If you’ve ever set foot in Black Rock City, you’ll know Burning Man isn’t just a festival. It’s a living, breathing canvas where art, technology, and human connection collide in the most unexpected ways. In today’s podcast episode, NOT REAL ART founder and veteran burner Scott “Sourdough” Power shares his experience at Burning Man 2024, which unfolded in the Nevada desert from Aug. 25 through Sept. 2.
Scott reflects on Burning Man’s 2024 theme, Through the Looking Glass, marveling at the festival’s artistic innovations and evolving cultural landscape. He recounts mesmerizing moments like the historic “art plane,” the first FAA-approved aircraft to shoot fireworks and lasers, and explores how LEDs, drones, e-bikes, and smartphones are reshaping the Playa. He also touches on the festival's impermanence, its more than 400 art installations, and the growing tension between Burning Man's anti-commercial roots and its increasing commodification through social media. With candid personal anecdotes and thoughtful insights, Scott invites listeners to explore the intersection of art, community, and technology at Burning Man, offering a glimpse into the creative wonders that make it an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a seasoned Burner or simply curious about this legendary event, this episode will reveal how it continues to push boundaries, spark innovation, and foster meaningful connections.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Learning to embrace the “joy of missing out” at Burning Man
- How drones, lasers, and the first-ever art plane transformed the night sky above the Playa
- How technology is literally and figuratively reshaping the landscape at Burning Man
- Tension between Burning Man's anti-commercial roots and its increasing commodification
- The reasons Scott returned from the event feeling fuller and richer than before
- Some of the many creative wonders that make Burning Man a truly unforgettable experience.
- Why Burning Man is an incredible example of the value that artists create in the world
Quotes:
“There are always people using their [creativity, intelligence, skills, technology, and materials] to create a new beautiful moment, a new incredible experience.” — Scott “Sourdough” Power [0:12:33]
“Technology is shifting the landscape [at Burning Man] in many interesting ways.” — Scott “Sourdough” Power [0:16:27]
“From architects to animators to painters and sculptors and dancers and everything in between and around, artists create huge value in the world, both economically and spiritually. Burning Man is a really good example of this.” — Scott “Sourdough” Power [0:22:55]
Longer Quotes:
“[With] over 400 pieces of art curated on Playa, you literally can't see it all. Certainly, if you're there for a short time, we talk about FOMO, [but] actually, JOMO is the thing: the joy of missing out. You have to embrace the joy of missing out because you're not going to see it all. You're not going to get it all. You just have to ride the wave, your wave, and enjoy it the best you can.” — Scott “Sourdough” Power [0:06:09]
“Technology disrupts and changes, doesn't it? Back in the day when Burning Man first started, it was quite renegade. There [wasn’t a lot of] light at night. There was a lot of propane, a lot of headlamps, and there was a lot of nudity, quite frankly – [because] back in those days, there were no smartphones with cameras. There were no LED lights, let alone multicolored LED lights. There was no amplification system that could power a sound camp back in those days. Over the last 30-plus years, technology has shifted. Things like the LED light changed the landscape, literally and figuratively. It changed the culture because suddenly, you could illuminate yourself at night, you could colorize things, and it added a layer of artistic and creative experience that just wasn't possible before the LED light. As soon as people started carrying a smartphone around with cameras, people started putting clothes on.” — Scott “Sourdough” Power [0:13:48]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Burning Man — https://burningman.org/
‘How Burning Man’s Katie Hazard Chooses the Art at Black Rock City’ — https://notrealart.com/burning-man-katie-hazard/
NOT REAL ART — https://www.notrealart.com/
First Friday Exhibitions — https://notrealart.com/exhibitions/
Remote Video Series – https://notrealart.com/remote-exploring-public-art/
NOT REAL ART Hotline — 833-668-7325
Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.notarealartist.com/