The Renegade Burn

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

Every October, fans of Burning Man, a huge real-life art and music event that takes place every late summer in Black Rock Nevada, gather at a number of sims in Second Life to hold the virtual equivalent. For the virtual world's first few years, it was sponsored by Linden Lab and known as Burning Life. After the Lab discontinued it's sponsorship, the fans reorganized themselves and the event became known as Burn2. In recent years, there have been two noteable Burning Man inspired events. In 2020 and 2021, due to the Pandemic the real-life event was canceled and moved online. So people in Second Life could attend both what was the official event and a few weeks later it's traditional virtual equivalent, or "Octoburn." 

 

In 2022, once again there were two Burning Man inspired events close together. But the cause was not a pandemic, but a human one. As usual, the Burn2 event took place in early to mid October. But there was a second Burner event, the "Renegade Burn." It was organized by the Burn ONe group, who got attention in summer for their beach sim in July which turned into a Waterworld tribute in August. 

 

The event got it's name from the real-life events that took place in Black Rock Nevada during the Pandemic. While Burning Man was officially moved online, some people went to the area anyway, in both 2020 and 2021. 

This year, there was some trouble among the Burners, which got worse when the Deep Hole sim was temporarily closed this summer. There's been an effort to change and add to Burn2's policies. Over the months, a number of people either were dismissed or resigned, many of whom joined Burn ONe. When one of Burn2 spoke in a Q & A article for the Newser, she explained they've been trying to cool things down and be reasonable and trying to improve things for everyone. The comments were full of people stating what they experienced was very much to the contrary of the official word. 

The event took place in the Capri sim.

It ran from Saturday October 15 to Saturday October 29.

 

There were both a number of exhibits around. 

 

 While there were a few displays of anger at the Burn2 leadership, notably the words "F**k Your Burn" near the entrance, for the most part people simply wanted to have fun and show off their art and music. A number of the BurnONe group have been reserved and diplomatic, preferring to be voices of reason.

 

There were also some music events.

Some people took part in both Burn2 and the Renegade Burn. 

 

Grease Coakes had few performances there. 

 

One of the displays was interactive: a boat ride to the Underworld.

There was also a game in which you got points for smashing pumpkins.

On Sunday October 23 was one special event.

This was when the Renegade Man Burn took place.

The figure was a simpler version of "The Man," with the word "RENEGADE" over it.

Which soon burned and crumbled to the ground.

In the end, the Burners in the Renegade event congratulated themselves for a job well done. 

So what does the future hold? At the moment one can only guess. But unless there's some kind of reconciliation, as long as Burn ONe can find places to hold an event, it's safe to assume the Renegade Burn events will continue. And for some of us, that means twice the fun.

 

Addition: In the few days since this went up, I was approached with a couple details. Someone from Burn2 had asked that in future articles that it be more clear that Burn ONe has no connection to either Burn2 or the Burning Man organization. 

The second was that I was approached by one of Burn ONe who stated that the expression "F**k Your Burn" wasn't meant to be an expression of anger, but "another way that burners say welcome home - Welcome Home! or F**k your Burn!"

Bixyl Shuftan

Burn2 Exhibits And Other Builds

 
By Gemma Cleanslate

That is the inside sensor of the Temple where you can leave your messages and thoughts which will be read aloud at the Temple Burn. I remembered my good second life friends that were lost .

As I roam the playa I see so many wonderful installations. Each stage is unique for the various performers and DJs who come daily to perform. You already saw the DJ stage in all its glory .

Here is a spectacular experience by Ilia Sojourner.  Of her build she says, “My build represents some of those other worlds, all very different, spinning through the void. Each has its own orbit, its own pattern, its own story that we may never know. And the glowing-eyed stone heads, silently observing: are they an alien civilization? Are they gods? Are they us? That’s up to you to decide.

