So, clearly there’s some relationship between Black Rock City and the American maker movement. How exactly does that work? Maker spaces are vital for the creation of Burning Man art and the communities around it — that’s obvious. But what does maker culture gain from the (temporary) existence of BRC? A venue for the stuff they make? A network for sharing talent, materials, and appreciation? Or is it something deeper than that?
One of the things that makes Black Rock City’s art and architecture so interesting is that it’s made by so many hands with so many different skill levels. Since the motivation for all the work is primarily creative, rather than merely practical, it’s fun, so everybody wants to get involved. And because there aren’t really any rules other than “don’t die”, the many makers of BRC can take risks and learn new skills on the job. “One…