Destined to last a week, Burning Man murals provide mural artists with an opportunity to display their work, and for Burners to enjoy the murals.
Somewhere around 30,000 BC, a group of guys and possibly gals, decided to try their hand at creating murals deep in the caves of southern France. Apparently folks liked what they saw. The art form caught on. The ancient Egyptians placed murals in their tombs; they were found in Pompeii before Mt. Vesuvius blew her top; and Michelangelo undoubtedly got a kink in his neck from daubing away at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Peggy and I have even found some very interesting UFO-like murals left behind by early Native Americans.
We found this Roman mural in a museum in Naples.
Today murals have become ubiquitous, if I may use that two-bit word, i.e. they are everywhere. Small towns use them to attract visitors and relate their history. Urban areas have found them great for freshening up blighted areas. And the best of graffiti artists are now paid big bucks to wield spray cans they once used for free— two steps ahead of the police.
Murals have a way of slipping into my blogs when I come across them. I appreciate the efforts of both major cities and small towns to support artists. I recently featured murals I found in Puerto Vallarta. Two other examples include one from the small coastal town of Bolinas and one featuring People’s Park in Berkeley.
Mural Peggy and I found in Puerto Vallarta. We enjoyed its sense of humor.
A mural depicting how Bolinas would have looked in the 50s. Not much has changed. As for the guy in a brown suit carrying a blue surfboard… artistic license?
Murals have often been used to reflect local history and political protest.
Alien looking forms in an early Native American mural (pictograph) from Sego Canyon in eastern Utah north of I-70. I am going with UFO visitors.
Given the creative bent of Burning Man, it isn’t at all surprising to find that mural art thrives there. Each year, the Burning Man Organization, BMO, makes a long fence around the back side of the Center Camp Café available to artists. Other murals can be found throughout Black Rock City. I make a point of including works that strike my fancy in my annual Burning Man blogs. This year my choices ranged from Salvador Dali to pigs that fly— and other strange stuff. (Grin) Pigs that fly, BTW, have been a favorite of mine ever since I memorized this poem from Lewis Carol as an impressionable teenager:
“The time has come,” the Walrus said, ”To talk of many things: Of shoes, and ships, and sealing-wax– Of cabbages and kings– And why the sea is boiling hot– And whether pigs have wings.”
Peggy’s mom, who is a retired high school English teacher and is now 95, doesn’t remember much, but she remembers this verse. We often recite it together.
Three angelic flying pigs. I think the nose masks are there to deal with the dust storms of Burning Man.
A not so angelic Salvador Dali and his message.
Arriving early at Burning Man in 2015, I was able to watch a number of mural artists at work.
Colorful mural, colorful clothes.
A view of one of the walls featuring a number of artists.
These clowns fit into the Burning Man theme of Carnival.
A bear riding a unicycle while juggling flaming bottles— another carnival theme. Apparently the world burns as well, while the middle bottle urges people to have a nice day.
Want strange, this ‘BMO insider’ mural qualifies. Check out the statue of Bliss dancing with Homer Simpson on the hat. El Pulpo Mechanico lurks in the background.
Handsome bugs. Fig 4, not seen here, was a mirror. Burners were invited to join the collection.
Let’s have a party. The two in front are playing their noses like flutes. And then there is the nose harp…
Unfinished but interesting.
A study in black and white. Check out the details.
Incentive or trap?
I’ll conclude with this version of what I view as the peaceable kingdom. Whether the artist saw it that way…
NEXT BLOG: A strange cathedral, Susan Sarandon, and the ashes of Timothy Leary.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Dali it seems had a very high opinion of himself. – “Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure – that of being Salvador Dali.” – Salvador Dali (of course).
