What started in 1986 as two friends burning an eight-foot statue on a San Francisco beach has grown into an event that sets a 105-feet tall statue on fire around the summer solstice. This year's Burning Man festival is taking place on August 27th to September 4th, but has already been responsible for stunning photos that prove how wild it actually is.

Billed as a "Radical Ritual," Burning Man 2017 has become a desert oasis for about 70,000 people. It describes itself as a "temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance." Scroll down to experience the crazy "ritual" through pictures, and don't forget to vote for your favorite ones!

More info: burningman.org (h/t dyt)

#2

Burning-man-2017

hybycozo Report

Lillian Chesak
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw something like this at the art museum in Cincinnati. The artist used laser cut steel to form intricate shadows

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#3

Burning Man 2017

tommykennard Report

Mat Biller
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Websites always show the most amazing pieces of art at Burning Man, but they fail to showcase some of the horrible treatment from alumnus burners upon people who are new on the Playa. Unfortunately over the years this Festival has evolved into a nesting center of utter wannabe nouveau riche hippie douchebags. They use the idea of togetherness, art and freedom in order to blast their brains out on drugs and try to score free cigarettes and unconsented sex. I have no doubt that people are still there for the right reasons, to support love, experience, and enlightenment, but the water supply has officially been tainted and it gets more acrid every year.

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#4

Burning Man 2017

xmasons Report

Connie Martin
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The way she's articulated and has cables at her knees and wrists, it looks like she can dance. I'd love to see that!

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#6

Burning Man 2017

cal_bear209 Report

Marcella Brief
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in Fernley they may take it out of the desert, (which is debatable, drive 15 miles away and see the dump sites) but the garbage they leave in dumpsters they overfill, on the side of the road, and worst of all down our streets is sickening!! And if you live out here you see the destruction and lack of disregard to our parks when bags and bags of garbage, sleeping pads and bags are strewn for us the residents to clean up after!

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#11

Burning-man-2017

visittheusa Report

Melissa Apple
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is similar to what I start to get in my vision at the beginning of a migraine

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#12

Burning-man-2017

elisabecker Report

Asher Adams
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The impressive part is what's in the background! At night, the whole thing spins like a ferris wheel and theres a strobe that gives an illusion of a skeleton rowing the boat....oh, did i mentioned that the movement is powered by 3 ropes on either side that must be pulled in a concerted effort by onlookers on either side?

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#14

Burning Man 2017

katrinq Report

Ryk Lesser
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's my old Bus!! Still radiating from all the orange sunshine we took in it!!

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#16

Burning-man-2017

arnog Report

#18

Burning Man 2017

alejandro_montagna Report

Robert Bailey
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the road warrior. That was the last we ever saw of him. He lives no only in my memories.

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#23

Burning Man 2017

bricer22 Report

#26

Burning Man 2017

olia_birulia Report

Grandgenius
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wish it wasn't a selfie - I can see her arms in the reflection in the glasses

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#27

Burning Man 2017

frequentcyclist Report

Asher Adams
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those ropes you see hanging is what powers this beast. The wheel starts turning and a strobe flashes at night, which then creates an illusion of skeletons in place rowing the boat!

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#34

Burning Man 2017

tommykennard Report

Mari Kennard
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sky, the panorama, the dust. Feel like I'm there.

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#36

Burning Man 2017

cal_bear209 Report

#37

Burning-man-2017

tylersculpture Report

Ok Ha-Neul
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i'm not even gonna lie seeing that in the dark would scare the crap out of me

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#39

Burning Man 2017

tommykennard Report

Robi Groves
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like captain Jack Sparrow meets mad Max.

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#46

Burning Man 2017

draginah Report

Robert Bailey
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn, I already used a Road Warrior quote on a different picture.

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#48

Burning Man 2017

alisamore Report

Swarf
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They'll be edited out of the final take.

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#49

Burning Man 2017

dogaguven Report

Aessidhe Eclipse
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just keep wondering if her feet don't burn inside of all that fur xDD

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#50

Burning-man-2017

grotesquemagazine Report

Andrew Gibb
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

E.T. go home! You've had too much to drink!

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#53

Burning-man-2017

lightplumes Report

Tammy Chapman
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, I saw this one earlier. But it was in daylight. It Looks Even More Beautiful All Lit Up!!

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#54

Burning-man-2017

liujian_1975 Report

Lisa Greene
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's something so serene about this photo... Makes me feel at ease.

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#56

Burning Man 2017

cal_bear209 Report

Adriana R
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a Spaceman chillin by the sunset.

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#57

Burning Man 2017

elisabecker Report

Pam Harris
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you go to Burning Man just for the instagram post

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#58

Burning-man-2017

laguzda Report