Flipside Flame 2009, Issue 6

Freaky Leaders

RSVP for the leadership training on Sunday April 26th:
http://freakyleaders.eventbrite.com

A description: There’s this problem, you see, with leading non-conformists, artists, freaks, and weirdos.

They are really interested in doing things their own way! They don’t like authority! They’ve never followed anyone before - why would they start now?

So.... how do you get them to, you know, do stuff? Like run a theme camp? Have a good time at Flipside? Notdestroy your theme camp with their drama?

Teflon Jack, co-founder of Camp Ish and 9 year veteran of Burning Flipside will be workshopping these questions and more about “freaky leadership” with you and other theme camps and flipside leaders - come join us!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email: volunteerinfo@burningflipside.com!

A Message from the Ticket Gods

Greetings Flipizen Mortals,

We sent word via email several weeks ago to folks who had pleased us with their correct ticket application process and been graced with the glory of tickets into Pyropolis. Said tickets were processed and mailed out over three weeks ago. For those of you who have not yet received your tickets, here is how you may proceed:

1. If you requested your tickets to be sent via Priority mail and have not received them, go to your nearest US Post Office and check to make sure it is not languishing in a back room.
2. If you have not otherwise received your tickets, please contact us at fliptickets@gmail.com.

Thank you and have a glorious human day.

Sincerely,
The Ticket Gods

That sound ... it’s like music, but there’s no ounch-ounch to it! It’s not loud, it’s almost as if I could hold a conversation while listening to it. Where -- where is it coming from? I’m drawn to it ...

Radio Flipside

Secret Agents have infiltrated Flipside and are devoted to bringing you music you can lounge with a martini to, with advice and commentary helpful for your safari needs—observing the wild freaks in their natural habitat. It is the only civil thing to do, afterall. 

Prepare to be wooed by the devilshly charming (and well dressed) agents as they lull you into submission with their mystical music, slip you truth serum and trap you in their secret headquarters disguised as a radio lounge. 

Can’t find the radio lounge? It’s up on the plateau, look for the flaming tower. Or check out the transmissions via your own radio, or radios dispersed around Flipside, like in the showers.

Don’t worry, I’m sure the music does not have encrypted messages in it.

KFLiP radio is back this year, and wants you to participate! Check out http://oddradio.pbwiki.com to sign up for DJ slots and give us your Flipside announcement information.

And don’t forget to bring radios to Flipside!

To Burn or not to burn

Let me start by stating the obvious:

1 - Making art and burning it is a part of Flipside

2 - Fire can be dangerous

3 - Until today, things have been a bit dry in Texas

To balance safety with a love of setting things on fire The LLC, CC, Fire leads, Safety leads & Art leads have put together more of a process for burning art at Flipside. Nothing too difficult, just trying to make sure everyone knows what’s going on.

Step 1 - Fill out the online Art placement form.

Actually, I’ll help coordinate everything with you after that, so just fill the form out and we’ll take things from there. The deadline is coming up soon, so do it now and we can tackle the rest later.

http://www.burningflipside.com/art/burning-art-2008

As far as the third point, you may have noticed seriously dry conditions and wildfire issues in the area lately. If we are under a burn ban during Flipside, then you will not get to set your art on fire. That’s a distinct possibility. Sure you could just give up now and spend your evenings watching infomercials instead of building art that would inspire hundreds of burners, creating a cascading domino effect of inspiration that would make the world a weirder and more beautiful place. Or you could . . .

• Have a plan to take your art back home if it’s in a form other than piles of ashes. (remember that things sometimes take more space on the return trip)
• Consider making this a longer term project. Bring your art out to Flipside, but then take it home and keep working on it. Then it could be an even more exciting burn at a later event during less dry conditions.
•  Consider not burning it at all. Art that’s not in flames is also cool (it’s technically cooler, since fire is usually rather warm . . .hahaha!). Have you run into design constrictions because you have to stick to burnable materials? (Ahem, if you are building art to burn, you do know about materials that you can’t burn, right?)
• Consider adding fire to your art in a different way. Propane flames coming out of a stable structure are less dangerous and have more lenient fire restrictions. Even if there is a burn ban, propane flames will likely be allowed.  
• Consider adding destruction to your project in a different way. If propane jets don’t satisfy your deep-seated longing for the catharsis that comes with destroying your art, remember that destruction can take many forms. Just make sure you have a clean up plan. (If you plan on destroying your art by creating a tornado with your homemade weather machine, please let me know ahead of time so I can coordinate with Safety & Alex Jones)
• If you know any rain dances, teach them to everyone at church night & dance them at every chance you get. As an added bonus all that dancing will really tone your butt so you’ll look even better at the creek ;)

I’m looking forward to seeing lots of amazing art out at flipside this year, whether on fire or not!