At the center is our own little universe, the center of everything we think we know. Step inside the big blue bubble and meditate on it all, walk through one of the stone heads, or click one of the glowing red spheres and spin and dance through the void along with the spinning worlds.”
visit at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burn2%20Cosmic%20Bob/56/248/24

Andrea Jones has created  a place to contemplate the religions of the multiverse. Enter each temple and learn about the major religions . They are lovely examples. Make your way all around the plot  for more. There are places to relax and eat too. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burn2%20Quantum/42/45/24

Some of the builds are huge and extravagant but some are small and what you would expect to find in the desert and on the playa in real life as camps.Foot bath at the end of the day!

 

Remember the MAN burns on Saturday twice , 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm SL time and the Temple burns Sunday at 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm SL time. Dancing for 2 hours before the burns. Enjoy!!

Gemma Cleanslate

Building Begins For Burn2 Radical Ritual in October

By Klaus Bereznyak

Last week, the sims became available, plots were allocated to contributors, and building began for Second Life's regional Burning Man Festival, which opens October 21.

This year's theme for the Big Burn (or Octoburn) is "Radical Ritual", and it follows the theme and ethos of the recent 2017 Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock desert.

According to Burning Man, "Beyond the dogmas, creeds, and metaphysical ideas of religion, there is immediate experience. It is from this primal world that living faith arises. In 2017, we will invite participants to create interactive rites, ritual processions, elaborate images, shrines, icons, temples, and visions ... The human urge to make events, objects, actions, and personalities sacred is protean. It can fix on and inhabit anyone or anything." (https://burningman.org)

 
There is plenty to be done in readying the flat, empty desert sims for the imaginative architecture that is to come. Individual plots have been divided and named and roads put in place. The large public features like Main Stage, The Temple and the Gateway are to be constructed.

A series of info sessions were held for builders this week before the building plots were handed out. In the coming weeks, we'll see an extraordinary city arising from the desert floor.

Burn2 camp builders consider the authenticity and immediacy of their builds, virtually using the sorts of materials that could reasonably be trucked into the desert, set up and then taken down without leaving a single trace.

It's not too late to participate in Burn2's Radical Ritual as there are still openings for the submission of single artworks or applications for juried plots. Musicians and live performers can sign themselves up with a performance slot, and a range of volunteers are needed, from community guides to scripters and greeters.

More information can be found at http://www.burn2.org/

Klaus Bebeznyak

Burn2: The Temple Burn

By Bixyl Shuftan

Sunday October 23 was the final day of the activities at Burn2, Second Life's largest annual art and music festival. For over a week, this virtual reflection of the real-life Burning Man had been going on. And now it was time for the last of the events there: the Temple Burn.

The Temple Burn is different from the "Burning of The Man" in two ways. One is it's not the signature event of the festival as when "The Man" is burned on the previous day. It's also an event that usually has some solemn moments as before the burning, people put notecards with messages in the Temple censer that are read aloud as the structure is aflame, often messages of real life or Second Life friends and family whom had passed away in the past year.

 But over the course of the year, a number of people with connections with Burn2 had passed away. Among them Ladyslipper Constantine whom was a well known name whom had passed away just weeks before. So she was never far from the minds of many of the Burners as they gathered at the Temple at 12 Noon. The Temple would later be brought back and burned again at 6PM SL time.

"Now we would like all Lamplighters to stand please. Then everyone, please come into the Temple with us. We will stand together inside as it Burns." iSkye Silverweb shouted, "Come in, everyone! Join us in the Burn!"

Toady Nakamura, the builder of the Temple, was among those at the event.

The Temple censer would call out, "In memory of Ludinha Kamachi, member of Burning Life Access and Linguists, White Tiger Mentors, Mental Mentors, Mentor Lounge, Ez SL Mentor, Mentors! and Ajuda SL Brasil groups, who left us last 27 May 2010, after a terrible struggle with a cancer.."

"We will always remember Ladyslipper Constantine. Osprey Therian... Lumiere Noir... wish you were here."

Eventually, it was time to get things started. These images of burning structures in the middle of the structure briefly appeared.

"Ladyslipper - this is for you, remembering your brave, strong, loving heart and all you did for so many of us in Second life! Saffia."

