Burning Man's Floating Word: Where Geek meets Chic
NCA Convention: The low-down on the hoedown.
Gay Pride 2002: Proud Gay Brazilians
Chunk's Wedding: Inter-species love
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It has been thousands of years since such a diverse assortment of sea creatures
inhabited this Burning Man site.
Held annually in the Nevada desert on a now dry, ancient lakebed, this year's BM theme, "Floating World" brought to life many aquatic styles in one of the most colorful Burning Man events yet. In a year where reality needed a vacation, Burning Man 2002 attracted 30,000 pilgrims for a week of creativity, community and silliness.
While there is so much to say about Burning Man, the creativity and community aspects are, arguably, the most interesting parts of the story. A double entendre, "Floating World" mixed Aquatic and Asiatic influences to the already ripe assortment of inspirations harnessed by the BM culture.
Launched
in the 80's and in the desert since the mid-90's, Burning Man is more than just
a theme event; it is part of a national movement espousing a set of community
values that are at risk in our commoditized culture.
What is this movement?
Well, there are many answers, but BM's "Radical Self-Expression" tenet allows for any form of opinion no matter how politically incorrect or ridiculous. Added to the commerce-free rules and the "leave no trace" environmental credo, Burning Man is cauldron for social experimentation that is creating new understandings that are now seeping into the mainstream. With internationally dispersed "Burner" communities using the internet and regional events to organize and grow, Burning Man may prove more significant than any of us can say.
Who is taking part? 
BM is open to all, but, by definition, is attended mostly by those looking for new experiences and alternative ideas. This open minded environment does not attract many traditionalist bible-belters (even though they are welcome!) but does involve a range of liberal minded folk from mainstream society as well as artists, technologists and the hipster club crowds.
In this harsh desert environment, a temporary city is built on the love and sweat of this diverse crowd. If individuals make the effort to be part of the community (by sharing and helping wherever possible) they are treated as such. There are kind conversations, freely offered treats and genuine compassion. Hugs and kisses are exchanged often. Prejudice and judgmental behavior seem foreign here.
Will this all last?
The
biggest ongoing debate is "where is this all going" and "when will it die?".
Burning Man is changing and some early participants have already thrown in the
towel decrying BM for veering away from its founding tenets. No longer can you
randomly careen around the desert in unadorned cars, firing guns in a total
free-for-all. It is no longer as raw and dangerous as it once was and it is
definitely becoming more mainstream.
With a compelling buzz bubbling up through the mainstream media, people bored
or unfulfilled by mundane existence are jumping in and bringing their "newbie"
spirit and creative energies. With them comes change. Estimated at a 25,000
population last year and almost 30,000 this year, BM's Black Rock City is becoming
a real city with the ways and means necessary to support this type of growth.
One of the most interesting issues is the "Geek vs. Chic" dynamic. Founded by San Franciscan's grounded in the Northern Californian tech culture, Burning Man is a community where creative techno-geeks shine. Often made to feel like lesser humans by the connected, pretty-people crowds, BM's strength comes, at least partially, from empowering this highly motivated and often disaffected bunch. But a culture clash looms…
Shortly after this year's "burn", some on the New York Burning Man e-list debated whether one particular club (quack!) seemed to be importing a velvet-rope attitude to the playa. Built by a group that had a similar vibe in 2001, this club tested BM's commerce-free rules by developing a formalized barter-exchange system that became a de facto playa currency. With elitist practices where friends of friends and attractive women drank free while other participants were shunned without the proper toll, one worries that a trend might develop.
What
to do?
Black Rock City is a diverse place where there are many things to experience and people to engage. If Burning Man's new "uber-cool" buzz is beginning to attract elitists en-masse, the choice is to accept, ignore or fight. Since BM is about anything that anyone wants to create, all should be able to build whatever they want. Others can decide whether they will play the game, go elsewhere or protest. With a vocal crowd accustomed to protests, elitists should proceed with caution.
At the nut of this issue is diversity vs. conformity. The artist and tech crowds that created BM are innovators who explore new ideas. The velvet-rope crowd strives for uniform, often elusive, ideals blessed by taste setters more familiar with posing than passion. As Black Rock grows, how will it deal with both? Does a forced barter system break the no-commerce rules? Should exclusivists be given artist grants and the inside track to prime real estate? Should the BM leadership judge such things?
