Hi there – the 2018/2019 calendar is here! https://marketplace.burningman.org/product-category/calendars/
2004 – 2005, Burning Man Calendar
An amazing thing happened to the semi-secret Burning Man calendar last week, it went to Washington DC and made an appearance at the United States Conference of Mayors, shown here with Reno mayor Hillary Schieve.
The Burning Man calendar has been an annual design project of mine since 2004, featuring photography from the event – some of the most spectacular imagery I’ve ever seen.
Each year I partner with Heather Gallagher at Burning Man to explore different design approaches, telling a visual story that attempts to capture the whole experience of Burning Man. Featuring a range of photographers, artists, art cars, theme camps, years, people, and round the world events that take place the other 51 weeks of the year.
2004 – 2005, Burning Man Calendar
The early calendars show as many aspects of Burning Man as I could imagine. The first year showed artist’s submitted sketches and photos of the finished pieces on the playa.
The second year featured a timeline of Burning Man milestones with relevant photos and artifacts. There was experimenting with gloss vanished flames, then background texture that felt like the playa, maps, degraded photo edges, patterns, wall calendars and desk calendars, transparent vellum calendar pages, stories of year round events, the 10 Principles, and really, *really* amazing photos.
2005 – 2006, Burning Man Calendar
Of course, I’d love to see these past calendar splashed around everywhere. But here’s the thing, the calendar is a semi-secret one.
Why? Decommodification.
Decommodification – In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience. – The 10 Principles, from the Burning Man website
Nothing is for sale in Black Rock City. However, the calendar is available for purchase on Burning Man’s website – if you know where to look.
2006 – 2007, Burning Man Calendar
The funds from the purchase price go to producing the calendar which is primarily gifted to staff, volunteers, visiting dignitaries, politicians and….mayors. As I understand it, having items available for purchase is one way to claim and protect their trademark. So we make this beautiful thing, that is mostly given away, and mostly kept secret. Burning Man doesn’t tell their (my) community it’s out there, or how to find it.
2007- 2008, Burning Man Calendar
I get it, advertising a product for sale is against what Burning Man stands for, the community of passionate citizens would have a dramatic and pyrotechnic response – and they’d be right. But I imagine they’d be psyched to have something to gift to friends who love the event, and especially those that will never step foot in Black Rock City.
It’s a thrill to see my calendar out in the world, given as gifts to roughly 500 mayors of American cities.
And that’s exactly why I’m inspired to share the evolution of that project here.
Fun fact: These calendars are from burn to burn instead of from New Year’s Day to New Years Eve, so each one spans two years.
2008 – 2009, Burning Man Calendar
2009-2010, Burning Man Calendar
2010 – 2013, Burning Man Desk Calendars
2013 – 2014, Burning Man Calendar
2015 – 2016, Burning Man Calendar
2016 – 2017, Burning Man Calendar
2017 – 2018, Burning Man Calendar
If you made it this far, it may be because you’re curious where to get one. If so, enjoy.
You are my superhero Arin. xoxoxox
The 2018-2019 calendar is off by a day! Or is it just me? :))
Thanks that’s either the best calendar prank ever or you’re a kind person that’s a day off. Regardless, thanks for chiming in. I believe the calendar is correct, it was checked by folks with eagle eyes for calendar and typo flaws.