Current TV’s coverage of Burning Man 2007 via TV Free Burning Man has been exceptional this year. They have been uploading a bunch of great videos (which they call pods) throughout the week, including an excellent segment on David Best, who for years has been building giant temples at Black Rock City which are burned on Sunday night. This year David worked with Tim Dawson in creating the beautiful “Temple of Forgiveness”, one of the art projects funded by Burning Man this year.
This year’s temple features four grand entrance halls that converge onto a central altar. Above the altar the open tower projects to the sky, letting the energy flow dynamically through the structure. As you approach, you see the central tower rising above the flanking entrance halls; at the top are long curving beams that reflect the arc of the sky. Clad with intricately cut and layered wood, the Temple is a vehicle for remembrances and blessings, promises and forgiveness.
In 2005 David Best built a temple on the Hayes Green area in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley with public art funding from The San Francisco Arts Commission and The Black Rock Arts Foundation.
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You know i was at the first few Burning Man’s on Baker Beach…and honestly this temple is the first thing i have seen in recent years…besides the very appropriate eclipse burn of the man…that i feel is in the true grain of the originators ….it is truely beautiful….
David’s work has always been a highlight for me. Cathartic, community oriented, and beautiful. It brought a tear to my eye to hear him describe himself as a “customer” this year. It should be interesting to see how his vision is continued on by participants in the future. One of my fave memories is walking back from the temple after Bridget’s grandmother had died. David caught up with us in the middle of a white out and they got to rap for awhile about the catharsis that the temple allowed for releasing grief. Beautiful work, beautiful man.
I didn’t make it to BRC this year, and not experiencing this beautiful temple in person is my biggest regret. I hope that others will step up to carry on in the spirit of David’s work.
I missed this year’s burn. The temple became more important than The Man.
If the Man is the heart of Burning man, then the Temple is surely the soul.
Temple of Forgiveness construction photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketnumber9/sets/72157601900217103/
The temple burning is always the perfect end to the Burning Man ritual.
Thank you, Tim.
Thank you, David.
As a part time member of the temple crew I have to complement both David and his Wife Maggie who I must say is a fantastic chef. She organises and cooks the best food on the playa. She is as tireless as David when it comes to taking care of the crew. It is said behind every good man is a great woman . I tip my hat to a lady that succeedes under most extream conditions. Anthony D. Haskins, CEC,MBA, R.I.C.C. (I also learned what a bad carpenter I am)
Sorry guys . If you are not in the Culinary field CEC means Certified Executive Chef – SO DON’T MESS THIS UP LMAO- Love DB his wife and the whole temple-Rev. Billy crew, nobody tries harder to spread the good feelings of stop shopping and celebrate life as these guys.They are truly neoscholsastics who love what they are doing and care who they are working with.
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