Ronnie Nelson, Playa-Go-Round, 2007.
This exhibition will feature jewelry created for or during the Burning Man event, an annual arts gathering during, which a temporary community is erected in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Jewelry is an integral part of the Burning Man event and has many uses including trade, fostering personal connections, and fulfilling the Gifting tenet (unconditional gifting of goods and services is a core tenet of the festival). The exhibition will explore conceptual themes and imagery that have evolved from Burning Man as well as the ongoing development of material application. The show will also include George Post’s photography of past gatherings alongside sculptural work by local “burners.” This exhibition is curated by Christine Kristen and features her remarkable collection of jewelry that she collected at Burning Man over the past two decades. Playa Made is accompanied by the book, The Jewelry of Burning Man, contributed to by Karen Christians, Christine Kristen, and George Post. It will be available for sale at the Museum.