Burning Man in Banff

Last night I attended a Banff Centre Leadership Learning Lab report on Burning Man 2007. Four member of the Banff Centre community travelled to Black Rock City to spend four days as part of the worlds largest temporary city and they shared their experience with us.

Of particular interest to me was the balance in the ad hoc city between order and chaos. Continuous planning and preparation makes Burning Man possible but within the defined spaces and rules (yes, actual rules) spontaneous and creative expression brings about unexpected results. Burning Man is full of contradictions. So is any human society. Too much order and true novelty cannot occur. Insufficient order and creative energy never gets beyond a chaotic cloud. Burgeoning humanity in an extremely sparse environment. It was a great presentation that sparked significant thought and reflection for me.