Desert Siteworks was an event held on the

Black Rock Desert __NOTOC__ The Black Rock Desert is a semi-arid region (in the Great Basin shrub steppe eco-region) of lava beds and playa, or alkali flats, situated in the Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, a silt ...

for three years (1992-1994). Participants built art and participated in self-directed performances.

History

In 1992, Desert Siteworks was conceived and directed by William Binzen. Desert Siteworks was held at Black Rock Springs with about 20 participants over the summer solstice. Binzen's "Desert House" was created for Desert Siteworks and in 1992 appeared at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert playa as a gathering place, which predated Center Camp. In 1993, Binzen and Judy West co-produced the event at Trego Hot Springs, with about 100 participants. In mid-summer 1993,

Pepe Ozan Pepe Ozan (1939–2013) was an Argentine sculptor, artistic director, and filmmaker. He lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years, and is known for his lasting influence at Burning Man Burning Man is an event focused on community, ...

first built a

Lingam A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotion ...

at Desert Siteworks out of local clay at Trego. Ozan returned in August 1993 to build a larger one at Burning Man on the main playa and designed a ritual to go around the Lingam. In 1994, the event was held over the summer solstice at Bordello Hot Springs, also known as Frog Pond at Garrett Ranch. Included was Paul Windsor's sand drawing titled "Celtic Endless Knot".

Impact

Some key organizers of Burning Man were also part of Desert Siteworks ( John Law, Michael Mikel) and William Binzen was a friend of Larry Harvey. Hence, the two events saw much cross-pollination of ideas and participants. Many of the principles developed at Desert Siteworks (such as Leave-No-Trace) were adopted by Burning Man. In August 1994, at SOMAR Gallery in San Francisco,

Adrienne Fuzee Adrienne Louise Fuzee (May 16, 1950 – May 18, 2003) was an American artist, curator, gallerist, editor, poet, and activist, based in California. Early life and education Fuzee was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Lawrence Fuzee and Beul ...

curated a show called "Primal Edge" that featured works from Desert Siteworks and Burning Man. The event was billed as a "collaborative urban experience" that featured "art installations, music, dance, projections and participator events." In 2016, all of Binzen's Desert Siteworks sourcebooks, artist's notes and work prints became part of the historical archives at the Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art.

References

{{Reflist

External links

williambinzen.com
- photos from the 1992-1994 events * Video:
Desert Siteworks in Black Rock Desert, Nevada
, "1994 Site Installations, Ritual performances Director, William Binzen Coordinator, Judy West" (Note: The YouTube video was incorrectly dated by Judy West. The video footage is actually from Trego in 1993.) Black Rock Desert 1992 establishments in Nevada 1994 disestablishments in Nevada