Transformus
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| First year: | 2004 | |
| Location: | near Asheville, North Carolina | |
| Month: | July | |
| Most Recent Event | ||
| Date of event: | July 18 to 21, 2008 | |
| Participants: | 1,500 | |
| Website: | www.transformus.com | |
| List of regional Burning Man events | ||
Transformus is the south-eastern regional burn of the United States. Transformus is a festival inspired by Burning Man; celebrating radical self-expression, radical self-reliance and adhering to the 10 principles of Burning Man including gifting, radical inclusion and leaving no trace. The festival forms a temporary city called Mysteria near Asheville, North Carolina, much like Burning Man's Black Rock City... including streets, neighborhoods, minimal infrastructure, and lively nightlife.
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[edit] History
The first Transformus burn was held in 2004 and the event happens yearly, generally on the third weekend of the month of July. Significantly more intimate than Burning Man, the population of Mysteria has increased dramatically since its inception from less than 500 citizens in 2004 to over 1,441 in 2007.
[edit] Event
Attendees build the temporary city called Mysteria through smaller campsites or "theme camps". These include over 50 different groups such as the "Dirty Southern Burners", "Cape Sphere", "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 participate 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
Prior to the upcoming 2008 event, the organization's volunteer webmaster stripped his code from the site and accused the Board of Directors of Transformus of being corrupt and in violation of these ethics.
In the aftermath, it has been established that Transformus is a for-profit corporation, and that the 2008 ticketing process was in fact biased to favor those who participate in Transformus in a manner approved by the Board of Directors. Allegations of financial impropriety are ongoing and have not been effectively answered by the event planners or Board of Directors, who claim to be unable to provide the community with financial information prior to this year's event.
As of this time Transformus' status as an official Burning Man regional event may be in question. Investigations are ongoing.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Transformus, the Southeast Regional Burn -- Official Festival Website
