This Burning Man work of art is a tunnel of light and music, pulsating in sync. Called the Sonic Runway, the 1,000-foot tunnel is constructed of 32 circular steel arches lit with LED lights. Lights flash on the arches to the speed of sound. The exhibit is meant to visualize sound waves.
The folks over at Sonic Runway say, “The speed of sound is roughly 767 miles/hour or 343 meters/sec. The Sonic Runway is 1,000’ long, so a single beat will travel the Runway in about a second.” The picture you see here is from when the installation was set at San José City Hall, letting non-Burners enjoy the experience as well.
A Flaming Recycled Scrap-Metal Octopus
Here is one of the more unique vehicles to have ever cruised the Playa. Enormous flaming tentacles crown this contrivance like no other. It’s a 25-foot-high flame shooter. It first visited Burning Man in 2011. The contraption of mechanical parts and labor is endearingly named El Pulpo Mecanico, or the Giant Flaming Octopus.
This piece is a combination of art and technology based on a 1973 Ford 250 pickup truck. The monster artwork consumes 200 gallons of propane per night, so the Humboldt County creators took up donations to bring her back. Here she is at that 2012 event pictured under a magical sky.
The Tower of Pink
We know what you're thinking. You take one look at this spiky top and your brain automatically goes "Oh cool, it's the Empire State Building. Now what are we having for dinner? Also, we're out of eggs." But tell your brain to take another second and another look to understand that this is actually a ginormous model of a rocket ship.
Where else might you find a towering flaming neon pink rocket ship, constructed exclusively for adults? Nowhere, we're quite sure. And at its base this thing has wheels! It’s a mobile rocket structure. Burning Man is a special and unique spectacle.
A Cosmic Neon Beacon of Light
Imagine being in the desert at night; you're wandering around the dark plains, pulling the coat tighter around your shoulders, and as you look ahead, you see in the distance something that looks like a bunch of glowing tipis. Is it that funny pill you took earlier? Nope. It's Burning Man.
This structure of brilliant proportions visited Burning Man in 2014. It’s called Cubatrom Evolution or Starway. It looks like a futuristic Christmas tree or maybe an alien craft from Star Trek. Whatever the inspiration was — it’s magnificent. It’s a lighted respite from the dark desert landscape and a spiral of light to trip out on.
The Lazy-Burner-Boy Section
Don't let the mass of people on sleeping bags, mats, and various impromptu beds fool you — this isn't a refugee camp. Take a closer look and you will see the couches and the costumes, and that most of them are just having a rest. For Burners looking for the comforts of home, this is the place.
Grab a magazine and put your feet up. Or just chill out and hang with your peeps. It looks like a good place to rest weary bones. Sleeping in a tent on the rock-hard desert ground for days on end takes its toll. These people found a comfy oasis.