I visited those cave paintings one time –
https://apetcher.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/twelve-treasures-of-spain-altamira-caves-at-santillana-del-mar/
Thanks for the link, Andrew. I followed it and read your blog. I’ve always thought it would be a great experience to go into the cave. I’ve spent a lot of time wandering around the southwestern US exploring petroglyph sights and am a fan of so-called ‘primitive’ art. To me, it is anything but, and represents a completely different world than the one we know.
As for Dali, I don’t anyone ever accused him of lacking in ego. Seems a bit like “the Donald,” as in Trump. –Curt
Thanks Curt. I am always amazed at how old some of these things are. In 1996 I went to Mesa Verde NP and I was ashamed about how ignorant I was about US history pre European settlement.
Most people (including most Americans) are, Andrew. It certainly wasn’t taught in school when I was growing up.What amazes me is that there is still so much out there, both in terms of ancient ruins and rock art. –Curt
That’s right, never a mention of it. I studied American history at University and it started with the Europeans!
It’s better now, you might get a lecture or two. 🙂
Such a visual feast these murals are. I love the colorful ones.
They range from serious to fun to outrageous, Carrie. Sometimes you feel like you have followed the white rabbit down his hole. They are always one of my first stops at Burning Man. I also enjoy watching their creation, art in progress. –Curt
Stunning!
Yes it is, Cindy. I pretty much walk around Burning Man all week with my jaw dropped admiring the art and creativity. –Curt
Have a Nice Day bottle? Yes please! (on the mural with the bear on the bike…love it)
Have to love the sense of humor shown by several of the artists, Sylvia. 🙂 –Curt
Dali was one of my favorite artists, but that guy in the coat carrying a surfboard was a hoot!!
I think it is a good reflection of Bolinas humor, GP. It is a very interesting town. The locals tore down on the road signs that pointed to the community off Highway 1 for years. Finally, the California Department of Transportation stopped putting up signs. 🙂 –Curt
I think some Wall Street Gurus could well end up getting a ‘burning man’ feeling..
For sure, or at least a burning sensation deep in their stomachs. 🙂 –Curt
I really like the insects, the suited dude with the board, and the juggling bear (although the rest of that mural’s not so appealing.) I just was thinking about the towns were I’ve found interesting murals: Harrisonville, Missouri; Bay City, Texas; Rolling Fork, Mississippi (Muddy Waters). It’s a fact that the artistic quality isn’t always the highest, but that doesn’t bother me. I love that people are creating, and expressing pride. We could use a little more of that.
Oh, Linda, I so much agree with you. I want to stand up and cheer when I come to a small town (or elsewhere) that has invested energy and resources into creating murals. It shows a certain pride in the community and a hope for the future. Another example in Paducah, Kentucky. The best I’ve ever seen, and I mention it to Sue Slight above, is the small community of Chemainus on Vancouver Island. –Curt
Curt I appreciated the history of murals. You are definitely selling me on Burning Man!
Have you ever been over to Chemainus on Vancouver Island, Sue. It’s this charming little town that refused to die when the timber industry failed. Instead they created a whole town of great murals, which it is now famous for and pulls in tourists from all over the world.
Glad you are enjoying Burning Man. I am obviously a fan. –Curt
I have not been there Curt but just looked on a map where it is. I will keep that in mind!
If you like First Nation art, Sue, the town of Duncan, just south of Chemainus, has a great collection of both traditional and modern totem poles. –Curt
I see a road trip in our future!
Good! You won’t regret it. Be sure to throw in kayaking on the north shore among the orcas, and hiking on the West Coast. 🙂 –Curt
Curt we have done the West Coast Trail and can attest to the beauty of the west coast. Tofino is one of our favourite Canadian spots too. So much to see in this beautiful world.
Great, Sue. It is beautiful. You are right, so many beautiful places to see and the clock is ticking… 🙂 –Curt
Wonderful collection of images. I’m always amazed by what we human beings have rolling around in our heads 🙂
Alison
Definitely some fun and often bizarre stuff, Alison! Imagine playing your nose like a flute. 🙂 Artists are free to reflect whatever is running around in their psyche. I have some more fun/strange stuff tomorrow connected with the Totem of Confession. –Curt
Oh, we do love a good murial, as we call them. Don’t see much as tasteful as this on the road.
