Project Members

 

The following people have confirmed that they will be joining the Phoenix Temple. 

Bobbie Van Sleet

“The choice of a Phoenix as metaphor is a strong one for me.  Burning Man renewed the flow of creativity in me in the two years I’ve attended.  There was a time when people would ask me what my religion was and my reply was always Art.  Somewhere along the way, I lost my religion.  The very thing that gave it back to me, Burning Man, is asking of me, the artist, to consider religion.  The Phoenix Temple is my answer.  I have my bachelors in Fine Art from The Art Institute of Boston where I majored in sculpture.  Back East, I had two artcars, The Iconoplastic and My Saab Story.  I am already itching to recycle future remnants of the Phoenix Temple into my third.”

Kurt Pires

“I am Bobbie's boyfriend.  This will be my fourth BurningMan.  In 2000, I determined the design for our two large 10.62’ 4V domes.  Our project that year included 6 propane-based flame-devices and many colored lights mounted on our art dome.  The lights and flame-devices were remotely controlled by electric-piano keyboard from our ‘chill dome’ on the esplanade.  Last year, I helped at Playa Info; I hope to help there again this year.”

Rev. Venee Call-Ferrer

Venee has a degree in Arts and Social Change from the New College of California.  You can see her photography at www.venee.com. The website for her altar and sacred space design company, Divine Offerings, is coming soon.  She performs interfaith weddings, rights of passage and sabbat rituals.  Her public altar work for various causes has been included at Spiral Dance 2002, Bionners Conference 2002 and for Day of the Dead at Black Box Theatre 2002.  While she usually dons the hats of stage manager or set designer for theatre, she will be performing this April in Oracles From the Living Tarot with Magickal Acts Theater.  On the playa, don’t be surprised to see her belly dance or twirl a little fire!

 

Deena Blaylock

Phil Lapsley

“I have been attending Burning Man since 1996.  I’ve come to realize that my life now revolves around that week in the desert in many ways, large and small.  In 2000 I worked with Kurt Pires, Susie Kameny, and Paul Heilman to build Camp Dome-a-Deer, which featured a collection of musically controlled flamethrowers mounted on a geodesic dome.  Last year I volunteered with Kurt at Playa Info.  In my sad excuse for real life, I live in Boston and am an electrical engineer who is currently at MIT getting a degree in (shudder) management.”

Jean Rusting

This is Jean’s third trip to Black Rock City.  She’s the mother of five and has been married to Joe for forty years.  She’s a librarian, an education activist and a devout Catholic.  She has no objections to nudity, but at her age, thinks she looks better with her clothes on.  She likes to sew and plans to make quilts when she grows up.

Larry Lapsley

‘Lapman’ will be taking his third trek to Black Rock City.  “I was introduced to this fine madness by my brother, Phil.  My lovely wife, Justine, while loathing camping in hot, dusty places without running water, is a very talented quilter and seamstress.  She will be providing help with fabric for the Temple.  A family medicine MD by trade, sidelines includes woodwork, metalwork, photography, brewing and boat building.”  Larry designed the “Bar Fly” last year and is in the process of making a new phoenixian one this year.

Jonathan Lapsley 

AKA ‘J.T.’ or ‘Jon’, son of Lapman, nephew of ‘crazy Uncle Phil’, will be attending his third Burning Man.  Jonathan will be graduating high school this fall and heading to Chico State to study engineering.  His interests are in computing and most forms of video games.  He’ll be assisting his Dad with various parts of the project being completed at their home.

Don Barkley

The brewmaster at Mendocino Brewery will be attending his second year.  He and Larry were very popular with their “Bar Fly” vehicle in 2002 as they dispensed cold beer throughout the Playa.

John Pianezze

“I am attracted to the pure geeky gadgetry of Burning Man. I first attended in 2001 and in 2002 learned welding and built my first ever piece of Art: "the fish" a fire-breathing sculpture of stainless steel.”

Trang Minh Vu

Bryan Grziwok

Graduated from Cornell, Bryan is a mechanical engineer with his own company, Foundation Design.  He’s assisted others with Burning Man projects over the years, but was a newbie just last year.

Mio Cohen

Mio lives in Massachusetts and will make the trek to Black Rock City for the fifth time.  She has been active in various camps over the years.

Paul Heilman

“I will be making my fourth trip to Black Rock City.  I also worked on the musically controlled flamethrowers and the random flaming fish. From travels around the city I have learned that the mechanical aspects of the installation are nice but the artistic vision and message are what is critical and what moves the participants.  That is why I am looking forward to our project this year, which will grow from a vision rather than a blueprint.”

Carol Crittendon

1996 was Carol’s first Burning Man.  She is enthusiast about the cooperation between the artists and engineers that is necessary for this project, as well as the spiritual idea of the Phoenix.  In real life, Carol is a social worker for children in long-term foster care, and spends much of her free time gardening and improving her new home.  She sings and plays guitar and just might take the stage at the Phoenix Temple.

Vicke Cardoza

Kurt’s sister joins us for the first time. We suspect she will be hauling at least part of the Phoenix to the Playa.

Tule Cardoza

Vicke’s daughter also joins the group for the first time.  While both of them are some distance from the rest of the group, they have some of the equipment in storage and will work on items independently. Tule is trained in fire fighting.

Paul Pax

“I went to Burning Man for the first time last year, and surprise, had a grand ol' time, that in spite of it being a last minute decision, more or less going along for the ride.  This time I'm getting involved much earlier on.  I’m excited to put my efforts in the Phoenix Temple project.”  Paul has interests in alternative power and will be researching what we can use for our project’s power needs.

Clare Homan

Not able to attend this year, Clare has participated in Burning Man for two years.  An avid seamtress, she intends to sew, sew, and sew.

Marsha Myers

 Peter Yee

 

 

Last revised: June 29, 2003