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Philosophy aside, 2002 was a complete delight. While most descriptions and recorded images only tell part of the story… Picture this:
A completely flat, barren desert environment invaded by a myriad of theme camps and art instillations, hundreds of art cars, bikes and scooters, thousands of costumers and freaks all flaunting their individuality and creative visions. The daytime is hot and mellow and a time for visiting friends, viewing large art instillations and taking part in organized activities.
At
night, the city transforms into a throbbing, hopping organism with so many eye-popping
curiosities that it is hard to figure out which way to walk or what art-bus
to hop on. With music, lights and fire-art pumping everywhere, this psychedelic,
otherworldly dream is a free-for-all, circus-playground for everyone's inner
child.
The Floating World theme brought out Burning Man's geekiest, freakiest best. While not everyone did something aquatic, this rich pool of inspiration manifested itself in a multitude of sublime and ludicrous works. Costumery blended with art vehicles with instillations. Kaleidoscopic memories remain, elusive in description.
Realization requires participation…
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For all how-to info, read our Summer 2001 article and the BurningMan.com website.
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Nashville, Tennessee…
Where there's a band in every bar, southern hospitality in every heart and, this year, the home base for the 2002 National Costumers Association Convention.
The National Costumers Association was founded in 1923 by a small federation
of retail costume rental shops. Since then, it has grown to become the largest
costume industry association with its mission being the education, growth and
general betterment of a wonderfully creative industry. Its annual retreat is
a delightful several day event that mixes a wholesale marketplace, educational
seminars, several costume parties and a whole lot of friendly socializing by
a great group of people. 
Hosted by Nashville's Performance Inc., this year's event included several costuming occasions including the Tennessee Style Hoedown, the amazing Showcase Competition and the Creative Style Show. Held on the opening night, the Hoedown broke the ice as western and southern themes were flaunted and bent through the imaginations of this experienced crowd. Themes ranged from cowboy to belle to trailer trash to inbred mutants to, of course… Elvis. The most ambitious costumes were the horseback riding cow gals who "giddy-upped" around the party.
Night two was one of the most interesting costume shows that I've ever experienced.
An artist's exhibition and marketing opportunity for the makers of upscale rental
costumes, this show marched out a wild array of children and adult costumes
ranging from renaissance to mascot, mystical to silly. With ten overall categories,
each
costumer competed for the votes of the crowd. Personal favorites included the
aquatic Azure Undine, Alice & Friend and Voodoo Rada.
Day three brought us the show's most innovative event of the con. The "Creative Style" show is the ultimate design competition where interested NCA members are challenged to compete against each other using identical packages of fabrics, trims and accessories. The rules are to use all the materials (including the packing box) and a limit of $15 dollars of outside items. With this year's theme being "Dragonslayer", competing costumers from around the country created a wild assortment of medieval and fantasy themed outfits ranging from nights, horses, dragons and other magical entities.
A useful service of the NCA, the education seminars were a most important part
of the week. 
Specific
learning opportunities included twnty-five+ classes on a wide range of business
and creative issues. Artistic forums included "Showgirl Costumes, Fast & Easy",
"Trendspotting", "Headgames" (the making and care of Mascott heads) and "Unbalding,
Naturally" (the art of hair enhancement).
With 75 years behind it, the NCA has a long history of tradition and is now changing with the times. Recently opening up its membership to any costuming related business (it was originally just for rental shops), the current leadership now welcomes new types of members and the discussion of industry wide innovation.
With a new century dawning on this institution, Costume Network supports the NCA's principles and mission.
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For more info on the NCA, please see www.Costumers.org.
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In a strange but complimentary convergence of events, this year's Gay Pride celebrations coincided with millions of Brazilians celebrating their Soccer World Cup victory.
Happening only once every four years, the World Cup is not just about sports,
but about international pride and reputation. 
For
four years, the many national teams around the world have fought each other
to play here, and international attention was now on Korea and Japan, this year's
co-hosts for the event.
At 7am Eastern Time (10pm Japan time), Brazil met Germany in a battle of the
world's foremost soccer cultures. Around the world, the largest television audience
in the history of the universe was glued to their television sets. By 9am, every
conscious Brazilian and millions of "Brazilians for a day" where streaming out
into the streets to celebrate the victory. Arguably the world's most festive
culture, all hell was breaking loose wherever there were Brazilians.
In New York, the large Brazilian community was destined to join New York's Gay Community for the annual Gay Pride Parade.
