Naga and the Captainess is now in Golden Gate Park.
We recently shared a list of 18 large scale art pieces that are headed to Burning Man this year from local artists, as a way to honor amazingly talented artists and artwork which originates locally. That story was about art leaving our area and heading somewhere else, albeit temporarily. This is about honoring the art originally created for Burning Man. You don’t need a ticket to see the amazing work created for Burning Man, you can explore these works right here in our backyard, completely FREE!
There is an interactive map that features artwork created for Burning Man which has been permanently placed in The Bay Area you can visit for FREE!
You can find it right here.
This map is recent work from the past 6-ish years and is maintained by the art department at Burning Man. Make sure you click “View map legend” so you can adjust what art pieces show up on the map.
A screenshot of the map.
The map itself is super interesting. It combines my love with art with my love of maps plus it satiates my curiosity around where art goes after Burning Man. You can zoom out to see where other pieces are displayed internationally, what has been featured in temporary exhibitions, and details about each piece, including the artist, the year it was created, and sometimes even how it came to live at its current location.
Where Did This Map Come From?
A few years ago, I met Peter Platzgummer, one of the directors of Burning Man’s art projects, while volunteering on the 2023 Temple, Temple of The Heart. I asked him if a map like this existed, and he told me he was already working on one. He promised that when it was ready, he’d share it with me so we could share it with you. I’ve always felt like it was a shame that we didn’t know which public art pieces came out of Burning Man, so when I had a window of opportunity to find out, I took it!
Future’s Past is currently in Richmond, CA at San Pablo Harbor.
Does the Burning Man Org Help Get Art to These Locations?
How does a piece get selected for a location and how much help does Burning Man give to artists after they work to get their large scale art to the playa? Since my last article, I sent a few questions to The Burning Man Art Department to ask these questions and also some others to help us all understand the process for what happens to art after it’s made for Burning Man and here’s the insight they gave us:
How does Burning Man help the large scale art get placed after Burning Man is over?
“One of the most rewarding parts of what we do is helping art find new homes around the world — extending Burning Man's culture and creativity beyond Black Rock City. While Burning Man Project doesn't select where the locations that artworks go after BRC, we're often asked to recommend pieces that would be a good fit for a given location. We make those recommendations based on the criteria of the placing organization (concept, scale, etc.), and the readiness of the artwork to successfully meet site requirements (e.g., how much rework will be required for it to be installed in that location). It’s one of the ways Burning Man culture thrives 365 days a year, all over the world.”
Hábitat is currently in Oakland.
Are artists ultimately responsible for what happens to their art after Burning Man ends?
The short answer is yes—but they don’t have to navigate the process entirely on their own. According to the Burning Man Organization, artists are responsible for their installations’ post-event logistics, but Burning Man actively helps connect artists with opportunities to give these spectacular works a life beyond Black Rock City.
“While artists are ultimately responsible for their installation's post-event logistics (in keeping with our principle of Radical Self-Reliance), we are fully committed to helping artworks find another life beyond Black Rock City. We strive to serve as an active bridge between artists and opportunities, and to build capabilities such as the essential know-how – administrative, engineering, and otherwise – to help artists navigate the world of public art. Our ultimate goal is to extend Burning Man's culture of creativity and participation into the wider world — helping to ensure that artists’ interactive, large-scale structures transition smoothly from the playa into public spaces where they can continue to inspire and delight as many people as possible.”
Octavius is currently in San Francisco.
The Largest Urban Art Walk in The World is Also Here:
A while back we covered the largest urban art trail in the world, The Big Art loop which is right here in San Francisco. A good chunk of this loop features Burning Man art, such as Naga in Golden Gate Park which was recently nominated for a CODAAward (nominated as one of the Top 100 global public art projects in the world). But you can also find even more public art by artists whose pieces were created outside of the Burning Man community.
So, after the dust settles, or any time, go out and experience a little bit of that Burning Man magic long after the playa is empty.
