BrightestYoungThings: Burning Man 2011: A Constant State of Wonderment

Everything by Amp!

This was originally intended to be an EPIC PHOTO POST. Going into my week in Black Rock City, Nevada, I expected to encounter some of the most interesting, beautiful art in the world, and document it right here for you, our readers. One of those things happened. But somewhere along the line, documenting became less important than simply being there. Maybe it was that I found myself in a constant state of wonderment at what was happening around me. And so I have some photos for you, and a story to tell. But what you won't (can't) see is the incredible sense of community that I found at Burning Man - for that, you'll just have to go yourself.

Driving in on the gate road, early Monday morning - I had no idea what was in store!

Welcome home! My camp, Sukkat Shalom. 75% Jewish, 25% gay, 100% family.

Check out our impromptu dance party!

This statue overlooked Nectar Village, home to the shamans, HeeBeeGeeBee Healers, and steam bath camp!

Three guesses who lived here.

Building on the Playa is hard work!

Learning how to weld!

This hot gay frenchman was serving snow cones every day!

Playa gymnastics!

Love 4 baby Burners.

That's her wedding dress.

Of course, the gay camp is run by radical faeries. Make sure you know what you're getting into before you go inside the sex tent.

One of many art cars.

Treecar!

Sexyspider car!

This guy was trippin'.

Essential Recipes

The prize, for those who made it across, was a spanking.

Dress code for the next BYT party?

Keepin' down the dust.

A visit to the circus! The last guy was GOOD.

A pier, rising out of the desert.

Safety first on the pier.

You could pick up bait (candy!) and go fishing for hippies.

But they all scattered when this shark showed up.

Pretty good balloon.

Skelemammoth car.

Stargate: Black Rock City

FRACTALBALLOON

They burned this TROJAN HORSE on Friday night. Lit with a flaming arrow, fireworks sprouted from its mane. Incredible.

The Temple of Transition. This thing was a tear factory. One of the most holy places I have ever been.

Scorpioncar.

These columns were one of my favorite pieces - they shot light high into the sky.

Glowing oasis.

The Man Himself! Check out that swishy pose!

Work those flags!

Would not want to fight the fire horde riding a demon horse.

Let's have a heart 2 heart inside this giant heart.

Every camp should have its own fire dancer. Thanks Zaak!

On Friday night, my camp hosted this amazing Shabbat service and potluck!

Burning Bush by the awesome Bevan Weissman.

Just a taste of the flames to come.

By Sunday, people had gotten pretty cheeky with the street signs.

On Sunday night, it was time for the Temple to burn and mark the end of the week.

Hey, that's me!

The Temple really went up quick. All week, people had left their sorrowful (or happy!) memories inside, written on or nailed to the Temple.

This fire was HOT.

The Man burn was a bacchanal. When the Temple burned, thousands of people gathered around it in a circle, joined hands, and watched it go in silence.

The main tower comes crashing down.

The last embers of the Temple burning as the week ends, and begins to become memory.

Were you at the burn? Tell us your stories!

EPILOGUE

Some great videos I'm not responsible for, but that you should see anyway:

I think this was my favorite moment all week - I can't believe I found it on YouTube. The fire octopus car (El Pulpo Mecanico) teamed up with Heart Deco, which played by far the best music, to create MAGIC in the middle of the Playa.