On this picture perfect day, the parade went off as usual with thousands of costumers and scantily clad dancers riding floats and strutting down 5th Avenue. While everyone loves parades, this spectacle is more than just any parade…
More
creative and passionate than most, the Gay & Lesbian community know how to party
in style. Costumery ranged from scant to full drag to ridiculous. Meticulously
sculpted bodies grooved to jamming beats pumped out by the many motorized floats,
and the crowd loudly cheered all beautiful and bodacious activity. A party meant
for anyone with love in their hearts and an appreciation for diversity, New
York's melting pot was boiling.
Central amongst the crowd was the always active gay Brazilian community that, despite a lack of sleep and prep-time, was more animated than usual. At Little Brazil (5th Avenue and 46th Street), the yellow shirts were shoulder to shoulder and moving non-stop. This was a shared day of unity and celebration.
Unity and celebration around the world…
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The Chengwin saga continues…
In this episode, we find Chunk, seemingly a changed man prepared to wed the
fetching Chove.
To review… Our "Ch-" friends are delightful costumed characters all begat from inter-species unions with chickens. Our hero, Chengwin is a half penguin hybrid with love in his heart, excellent dance moves and a large following of fans including the ultra devoted Chengwin Babes. Chengwin is the Champion of Peace and Harmony.
Chunk is Chengwin's older, decidedly evil, half-brother birthed to Chengwin's mom shortly after an ill-advised union with a cantankerous and ultimately uncaring skunk. Chunk's followers include a small band of military misfits who assist Chunk in spreading decay and disorder.
Other
Chengwin characters include the ignoble Chixon (half Nixon) who is reportedly
aligned with Chunk, and the beautiful and peaceful Chove (half Dove) whose accent
betrays her southern roots.
How love sprung between Chunk and Chove, I cannot say but many believed that
Chunk sought to take advantage of the trusting Chove for his own foul purposes.
Others hoped that this might be a sign of love conquering all leading Chunk
down a better, brighter path. 
On this hot summer Saturday, hundreds of Chengwin fans gathered to witness the spectacle, wondering the logic behind this mismatched pair. As usual for these events, the crowd gathered at the Astor Street Cube to socialize and gossip about all the "what species is doing who" stuff. At the appointed hour, Chunk arrived with his posse to rally the crowd and lead them to Saint Marks Church at 10th Street and 2nd Avenue.
With Chixon as Best Man and a disbelieving priest ready to administer the oaths, the crowd tittered with anticipation. When the Bride arrived, she was a sight to behold. Appropriately dressed in white, accompanied by several hottie bridesmaids, Chove's beauty was apparent to all especially the swaggering husband to be.
Held
outside on this beautiful summer day, the ceremony preceded as most but when
that obligatory question arose, there was one who stepped forward to voice his
objections!
Storming down the aisle, Chengwin had arrived to save Chove from the same mistake made by his mother. Chunk was not a suitable husband and Chengwin, who had heretofore hidden his love, could be silent no longer!
Of course, this action soon turned into a brawl that spilled out into Second
Avenue stalling traffic all around. Mano a mano, in the intersection of 2nd
Ave. and 10th, Chengwin and Chunk faced off to fight for the wing of sweet Chove.
As is their history, Chengwin and Chunk pulled no punches. In the tradition of Ali-Frazier, or more aptly, Tyson-Hollyfield, fur and feathers flew as the two hopped and bopped around. With a greater size, teeth and a wicked tail, Chunk, driven by his intense anger, initially seemed like he would silence the interloper. With greater speed and agility, driven by love and a desire to protect the object of his affection, our hero would not be bested on this fine day.
With a leaping frontal assault, Chengwin landed an axe-peck that sent the exhausted Chunk down for the count. His dejected and suddenly silent posse were left to collect their fallen leader as the elated wedding party danced down the street towards Tompkins Square Park.
Team Chunk, however, had one last card up its sleeve.
In
an effort to help his friend, Chixon reportedly approached the Police with libelous
and wildly inaccurate accusations that sent several squad cars on a mad dash
after the revelers.
In a bizarre and hilarious altercation, the lead officer confronted Chengwin in a jack-booted attempt to bring him to heel. After several tense minutes, the police demurred. Whether it was the good-natured crowd, Chengwin's positive vibe or the fact that Chengwin is immune to handcuffs, we will not speculate.
Ultimately, the wedding reception went on as planned but with Chengwin eating the cake intended for Chunk. While the day was, overall, a happy one, it is hard not to recognize the story is not over. Somewhere in a fetid New Jersey dwelling, an evil chicken-skunk plots his revenge.
Stay tuned…
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