We’re excited to announce that we’re participating in this year’s virtual Burning Man! We’ll have classes, meditations, and DJ sets for your enjoyment. Our sound stage is at 7:30 near the esplanade, and our camp (where we’re hosting classes and meditations) is at 6:15 & D.
You can join the event from anywhere in the world. Visit dustymultiverse.com to RSVP.
This year, Namaste & Chill awarded grants to two projects: the PickleBike and Combust a Move! Both of the projects debuted at Burning Man 2019
The PickleBike is a larger-than-life pickle built on a tandem bicycle frame that provides pickle-based refreshments! A collaboration between Lucy Lo and Dusty Smith, there are three major components to the PickleBike: the bicycle, a bicycle sidecar, and the pickle frame with a bar and window. The outside layer of the pickle is flame-retardant green stretch fabric. The Namaste & Chill grant covered the entire cost of the fabric!
Combust a Move is a fire conclave group that aims to create pure magic and enchantment with the gift of dance, fire and flow. This is their first year as a conclave group and they made it through the extensive and strict application process — we couldn’t be happier for them! Their grant award purchased their costumes, fuel, and special effects powder.
Our 2019 grant is the combined result of the past 3 events. We could not have done it without the support of everyone who helped create our events and everyone in attendance! We are supremely grateful to our community — everyone who was involved in this effort played an important part! This is a truly collaborative project.
The PickleBike
Combust a Move
Varanasi Sage is an interactive art installation that will appear at Burning Man 2019: Metamorphoses. It is an artistic collaboration between Chelsea Lynn, Matt Melnicki, Timo Beckwith, Karenna Lynn, and Tyson Leonard. Additional crew members include Kenny Gross, Oz Wilcox, and Mariana Rodriguez.
Varanasi Sage is an entirely self-funded art project. We invite you to join our collaboration in bringing this art to life! Our crew has created original art for this piece, and we are giving it away as gifts of appreciation for your donation. Please choose from one of our rewards today! We will ship to anywhere in the world!
Please visit our fundraiser page for more!
I haven’t even begun building the Varanasi Sage art installation and I’ve already hit a bump! Watch this video to see what happened — it’s all part of the excitement! I’m sure there will be many more bumps in the journey, so I’ve got to get used to it!
For more about the meaning behind this project, read Introducing: Varanasi Sage.
Varanasi Sage, the first art installation by Namaste & Chill, will appear in deep playa at Burning Man 2019.
Custom-printed prayer flags create a pyramid around a fawn resting in a lotus flower, on a platform decorated with glyphs that convey a message: True wisdom belongs to the natural, non-human world. Each flag helps the participant dive deeper into the meaning of the piece, and one even has a guide to decode the glyphs. Lights illuminate the space and lights behind the lotus make the petals glow. A speaker within the platform plays sacred sounds. On the platform, a red button reads “Do Not Press.” A suggestion box below the fawn asks: “Why are you here?” A door in the back of the platform opens to reveal a zine stand, filled with zines written by me. These elements deepen communication and facilitates interaction with the curious.
A fawn does not belong in the desert, nor does it lay in lotus flowers, so it must be a magical, enlightened creature! And it’s smallness and vulnerability in a harsh environment make the participant feel compassion for the creature. Humans must choose not to destroy the natural, non-human world and instead revere it as the divine. These contradictions jar the participant, creating a sense of vulnerability, which encourage authenticity, tenderness, and the wisdom inherent compassion, harmony and gentleness.
In the spirit of this year’s theme, Varanasi Sage explores the reality that deep transformation can come from a place of peace. Even in the chaos of the playa, one can find peace. Varanasi Sage provides participants with a beautiful, peaceful place. People may feel overwhelmed or lost in deep playa — this is a refuge. It provides comfort and calm and shows that peace is always available.
Namaste & Chill 