Self-Evidence : Burning Man 2008

Self-Evidence is the art installation piece that was created for Burning Man 2008. Spearheaded with my dear friend Jonathan Weisblatt, the piece was a fantastic success on so many areas. It appeared at the SF Decompression and was also invited to the San Francisco New Year’s Eve event, “Sea of Dreams”. All experiences were amazing & fun & impacting. The responses to the piece have been really wonderful.

Self-Evidence shares the intention of Memortrees of inspiring deeper self-awareness in the visitor. Extending from last year’s theme “The American Dream”, Self-Evidence evolved from a reading of
The US Constitution and came to incorporate the merits of Native American doctrine and the importance of the Feminine as important ingredients in, and guides of, our Democracy.

The installation communicated important messages:

1. ✦ That through the power of our individual self-awareness our world is truly what we make of it.
   

2. ✦ That democracy can play a significant key in this manifestation.
   

3. ✦ Democracy is best comprised of individuals knowing the true natures of their own hearts.
   

4. ✦ A more self-aware individual offers a more beneficial & powerful participation.
   

The premise of the piece is the question: “To What Do You Pledge Your Allegiance?” Visitors declared their answer - their pledge - by writing their answer on a strip of paper and then affixing it to the inside of the tipi. Other elements to the piece include twelve life-size casts of women in a circle outside the tipi, and an audio loop inside the tipi that played continuously during the week of installation.

A hardcover book titled We The Future has been created which shares the pledges made. It is magnificent and intends to inspire all who will experience it into making their own declarations. You can check out the book as well as order one at: http://www.blurb.com/search/site_search?search=Robert+Bengtson&filter=all&commit=Search.

My vision is that We The Future will soon be in a book store near you… so keep your eyes open!