Transformus
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Transformus |
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| First year: | 2004 |
| Location: | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Month: | July |
| Most Recent Event | |
| Date of event: | July 21 to 23, 2006 |
| Participants: | 1,200 |
| Website: | www.transformus.com |
Transformus is the regional Burning Man festival for the south-east United States; it is a festival celebrating art, music, and learning. The festival forms a temporary city called Mysteria near Asheville, North Carolina, much like Burning Man's Black Rock City.
While in Mysteria, participants practice the ethics of a gift economy and take care to Leave No Trace.
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[edit] History
The first Transformus burn was held in 2004 and the most recent over the weekend of July 21-23, 2006. Significantly more intimate than Burning Man, the population of Mysteria has increased since its inception from less than 500 citizens in 2004 to over 1,200 in 2006.
[edit] Event
Attendees build the temporary city called Mysteria through smaller campsites or "theme camps". These include over 35 different groups such as the "Sweaty Virgins Camp," "Tiki Torchure," "The FireKeepers," "Radical Faerie Camp," "The Visible Trash Society", "Camp Bahama Mamas", "Big Puffy Yellow"[1]
Besides campgrounds, attendees also particpate in the creation of various art exhibits. The main example, of course, is the torching of the Bamboozler - the large bamboo man that is burned in the central area. The Bamboozler is a year-long project for the creator Bruce Bender, who builds it in segments at his home near Hot Springs, NC. Other artistic creations include "the heart temple" where people are invited to add their thoughts and feelings to the exhibit, which is burned on the second night of the festival. Likewise, the "Pallet Bar" is burned after serving as a bar and hang-out space for the weekend.
[edit] Ethics
Several overaching themes and/or ethics are encouraged during the event. These include:
- Leave No Trace (or LNT) - everyone at the event is asked to clean up after themselves so that when the event is done, the campground looks as good or better than when it was started.
- Gift Economy - no sale or barter is allowed at the event. Participants are asked to bring what they can and share with any and all as they are able.
- Radical Inclusion - everyone is welcome.
- Radical Self-Reliance - do what needs to be done and don't be a burden to others.
- Radical Self-Expression - be yourself, however you wish. Allow others to do the same.
- Communal Effort - work together to make the best possible.
- Civic Responsibility - do the right thing.
- Participation - no one attending is only an observer.
- Immediacy
