Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Setting divisions alight: Burning Man comes to Derry

Will Northern Ireland be tasting a little bit of Nevada?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artichoketrust/temple

BOTH SIDES OF the community in Derry are being urged to participate in an ambitious art project aimed at breaking down religious and political barriers.

David Best, an artist famed for his elaborate structures at the Burning Man Festival, and London-based creative company Artichoke are teaming up for a new project in the county.

Temple aims to redefine what a bonfire means in Northern Ireland.

Best has designed and built eight of the fifteen temples that have been created at the Nevada festival since 2000.

Next year he hopes to join forces with the local community to build a temple in the Waterside area of Derry.  

It will be built by Best’s team, as well as local young people and unemployed builders, over a period of two weeks before it is opened to the public in March 2015. 

People will then be invited to cover the temple’s interior with their own messages and contributions. It will be open for one week before being burned in a special ceremony.

temple design Best's design for 'Temple'.

To make the project happen, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and other partners have contributed financially, but more money is needed so the people behind Temple have turned to Kickstarter.

They had raised almost £18,000 at the time of publication, but need donations to hit £30,000 by 31 October if the project will be funded.

Best has said that the building of the temple will “unify the community”.

I find that making art together with people usually breaks down a whole lot of really radical barriers.

Helen Marriage, Director of Artichoke, has said that Temple will allow local people to “work together across community divisions and do something really extraordinary – to build something that will rise high above the skyline and will offer an alternative to the divisions of the past”.

There’s a tradition in Northern Ireland of bonfires which stretches back a long time. Communities burn bonfires – enormous, great constructions.

Marriage said that the atmosphere at bonfires in the North can be very different to the mood of “peace and love” at Burning Man. She wants this to change, and hopes the Temple fire will symbolise a new beginning for Derry.

Wooden Temple Best's 'Temple of Juno' at Burning Man 2012 Laughlin via Flickr / Creative Commons Laughlin via Flickr / Creative Commons / Creative Commons

“We’re hoping that by building this temple across both communities that the ultimate burning can been seen in that light and that it will bring a very different meaning to the idea of a bonfire in Northern Ireland,” Marriage added.

Read: Gallery denies anti-gay discrimination over McGuinness-Robinson ‘gay kiss’ warning

Read: Watch this artist draw an amazing, photo-like portrait of Robin Williams

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
17 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mairead1990
    Favourite Mairead1990
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 7:45 PM

    At least the fascist Salvini and his rosary beads are gone, that sure back-fired on the Mini Mussolini.

    119
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Byrne
    Favourite Mick Byrne
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 9:49 PM

    @Mairead1990: When the inevitable collapse happens, we’ll see what Italians think of Salvini & his immigration stance. I get the feeling he’s playing the long game especially if the present coalition fall back into being subservient to EU ambitions.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Whelan
    Favourite Paul Whelan
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 10:07 PM

    @Mairead1990: It will last as long as 2 week holiday ha ha , Salvini will come to power . Thees parties only came together to keep him out. Roll on the Mediterranean taxi service ha ha

    43
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr Snrub
    Favourite Mr Snrub
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 11:57 PM

    @Paul Whelan: Ha ha

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Quinn
    Favourite Thomas Quinn
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 7:16 PM

    Anti establishment and establishment. Sounds like that will work out alright.

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
    Favourite Anne Marie Devlin
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 7:54 PM

    @Thomas Quinn: well antiestablishment and anti establishment didn’t work out too well either

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GrahamMManning
    Favourite GrahamMManning
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 7:21 PM

    It’s Italy. Don’t like the government? wait a few months. No wonder it’s a basket case.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mjhint
    Favourite Mjhint
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 11:58 PM

    @GrahamMManning: it’s a basket case because first it was a threat to German industry and once the Lira was gone they couldn’t compete. All to do with the EU. Italy is a great country with great people and watching its demise is sickening.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chonky Racoon
    Favourite Chonky Racoon
    Report
    Aug 28th 2019, 7:19 PM

    Yuck.

    17
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds