo haha perfct design!!!

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  • Brork says:

    IKEA Tëplë

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  • Playardudette says:

    This smacks of cultural appropriation. Geordie Van Der Bosch doesn’t sound like a Japanese name.

    That said,
    a) it’s a very bland and boring design
    b) all those flat surfaces fighting the wind will create large sails – it better be strong
    c) super easy to build
    d) easy to put up memorials
    e) it’s a very bland and boring design.

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  • Stella says:

    Please tell me this is a joke…! After last year’s incredible temple this one is sooo boring…!

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  • scott says:

    hmm. looks to me like a reaction against the difficult-and-expensive-to-construct but beautiful 2018 temple, which also lacked appropriate wall space for posting notices. The 2019 temple is inelegant and soulless. However, it does look simple and cheap to construct, and seems to have a LOT of wall space, so good for all that! I must say I dislike the possible wind tunnel effect with the straight hallway which could allow for wind to pull off reminiscences.

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  • Hunger says:

    May be the simplicity of the design will enable the temple to open on time, unlike the last two years.

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  • . says:

    I think the critism is appropriate, and could likely do without the echo, “can’t wait for your Temple next year!”. We got it the first time. Critism is Central to the creative process, and I agree with those here who have offered theirs. After seventeen years there, I think this design is less than imaginative, compared to the legions of others exhibits that have populated the event in year’s past. This is less a slight to the creators, and more to the event itself. Timeliness of build had plagued many an installation, including Man Base, and part of my heart’s investment atrophies that the event might be favoring drive-thru design over the cuisine itself.

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    • Inani Shrodinger says:

      I wish the community was offered a role in the decision making process. It’s really unfortunate that those in power no longer feel this is important. I know there were surveys and a feedback period in years past. I have no idea what happened to that.

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    • Pooh says:

      Sounds like you are confusing simple for a lack of imagination. David Best always makes very complicated structures, but they all echo each other. I’ve never seen a temple like this on playa before. Criticism is important if you want to apply a value to a piece of art. It has nothing to do with the process of creation. Criticism means we are comparing a creation to some set of rules that we arbitrarily made up or adopted. A creation resonates with you or it doesn’t. Whether it does or does not has nothing to do with the value of the creation, just the characteristics of the creation as they interact with the characteristics of the person experiencing the creation. Some people are going to love this temple, some will hate it. That has nothing to do with whether it is good or not.

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  • Heidi Klassen says:

    So excited this amazing art is being built in my hood! Can’t wait to,participate! Yay!

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  • Direction God says:

    The “Direction” is: Find something else to do with your life.

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  • George Janofsky says:

    Like most things in life, a temple is what you make it.
    I can’t wait to see it in person! I have thought ill of a few signs in the past only to be in awe once I am inside.
    The photos remind me of some of the great temples of Egypt, simple but grand. In the photos I love the way it brings you into a main gathering space.
    I think we once again have a winner but all burners are winners.

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  • Say your piece briefly – about 7 to 10 words per decrease.
    But you have to make a choice, and obviously in this game I decided Francis.
    That Michael Jackson impression was just hilarious,
    especially because it was Dule High altitude.

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  • Aaron says:

    The temple design is just a facade and literally just a shade structure for what the temple really is and is meant to be. It’s not a temple yet. It becomes a temple when the public enters and finds space to process their grief. It’s not an art project. It’s a temple. All those with negativity in their mind, I hope you take a walk through this temple and find something that will change your mind.

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  • LookingToBeInspired says:

    I’m doing my best to find something kind to say about this…but all I see is the Black Rock Mausoleum.

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  • Ching Chong Ping Pong says:

    It’s really nice that we’re not racist against the Asians. We like to burn their stuff, too.

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  • Damien says:

    Will this be burned after? I dream of Burning Man, of going there one day. Burning one big structure is practice I can accept. in my humble opinion, all the wonderful structures built for burning man should be dismanteled and all the pieces not reusable should be used to build the MAN which is burnt at the end, in that way, you keep what is reusabe and you build and burn with the waste. My 2 cents…

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  • Jane says:

    As socially minded Burners we need to be sensitive to other cultures. I think a lot of japs will find this offensive.

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    • Cindy Bunny says:

      @jane
      I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. The vast majority of Burners aren’t racist, they just lack minority friends that they’d include in their camps. It’s quite innocent.

      So the reason the community lacks diversity is just because blacks and slant-eyes don’t like whitey.

