Support one of the best productions in the world
Burning Man needs your help.
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“But didn’t she just have a fundraiser for her birthday? And not for the stupid, worthless arts?“ Yes, and strap in, because I’m about to ask for your help for another thing that’s incredibly meaningful to me.
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“But I’m tapped out! I can’t believe you’re asking for money again.“ Then this message isn’t for you. And, it’s not for me. Not directly.
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“Didn’t you just publicly refer to Burning Man as a ‘desert privilege party’ in a very public Burning Man journal post?” I did, and they published it anyway.
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Listen On.
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All arts are a both a privilege and a necessity.
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A few decades ago, a very young, very naïve, baby Diva really, really thought that she was going to be an opera singer. Not necessarily a famous opera singer, but a real live opera singer singing in real live opera houses in front of real live opera fans. Spoiler – that didn’t happen. That baby Diva grew into a jaded corporate shill, full of resentment for traditional opera and corporate shilldom (it’s confusing in here), while expressing her vocal and creative self at the only place willing to accept all of it.
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In 2000, my second year, I sang in the Thunderdome. Later in the 00’s, I sang at Center Camp. I sang at the Sonic Runway, combining voice and visual art and watching my vibrato pulse through the desert night. I’d have 9, 10 performances during my week in the desert, singing at weddings, memorials, cocktail parties while people schmoozing tech superstars spoke over my performances, just like any corporate gig. In 2002, I became the voice of David Best‘s temples, singing at each of his creations to honor hundreds of thousands of mourners and their dead. For humbling experiences, it rivals singing at my mother’s funeral, and brings her closer than almost anything else.
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My singing career; the circus, singing on trapeze, riding a motorcycle down the steps of San Jose City Hall, the Fifth Element piece, on trapeze for a real live modern opera company in DC, and, finally, being flown to Bogotá last year to sing and then talk about my experience, are all directly or indirectly attributable to Burning Man.
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Burning Man provided me opportunity (and, let’s be clear, didn’t GIVE me the opportunity – provided the space for me to craft, build, create this self, the space for iterations, for failure). Burning Man is arguably the most important arts organization of the 21st century. And they’re asking for $1.5 million. “What do they need that money for? It’s one week in the desert.” Here ya go: https://burningman.org/expenses/ For reference, the San Francisco Opera’s operating expenses for 2019 were $73 million. Did you go to SF Opera last year or have you listened to one of their streaming productions since shelter-in-place?
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The global impact of Burning Man on the arts community is the biggest ROI I have ever seen in the arts. Donations are tax deductible.
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I have offered many free streaming performances this year. If you have enjoyed them, or wanted to enjoy them, or just want to support me, please consider donating to BMOrg. If I didn’t have a day job, I’d be asking you for money directly for the singing income I’ve lost this year. I’m hugely privileged to not have to do that (ask me how to be less jaded about corporate shilldom! Or just wait for the book.). If you would have attended one of my performances this year, or would have wanted to go but been unable to do so, please consider donating to BMOrg.
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There are many, many important causes that need your help right now. This is not an effort to diminish that. This is a plea that, if you are inspired, if you can help, please do.
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Finally, if you have not consumed any artistic media since shelter-in-place began, have not listened to any music nor watched any shows nor looked at any art nor read any fiction, and can prove it, I won’t delete your snarky comment about this fundraiser.
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Photo: Luc Asbury, Diva Marisa sings to open the Thunderdome at Burning Man 2019.
