The Burning Book

Aim

Funding "The Burning Book” is a Dedicated Memorial Fire Sculpture to "The Writer:” The One and Only Brian Doherty, who we lost 3/13/26

Brian Doherty Tribute to life! We live, We share, We do these things! Dream time fire 

Brian and Charlie "Blackcat" Smith met and bonded immediately at HEARTH (see bellow) — the Heart of BURNING MAN — a giant wood fired sculpture Charlie designed and built with Syd Klinge in 2000, when the theme was The Body.

Charlie’ dream has become a reality! He has put together a great group of artists to collaborate on this last minute bad ass project to honor our MAN Brian!  Charlie is a professional Artist and experienced and very organized. He has been bringing metal, wood fire art to Burning Man since 1998 from his Atlanta, GA, warehouse for decades now. Its Charlies intention to bring this to life with a bunch-a Brian's sweet artist friends and make this thing go off!

In fact, Charlie recently came up with a new category for the kind of art he makes, and appreciates seeing more of at Burning Man. Contraptionism (n.):  the re-use of anything to make a new thing. - Life is but a series of contraptions - including, social, physical and mental realms of being human! 

This Burning Book 

is made up of many pieces upcycled from past works including a few choice pieces of the HEARTH. It will be packed with meaning, and serve as an easy-to-find place to celebrate Brian and gather with friends who loved him and dreadfully miss him. Many artist friends of Brian have already volunteered their talents to help design the pages of the Book. The energy around this, and the speed we have to pull it off, is why we need fast and big money. We are going wide with the ask, knowing how many of our Burning family is tapped and just making it out there.

We are raising a total of $69K to fund the entirety of this endeavor. we need a fast $25K to make sure it can get started with build funds. We also have alternative funding options with flux foundation 

We will install it during Build Week, but will only light up on Wednesday night. 

We will process from the annual Cacophony Society Cocktail Party, hosted by Mikel Michael and Evil Pippi at 6pm from Center Camp, after the legendary Fashion Show with Dr. Hal, directly to the Book and light the heart with propane, beating "Thump-THUMP-thump". 

The Gantry to the Moon, TN regional 2024. Example of congregation around metal effigy

From there, the iconic Front Porch by Zac Carroll and TV Talk Show by Jon Alloway and Flash will round up. Expect all night tears and toasts with a sunrise surprise. Where it goes after the event winds down is TBA. 

VISIT SPARSELAND.COM FOR MORE 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 12th August 2026 at 1:52am