Then the structures vanished. But something was still burning, hidden by the lag.

"Lady Slipper, It was my honor to have knowing you & to work with you all the years. You where a great lasdy & will be missed! RIP my friend!"

And soon the top of the structure was aflame.

"As long as there is still Music, Creativity, and Imagination there is Hope."

"Always remember - it's not who you are, but who you have become. Your decisions shape your future."

Among those watching on the outside were Avariel Falcon and Daniel Voyager, the later whom would write his own story on his Flickr page. "Loving the burn this year." he would say.

 Inside, the fire lit the area around the people where it had been dark.

"Peace and love to all who have come before and for all those who are yet to come.. may be leave it to them all."

 The fire slowly spread downward, the more detailed and decorative parts in the middle catching afire.

"Shady, my Black and Purkle buddy, this Burn is for you. Keep Spinning those tunes and enjoy the Bakkon!"

"This has been a tough burn. We lost a family member, we've said and done hurtful things to each other.  It's my wish for us to listen more and show compassion and understanding to one another.  Please make amends so we can be a family again.  -Pman"

The fire further burned the decorations in the middle.

 "Ananda, I love you and deeply miss you! The angels are lucky to have you. Thank you for your unconditional."

 "Peace and love to all who have come before and for all those who are yet to come.. may be leave it to them all."

 Eventually, the flames on the top of the structure began to die down, leaving only char.

Then the top began to crumble, turning into ash and bits of charred wood.

The fire had soon reached the bottom of the structure, with every remaining part aflame.

 "Huntress, iSkye & Suz, you are the glue that holds this family together.  Often, your hard work goes unnoticed, seems unappreciated or misunderstood. But you truly are loved and appreciated by many.  Your passion truly shines. <3 -Pman"

 "To the entire Burn2 staff: All of your hard work, dedication and sacrifices are appreciated. We're not perfect.  We've had our disagreements and obstacles to overcome. It's been rough, but we made it work. Thank you for all that you do. <3 P-man"

 "Huntress ... you made Second Life deeper ... Talking with you on levels that changed my heart from broken to healing  ... your passion in all you do gave me a Hero. I love you ~Daark"

"Piano ... Thank you for your Friendship, thank you for all the smiles, the cries, the Laughter, OMG your laughter heals me ... Thank YOU ... I love you ~Daark"

 Inside, the floor now burned, along with some of the Burners themselves.

 "Xiija ... Everything you do is amazing. Your willingness to help your abilities to create and the heart you do it with is un equaled. Thank you for your friendship ... I love you ~Daark"

"iSkye ... Thank you for all your support in all I tried to do .. thank you for listening,  thank you for sharing ... I Love you ~Daark"

 Eventually, the flames began to die down as most of the structure had been consumed by the flames.

 "Thank you ALL for making this possible, I wish sometime in future i can go to the rl burn, but this is nice to have in while time :) thank you ALL."

 "Thank you to all the hard working staff that spent months planning this event & to our participants WELCOME HOME & HAPPY BURN! \o/"

Eventually, the Temple was completely gone.

 iSkye shouted, "Wait for the pile of debris, then you can fire away." Once there was, there would be occasional flare-ups.

 I continued to watch from a distance, even when across the sim border as fire and fur do not make for a good mix.

 "Now the Real peace will come one the World thanks to all peoples."

"Begin to make the world a better place! Hug your neighbor today! Seriously! DO it."

 With all the solemnity over the departed, there was some room for clowning around. One guy shouted, "My backside is on fire!!"

And one renamon decided as long as the embers were still warm, time to break out the marshmallows.

Toady was thanked for her work, "Beautiful Temple Burn!!! Thank you TOADY!, Amazing job." "Indeed. Beautifully done!"

I would later speak to Toady, whom told me she had put aside a trip in order to work on the temple. It had been a lot of work, but the results were spectacular. She wasn't sure if she would be able to build it again next year, though.

It was a great Temple Burn, and a great finale to Burn2.

Bixyl Shuftan