Burning Life: The Gates Open

Group chatter on the various Burning Life groups was increasingly giddy in the run up to noon on October 17th. The countdown to the opening of Burning Life was on everyone’s mind. I myself was feeling the relief of having finally shipped Prim Perfect’s Guide to Burning Life 2009 to Saffia for distribution (with about two hours to spare). The results of weeks of brainstorming, building and training on the part of hundreds of Second Life burners were finally to bear fruit… and then the gates were open.

Performers opened up on all of the stages – Fire, Tokyo, Berlin and Center Camp. Art builds that had only been anticipated by enthusiasts were now crowded by them.

I chose to be at the Fire Stage for my personal Burning Life opening. Its description by performance head Doctor Gascoigne as a place of fire performance and drumming had intrigued me as having a uniquely Burning Man / Burning Life character. The opening performers, the ChangHigh Trinity Sisters, are renowned for providing a visually stunning and spiritual show, and so it proved to be.

Following their spectacular show, I made the rounds to the Center Camp and Tokyo stages, taking in the live music that was performing at both locations. It was wonderful to see these classic structures, empty for weeks but for two or three builders, spring to life with music and an appreciative crowd.

I couldn’t resist checking out map view to do a crowd check.

I abandoned the crowded stages when Harper Beresford messaged me to tell me she was over at Isle Lunasea’s and my build, 42, to give her a tour and catch up on news on its creaky peak. She was gearing up for her own burn event, a fashion show at 6pm in Center Camp, so I made sure to take it in. A brief disruption by a particle griefer was quickly shut down by BL staff. I did, however, manage to get a shot of Harper and Callie Cline looking a tad vexxed outside the tent. The show must go on and indeed it did.

The evening wrapped up with Harper inviting me in to fire dance at the Arcade of Flames, by artist Poid Mahovlich. This is a wonderful build which provides you everything you need to be a fire dancer. Grab the fire fans and get on a dance ball!

An introduction to Poid herself and having Isle join us made the evening complete.

Whew. What a day. And there is so much more to come.

See you on the playa!

Raven Haalan is Prim Perfect’s native Burning Life correspondent and enthusiast. He will be issuing regular reports on the festival.