Got LNT? Here’s a handy list of tips to review

• Plan Ahead - The simplest way to insure that your art leaves no trace is to plan ahead and prepare. The right materials, tools, and supplies can make all the difference.

• Minimize Playa Penetration - Do not dig holes in the playa. Small postholes (6 inches or less in diameter) used for structural support are the sole exception. Larger holes leave a visible scar and create a safety hazard. All holes must be refilled and packed down solid.

• No Flying Art - Attach everything to your art installation well, so that nothing comes off in the wind and becomes Matter Out Of Place (MOOP). Do not include items, even ‘natural’ items that could break off, dry out, or fall apart and make a nasty mess to clean up.

• Go Green – Consider materials and energy sources that are earth friendly and renewable. The 6 R’s of Greening the Burn are Respect- Rethink - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle and Restore. Use recycled and repurposed materials in planning your art. It will make the impact of your art beautiful to both the observer and the earth.

• Protect Your Art From Attracting MOOP - Beautiful and interesting art, such as yours, attracts crowds. Large crowds may inadvertently leave MOOP behind. And, once MOOP begins, it breeds! Regularly grid and sweep your art-space to prevent MOOP from accumulating. Do what you can to discourage folks from leaving cigarette butts, bottles, and other trash behind. Avoid including any horizontal surfaces at arm level; they attract bottles and cans, especially on Saturday night. Don’t let accumulated MOOP distract people from interacting with and appreciating the art that you worked so hard to create.

• Don’t Burn on the Unprotected Playa - Burning Man is all about burning; we've become the experts in LNT Burning. Burning directly on the alkaline playa BAKES the surface into a dark, hard, brick-like material. Don’t do it! If you want to burn your art, use a burn blanket or elevate your art on a large piece of corrugated sheet metal. Make sure the base is big enough to catch all falling burning wood.

• Don’t Burn Anything That Releases Toxic Fumes – If you are burning your art piece, do not include PVC (nasty dioxins are released), carpets, plastic, furniture or painted wood in the sections to be burned. You (or your children) will regret it later!

• Do not overload the burn platforms - With large pieces of art, have tools on hand to break your piece into smaller pieces before loading it onto the public burn platforms. Try to help clean up anything you burn on the public burn platforms.

• Be a good art neighbor - Work together with your fellow artists to keep things clean. If you see a fellow artist or art work in need, please lend a hand, tool or point them to where they might get help.

• Leave Your Site Traceless - Everything you bring to live, create & burn MUST BE REMOVED – At the end of the week, pack-up and load everything (including all trash) into your vehicle then grab a few friends to grid and sweep your location before you leave.

Confused, Have Questions? - For more details on LNT principles and practices, please visit the Earth Guardian Pavilion during the event. There you will find a 24 hour self-guided tour that includes information on the Black Rock desert, its history, LNT practices and desert stewardship activities. Our structure, now in its third year of use, is an example of reusable and repurposed materials. You’ll also find Earth Guardian resource people eager to answer your LNT questions.

 

Already got LNT? - If you think you are doing some things other artists might want to hear about, please be sure to let us know. Check out the wealth of environmental information and LNT tips on the Burning Man web site. You can also contact us at earthguardians@burningman.com.