Murial? Is that French, AC? One thing that I have found over the past several years that murals are both increasing in quantity and improving in quality. The quality of the murals at Burning Man is especially impressive to me given that they have a week’s lifespan. –Curt
Dig your captions, too, always think photography needs words to make it personal.
Thanks Dave. I often have fun with my captions and I also feel that some explanation is needed. The photos are an important part of what ever story I am telling. –Curt
I am the artist who did the clown mural “Clown Flower” thanks for recognizing it.
The thanks is to you Jim, and the other artists, for your wonderful creativity and for the gift of art to all of us. –Curt
very interesting post, as usually… btw, I’ve been a Dali fan for decades… btw, have you visited The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida?… it houses THE largest collection of his works outside of Europe:
https://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/friday-smile-witty-and-funny-dali/
* * *
Toulouse is about 2h 1/2-drive from Figueras, Dali’s Catalan home-town…
Thanks Melanie. No, I haven’t been to the Dali museum in Florida but you are the second person to recommend it. I will definitely put it on my route the next time I make it to Florida. –Curt
This was awesome!!!!!
Glad you liked them. Thanks. 🙂 –Curt
Fascinating. Absolutely dreamlike and somewhat eerie in places. The statues with Homer Simpson on the middle head would bear a blog of its own!
Yes it would, Rusha. I suspect there is a fascinating story behind it with a fair amount of Burning Man history. Did I mention that the Simpson’s included a trip to Burning Man? –Curt
I have a son who would love Burning Man AND the Simpsons! This event fascinates me.
Your son should make the trip… with you. 🙂 –Curt
Ok, so first of all, I also posted about Sego Canyon ( https://crystaltrulove.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/sego-canyon-petroglyphs-pictographs/ ) and I find it rather amusing that both of us thought “aliens” when we saw some of those pictographs.
Second, heads up. Over at Ram On, a commentor told Bruce that the way to bring in hits to a blog post was to use one of several tags, including “hot man.” Bruce couldn’t think of when “hot man” would ever be appropriate for his own posts, but I suggested that it might work on yours, when you are talking about Burning Man. 😉
Third. I love murals! And I think it is awesome the way you took us way back in time and then pulled us forward together, so that we could view today’s murals on context. For a minute there, I think you were James Michener. The murals are all so good, and even better is the idea that they are all at one place in one small piece of time. I have thought to myself countless times when reading your blog posts that Burning Man wouldn’t be for me (I’m easily over-stimulated and the results aren’t pretty), but this is the first post that made me think I could find my peace there if I could stand in front of art like this and contemplate.
Hi Crystal, I checked out your blog on Sego Canyon. Isn’t that place amazing. Peggy and I have been to numerous rock art sites and I have never found a dull one. But Sego was different than most.
Hmmm, hot men at Burning Man. Of course there are, as well as women. Some of the best looking guys are gay. Not surprising. I am laughing, but I think I will avoid the hot guy card like I’ve avoided the hot woman card…
Over stimulated, eh.
There is a great deal of art that you would love, Crystal. The murals are only the beginning. 🙂 –Curt
ha ha,to be clear, I meant stimulation as in sights and sounds and colors! It seems to me like the amount of stuff going on at Burning Man would send me running for my tent to hide. But perhaps not. And as for the tag, well, if there’s a man that’s burning, well that’s a hot man. 😉
(I think I accidentally sent wwaaayyy too many double entendres in my last comment. Hee)
I was wondering Crystal. Just kidding. Burning Man can addle your mind. Of course you meant the Burning Man. It was the plural that caught me off guard. As for stimulation, there is no end to it. And I am sure minds are stimulated in all directions. 🙂 –Curt