Well. Please allow me to get you up to speed. There is an idea that has been made into forum that we would like to see be made into a system that would be made, eventually, into joy. What, did you just say? Yup. Joy. Pure love and joy. Yea, I know. Not my schtick. Time to put all that away for a moment. Please join me and leave your hard outer shell at the door, Jeeves will take it and your hat as well. Come with me; I have something to show you ….

www.odeonbar.com/petition/1/petition.php

So you see, we have been working quite hard. Please excuse the tone but honesty, like art, isn ’t always rosy smelling. Funny, actually. To demand pure love and joy. We were confused as to what tone to use. And maybe we picked the wrong one. But your here now and you weren't before. So that's good. We have spent a lot of time talking about things in the past. We decided that the time to talk had come to end. Someone had to DO something. Before another year went by and all that happened was more talk and more disgust. Disgust? What are the people disgusted with? This is a good question. I think I may know the answer. It ’s really simple, actually. We all came to the experimental, radically collaborative, totally inclusive & wildly interactive temporary community to participate in the new renaissance of art. To be part of a specific collective conscience. To get turned on. Don ’t forget the underlying mission of all this is simply to give it all away. There are few environments in life which offer the possibility of unrestricted generosity. This is the bait the Burning Man offers. The switch is that we end up feeling very governed. We feel …. curated. We would like some inclusion in our radically collaborative, experimental, totally inclusive and wildly interactive temporary community. We simply would like a voice. We feel that the current system that has served us well in years past we have outgrown. We need a new challenge. And we are willing to work so hard for it. You thought we made good art before? You ain ’t seen nothing yet. I know I know; it ’s hard to change. That ’s why we have to be so directed, so adamant. Because change is hard. But if we flip the pages back of Burning Mans ’history, this project has overcome greater challenges than this. Burning Man has actually offered nothing but challenges to ALL of us. And we crave them again.

Democracy? Really?
Sure. The issue is not the messengers or their methods. The issue is the content of the proposal. Judge the proposal on it ’s merits. I ’m glad we got everyone ’s attention. In order for Burning Man to continue for us radical democratization has to occur where the art is concerned. Instead of picking it apart, lets try it! How hard could it really be? What is the worst thing that could happen? We get a bunch of energetic people? Disillusioned ex-participants return with new found vigor? People get closer to the event? Everyone feels a sense of greater ownership? How can we lose?!?!?! How will we do it? Ya know, we ’ll just fucking do it like we do everything else; with innovation and style! Will it be easy? Nope. But because it ’s so important to all of us I bet we figger it out. We always do.

Leave no trace
We as a people are attracted to the most basic ideas of Burning Man: go to the blank canvas of the playa, witness incredible works of art, have an impossible party, meet the most unlikely people, rant and rave like a person possessed, live amongst your tribe, build a temporary city and then burn it all to the ground and leave no trace. This we all agree. This has become our way; to learn to let go. To give away everyting. With so many so unhappy, we come bearing gifts: behold, Democracy! Democratic process is the only solution to the great unwashed horde of dusty BM burned out artists. If we can ’t have our voices heard but instead just another year of an insipid theme along with the severe restrictions that go hand in hand with it I say that Burning Man has outlived it ’s usefulness for us and we let go of it and leave no trace of it. I say that if the current ‘lock-down ’continues, our efforts are tainted by unrealized possibility. A full realization of ideas of the event in all aspects of the event, not just in areas where they are convenient either. Radical democracy on all fronts permeating everything from bottom to top where the art is concerned. We will defer to the better judgment and experience of the BMorg on everything else. And don ’t think for one second that we don ’t think they do a great job. They do. They will continue to. And their voices will be heard too, as everyone ’s voice in a democracy is heard. It ’s the art, stupid. Everyone at least agrees on that. How can any reasonable participatory community possibly not embrace the idea of guest curators for the art and the general selection of what we want to fund? They can ’t. I am betting my sweet bippy on it.

Chaos will provide
It always does. The people are demanding their event back. They want a truthful Burning Man. They don't want thematic Disneyland. They want radical democracy.

Public forum this Saturday
Right now a lot of people have a lot of great ideas. It ’s not our place to say “We want to hear them …”as we don ’t want any control save our fair and equal share but we should have a way to get together and talk. The Odeon this Saturday night will do nicely. For people who don ’t live near us, you can call the Odeon: 415-550-6994 and talk to someone. We are excited to speak to people face to face as the internet just doesn ’t cut it for things like this. I look forward to meeting some of the many people who I have been emailing with but have not met as of yet. We will start our modest agenda at 9:00 If you want to do your homework beforehand, tinyurl.com/615lh and mull it over a bit. I encourage you to sign the petition and leave your .02 cents in the comments section. Enjoy the ride, I am....

Myself, Jim Mason, the Shipyard and the entire Odeon thank you for your input, support and death threats. Keep them coming. We havn ’t been so excited about BM in years. In fact, Burning Man 2005 has already begun....

I appreciate you forwarding this to anyone you think might find it relevant.

Your humble servent,

Chicken John
Defender of Justice