As part of the Cincinnati Art Museum's recently-opened exhibition, No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, one of the festival's most famed participants will make an appearance via a special lecture.
Crimson Rose — hailed as the godmother of fire arts — first participated in the event in 1991. Held annually in Black Rock City, Nevada, Rose is a founding board member of the community-centric event. Prior to the fest, she was a dancer and model. In the 1980s, she delved into the world of fire dancing, later bringing it to the culture of Burning Man.
In an interview with Everfest, she recalls one of her first experiences: climbing the towering Burning Man. Wearing 16-foot-wide silk wings, she says she climbed the man, feeling as if she was his protector. That same year, she helped set the structure on fire — as they do at the end of every festival. And, for the first time, dance was incorporated into the ceremony — a moment that would become tradition.
Rose is also credited to having developed Burning Man's art department, including the infrastructure, finacial and other support services that make the large-scale event, in which participants communally create artworks, possible.
She'll speak at CAM as part of their Benesse Lecture on June 6 at 7 p.m. in the Fath Auditorium. Seating is first come, first served. For more info, click here.