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  • Stiggy says:

    Actually I see some potential clever lines or viewing profiles. For instance… the side profile looks as though you are seeing giant feet at a precipice. If the backdrop is chosen well, then you may feel like “jumping off / in”. Then, the birds eye view looks right back at you… but who’s going to be lucky enough to see that live…outlawed playa drones? . Next, a giant shogun chair stares at me, I get the Japanese influence!
    Does it beat out last years “wash machine agitator”? Perhaps….if you build it Noah, I will come! Did anybody ask the question, “Will it float?”

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  • Pooh says:

    If you submitted a design that was not selected, you have every right to express your disappointment and butt hurt. If you didn’t submit a design, your cynicism and judgement is so Coachella.

    Nice Job Geordie! This will be a lovely oasis on the playa.

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    • JV says:

      That’s the most sanctimonious thing I’ve ever read. Just because I didn’t submit a temple design doesn’t mean I’m not creating something else to bring, nor does it mean I can’t have an opinion on a piece. Hell, even if I didn’t plan to bring anything, I can still say, with some certainty, that this temple design is pretty underwhelming. I’m all for scaling back the event, but small doesn’t have to mean uninspired.

      That said, as another commenter mentioned, the temple structure is just a bunch of wood, no matter the design. It doesn’t become “the temple” until people start imbuing it with their own sorrows/joys/celebrations. With that perspective, a bunch of palettes slapped together could be transformed into the most moving monument.

      Still…

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      • Pooh says:

        With certainty…really? So you are an expert in sacred architecture? I find the design classic and powerful. What criteria are you using for your critique? Enjoy Coachella. I hear Idris Elba is DJing.

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      • JV says:

        I’m an expert in what I like. I don’t like this design. Lucky for you, apparently, I have no influence over the approval process.

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  • How do I get involved with the build???

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  • Star says:

    This Temple is so serene and beautiful its reflection on the dunes as the sun rises and sets each day will bring absolute tranquility to me. Thank you for the image

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  • Burnt says:

    As a virgin burner that just completed his profile and then moved on to read about this years temple I would say I am expectedly disappointed, not in the design of the temple but rather in polarization within a community that claims radical inclusion as a principle. I was intrigued by the Burning Man ideals and wondered if such a collaborative community could actually exist but it would appear based this line of comments that it is no different than every other community. As for the temple design, I have always thought that clean simple lines held a certain elegance and I know from my trade that “simple” can be harder to design than complicated. I like machines with one moving part. If each years Burning Man temple is to exceed the previous in grand complexity then the concept of coming together to build something with volunteers on a budget with time constraints will not be sustainable.
    I read an article that said Larry expected to see a time when the Burning Man was no more, consumed by its own growth, perhaps this “bigger and better next year” thinking and the division it creates is how that happens. I hope to get to experience the Man before the whole thing burns down.

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    • JV says:

      You’ll get over it, ha. Like any city, BRC has its internal conflicts, but we generally come together in enough ways to put on an extraordinary event. Don’t expect Utopia or any kind of universal agreement on anything, though. We’re still human, after all.

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    • The Hustler says:

      It’s different in real life. You may notice that the negative comments are either complete gibberish or rantings from a few people.
      None of them actually engage in any sort of dialog or explain what they don’t like or why.
      Every year it’s the same thing: people complain about this or that, the temple is too boring, the man base is too complex. They complain about things they should realize are misinformation.
      I believe you’ll find the temple is always the same regardless of the structure, and I mean that in the absolute best possible way. Also, keep in mind that there are about 70,000 souls in Black Rock City at its peak and all of 4-5 commenting here.
      If you approach Burning Man and Black Rock City with an open mind, a willingness to learn and a sense of humor, you’ll have a damn fine time.
      Just make sure you’re not a spectator. You don’t have to do something huge or bring a big trinket, just do what feels right.

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  • JohnnyK says:

    A grove of trees, a beach, a flower, a kitchen table, a box can become temples. It all depends on what each person brings to it. I hope we bring holy energy again this year.
    I want to help pre-build this.

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  • Sorry to see so many negative comments. At least one appears to have been from someone who’s attended architecture school, so I guess they ought to know.

    My only formal education is in medicine, and I don’t know anything about architecture, but I happen to think it’s beautiful. It’s elegant in it’s symmetry and simplicity. (Of course, my favorite playa structure is the Osiris Pyramid, so that tells you something right there.)

    I hope other people like this temple, too. Maybe the ones who don’t can find something else nice to see.

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