By Jeremy Kuempel

When the dark night suddenly glowed bright as day I realized–you can really feel those fire poofers from farther away than you’d expect. 

A dragon as large as a school bus coiled around an animatronic egg, cobbled together from welded scrap metal, discarded plumbing bits and anything else the creators could get their hands on. Jets of fire shot forty, fifty, sixty feet in the air as the egg pulsed with an iridescent glow and split along its quaternary axes, pedals waving back and forth like a stray magnolia flower in the breeze. 

Flaming Lotus Girls, Dragon Installation.

I was gazing upon a creation by the rogue collective known as the Flaming Lotus Girls, a badass crew of female artists who taught each other welding and metalworking skills, as well as, apparently, how to create and safely handle a considerable amount of fire. I’d long admired their work during my excursions to the ephemeral Black Rock City and finally their camp had agreed to join my own in our annual fundraising bacchanal—Steampunk Masquerade.

The particular year I’m writing about, probably 2015 or so, now lives on in my memory as one of my favorites out of the event’s ten-year history. Ear-to-ear grins permeated among my camp members as we threw a party attended by over 1000 guests, entertained by not only that huge ferrous dragon but also a cuddle puddle comprised of hundreds of life-size teddy bears, roaming type-writer-equipped poets pecking out bespoke musings on demand, and a now-famous (then lesser-known) programmed LED drapery hundreds of square feet in size known as Firmament. And oh yeah, all those life-size teddy bears reclined, of course, underneath all those blinky programmed LEDs.

We started Airpusher in the traditional way most get involved with art car-themed Burning Man projects—drunk on ambition, youthful energy, and perhaps from time to time, other mood-altering substances. This year will be Airpusher’s tenth anniversary gracing the playa with its ramshackle splendor, trundling about the barren desert doling out beats and a psychedelic light show from its projection art dirigible like some sort of mobile technicolor dreamcoat.

I couldn’t be more proud of the energy and enthusiasm going into our plans for this year. We’re kicking it off with the family-friendly fashion/variety show led by our famous costume-designing handyman Faymus. I’m a huge fan of his work—Fay always brings together an eclectic mix of creatives and weirdos and does an excellent job of curating the lineup to give every walk of life their share of the limelight.

Following the fashion show, Public Works will get divvied up into its maximum possible combination of multiple dance floors—two inside and a pair of silent disco stations outside. We’re bringing in special guest headliner Mz Worthy as well as DJs from Space Cowboys, Duck Pond, Dusty Rhino, Heavy Petting Zoo, and of course your Airpusher mainstays. Both indoors and outdoors we will have interactive art pieces, a few burner games to relocate from the playa with the customary glazing of dust, and local vendors and makers, and food trucks. In true Airpusher fashion, our already overdone plans have scope-creeped in the week leading up to the party to add a full tea lounge and chill spot on the top floor. 

DJ ShOOey

The Space Cowboys will also be bringing out their famous Unimog car. And last, but not least, we will have the Airpusher Art Car itself set up, complete with its massive inflatable balloon, LED-backlit clouds, upper deck and lower DJ quarters. It’s a rare opportunity to get a taste of real art cars within the confines of the City and Steampunk Masquerade will be one of your best chances this summer. Sadly, due to completely reasonable fire restrictions, we will not be utilizing the massive fire poofers this year nor, due to scheduling conflicts, will the Flaming Lotus Girls be participating in an official capacity. 

In the ten years of what I now think of as a bizarre hobby—throwing parties to bring a taste of the playa back to the Bay—I’ve learned there are two critical pieces to the puzzle. You need, of course, a sufficient batch of motivated weirdos to make these events happen in the first place. But another critical role, perhaps even more important, is a diverse and passionate group of revelers to turn out and shake their booties late into the evening, bring good vibes and friendly conversation, hugs with friends and new connections. 

The outcome of this glorious union of party throwers and party-goers is the infamously ephemeral yet critically valued concept we know as community. I learned that, like those fire poofers from years past, you can feel the heat of community from much farther away than you’d expect. And there’s nothing better in the cold than the warmth of a community. 

I look forward to inviting all of you to join our community in this great hurrah as we let the flame of our passion illuminate memories from years past and ignite the way for the future. Just for the loyal readers of Brokeass Stuart, Airpusher is extending the limited discount code YOUNGBROKEANDSTEAMPUNK for 25% off. See you out there!

1oth annual Steam Punk Masquerade

@ Public Works, SF
161 Erie St, San Francisco
July 22, Doors at 8pm – July 23, 3am

Get your Tickets here
Use Discount code: YOUNGBROKEANDSTEAMPUNK for 25% off