LADYBEE’S TOP TEN ON THE PLAYA 2003:
A highly opinionated view of what promises to be fabulous on the playa this year....in no particular order.

1. NO DIVING by Linda Graveline of Los Angeles.

It's about time they let us have a swimming pool on the playa, and in such a pretty open pyramid!  I'm looking forward to sitting on the lawn, under the playa stars, watching folks swim and frolic in the water.

 

 

2.  THE TEMPLE OF HONOR by David Best of Petaluma, CA. Oh really now - just how can he top last year's Temple of Joy????? You'll see.....I’ll just say that paper has replaced the dinosaur kit parts, and xerox has never looked so good. More is more.

 

3. THE TEMPLE OF GRAVITY by Zachary Coffin of Atlanta, Georgia. The master of boulders returns with a scary exploration of weight, tension and belief. Go ahead, hang around under those immense slabs of granite, you'll be fine! Responsive architecture, with a fiery pendulum at its heart.  http://www.templeofgravity.com/

 

4. REVEREND BILLY AND THE CHURCH OF STOP SHOPPING interrupt their good works at the Disney Store in Times Square, assorted Walmarts, and Starbucks everywhere to travel from their home, New York City, to the playa. They'll rock our community every evening at sunset, at the man, with their message of anti-consumerism and peace. What happens when you drop a group of urban gospel singers led by a performance art preacher onto the playa for a week? We'll find out!   CAN YOU SING AND SHOUT "STOP SHOPPING!!!!"?  http://www.revbilly.com

 

 

5. CAROUSEL NUMINOUS by Jenny Byrd and Mosbaugh of San Francisco

Get dizzy as you spin through the world's religions in a devil mobile or an angel cart, whipped into spiritual ecstasy.  It's a treat to see really good paintings on the playa, and you'll see twelve here, four at the center of each of three carousels. Check them out here: http://www.jennybirdart.com/ . Love those bunny-headed women, and the babes peeing on cupcakes. Wander around some great linked sites, like Mosbaugh's: http://www.violetshivers.com/John/ .

 

 

6.  BOLLYWOOD! It's a little slice of Bombay in the Black Rock Desert. Watch out for their cute fuzzy neighbors in Bunnywood.....and ignore the gorgeous babes down the street in East Bollywood at your peril!  These LA divas will bring us Glama Sutra on Thursday night on the Bollywood stage - trying desperately to top Wednesday night's show - Shiva Las Vegas!  If you're lucky you'll witness a costumed and choreographed Bollywood dance routine, spontaneously performed at surprise locations on the playa. Om mane padme hum.  http://www.dragondebris.com

 

7. SATYRS’ BACCHANAL by the Mystic Krewe of Satyrs of New Orleans, Louisiana

One thing I can’t live without is the annual Friday night Mardi Gras-style parade from the Satyrs’ camp to the deep playa, with frenzied dancing to the Xtra Action and the March Forth 3/4 Marching Bands, fabulous costumed creatures, flambeaux-bearers, and raucous revelry led by the giant Golden Ram. Upon its midnight arrival at a secret location the Ram will be sacrificed by entranced Maenads and all will drink its blood to feel the empowerment of Dionysus.

 

 

8. JOHNNY ON THE SPOT by Saul Melman and Ani Weinstein  of Brooklyn, NY

Has our Beyond Belief theme summoned the spirit of Marcel Duchamp to the playa? Apparently so, as the world's largest ever replica of a Duchamp object rises in the Wholly Other. http://www.johnnyonthespot.ws .  In 1917 Duchamp contributed a urinal signed "R.Mutt" to a New York art exhibit and the readymade art object was born. This 40' replica takes the form of religious architecture and contains, as an altar, a fountain. Sacred or profane? You decide.  This project is featured on the official Marcel Duchamp website: http://www.marcelduchamp.net/ .

 

 

9. PILLAR OF FIRE by Nate Smith While imprisoned in the Mormon Tabernacle this Utah artist made use of his time by inventing a marvellous machine that will create tight and beautiful fire vortexes up to 200' tall at various locations on the playa. But will he succeed in harnessing dust devils and infusing their energy with fire?   http://www.fire-arts.com

 

10. THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER will be recited in full by the beloved Reverend Hal Robbins of San Francisco as he rides in glory on the 16th century Spanish galleon La Contessa. Clashes with sea monster, a boat swarming with zombies and a dice gamewith Death are features of Samuel Taylor Coleridges's epic poem, a classic of English Romanticism written in 1796. As Hal recites, Gustave Dore’s illustrations will be projected on La Contessa’s sails to the accompaniment of the Xtra Action Marching Band. Performances daily across the playa. "Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink."

 

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