Burning Man

This year I had the good fortune of being invited to the Burning Man festival with a friend of mine who had an extra ticket.  I had never heard of it before.  Prior to offering me the ticket, my friend invited me and my family to particpate in this years "Love Letters".  A collection of letters, poems and pictures submitted by individuals who have experienced the loss of someone they love to suicide.  Our tragedy happened when my brother-in-law took his life three days before Christmas this past year.

In a strange and synchronistic way my grief lead me to the desert to heal.  The book is left on the altar of the Temple which is built as a temporary installment and cerimoniously burned the last night of the event.  The Temple is a vehicle for remembrances and blessings, promises and forgiveness.

According to an article by Kris Kanyon in Desert USA:

One of the most fantastic art pieces is the Temple of Forgiveness by David Best and Tim Dawson. It gradually materializes, a zen temple floating in white alkali. It is surrounded by scattered piles of bikes whose owners are inside, reading, writing or posting pictures of loved ones now gone. Notes asking for forgiveness, expressions of love, loss, and memories are written on pieces of wood or bits of paper everywhere. It is profoundly moving. Every bit of the construction is intricately carved, a work of dedication whose purpose is immolation along with all the missives inside.

Amidst the purpose of my journey, I discovered a strangely fantastic community of people from all over the world who turned my world on its head, pumped up the volume and amplified the vividness of life.