thank you from someone who never attended BM but felt your impact deeply.

I have never been to Burning Man. As an introvert — the idea of that many people in one place was never a good fit for me…. but I have long supported the artistic excellence that was so magnificently displayed in the desert every year. And in my years in San Francisco, I did happen to have the fortune of bumping into Larry Harvey in my neighborhood often. We frequented the same coffee shops, often having no interactions other than a nod of acknowledgement and a tip of his hat my way. I have always made art of my own with the notion of the process not the product and when I lived by the Panhandle I would often complete a piece and then stick it by a trashcan in the park near my house and leave it for someone to claim and take home. I remember an early foggy morning when I was placing a painting out on the curb of Lyon and Fell and Larry walked by. He stopped and we both stood there in silence for a moment and he asked me why I was leaving it by the curb … I shrugged and replied something to the notion that I did art because I needed to get something out and that it wasn’t about the outcome but the process. He cracked a smile and handed me a lighter. The painting was still wet and would not catch fire but we both had a good laugh trying to get it lit. I was lucky enough to be able to work with the Burning Man group to bring some of their art to public places in San Francisco and am still inspired and awed by the awesomeness of the artwork that takes place there. The ripple of the impact of the annual event reaches much further than just those who attend. The spirit of celebrating the impermanence of art, the revelatory inspiration that community can be created out of unlikely allegiances and that this world needs more whimsy and fun in it will be his legacy. So onwards Mr. Harvey. My heart is with your community and family and friends. May art inspire us to think out of the box and let those big crazy ideas shine on.

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