Alissa

Burnable Art Lead ‘09

Support our Starr

Many of you know Starr from Art Garden, her band The Lovers, Flipside camps Kingdom of Slack and Taj Acoustica, and her numerous contributions to Flipside tickets and other areas over the years.

For those of you who don’t know her, Starr is so filled with love that it feels good to just be around her. She has been the soul of many projects and she has poured her heart into each and every one. She is a beloved member of our community and she is in need. Starr is currently recovering from major surgery and then will have chemotherapy. The combination of medical bills and missing paychecks present financial difficulty for Starr and her main man Dan.

Mark your calendar for Friday, May 8th for a benefit party for Starr at the Komie Kompound!! More info, such as band lineup and directions will be on the lists and in the next Flipside Flame.

If you love Starr, there are many ways to help. If you are interested in donating items for the silent auction, volunteering time for the benefit, or making a direct monetary donation to Starr’s Recovery Fund, please contact one of us:

Piper cm_malik@yahoo.com
Marva onemarva@yahoo.com
Rusty rustadragon@yahoo.com

Thank you all for your support!

What is a Labyrinth?

A labyrinth is an archetype, a geometric expression of our journey through life. It embodies both the outward journey of fulfillment and the inward journey of unfoldment. Walking the labyrinth can interrupt the controlling conscious mind enough to allow a glimpse of our infinite nature. Consistent right brain hemisphere shifts in brain wave activity have been recorded, indicating a shift towards the intuitive aspects of mind.

The first labyrinths were developed in the early dawn of recorded history, and like a beautifully constructed temple, can be a simple work of art or a powerful amplifier of our aspirations and intents. It is the place of connection, the mandala of integration, and the pathway leading to a greater understanding of our place in the cosmos.

The labyrinth is a maze with only one way in and out, so you can’t get lost. But you FEEL like you are lost.... and then found. The experience is one of letting go and following the path to it’s end, even if we are confused about the outcome and do not see progress or logic in the journey. Like life! Participants are encouraged to enter with purpose in mind, dropping all expectations and pretenses, open and completely vulnerable to the forces at play. Things that we use to shield us from ourselves and each other, including our clothes, should be left outside the labyrinth. Following the breath and staying aware of each foot fall is also a good technique to amplify the effects of the labyrinth.

Studies have found a consistent brain hemisphere shift to the right and with repeated use, an increase in cross hemisphere brain wave patterns, melding right and left dominance into a more unified pattern. Couples are encouraged to walk the labyrinth together, synchronizing their breath.... if they dare. Issues may arise or be solved, depending on one’s intent, or lack of it, on entering.

Spontaneous healing has been reported in a number of cases around the world involving the journey of the labyrinth. Dowsers will be present to measure the aura of travelers as they start their journey, and assessing results at the end. The art of dowsing will also be taught at a workshop on Friday at 10 AM.

At 10 AM on Saturday, there will be a workshop in labyrinth building, and on Sunday at the same time, another short workshop will be held in practical geomancy to construct a 50 foot pentagon with rope and pegs.

Come join the fun at Labyrinthia.

photo by Chris KWM

Calling all fire artists!

Circle of Fire theme camp

Circle of Fire will be hosting nighttime fire jams and daytime no-fire spin jams throughout Flipside. All fire artists are welcome. We will have a large fire circle with a safe fuel depot and spotters on hand. If you are a spotter and interested in taking a shift, please stop by.

If you are interested in learning how to spin poi or staff, we will host casual lessons during the day. If you are interested in learning how to be a better spotter, we will run lessons in the late afternoons. Please check the events schedule.

Circle of Fire welcomes all fire folk coming from out of the area (and in the area, of course) looking for a theme camp to call home. If you would like to camp at Circle of Fire, please contact Adam (adamrice@8stars.org).

Fire procession

If you are a fire performer or safety spotter (we always need more spotters!) interested in taking part of the fire procession before the effigy burn, please be at Circle of Fire by 8 PM (before dusk) on burn night to discuss procedures and to give everyone time to prep their equipment. We will have fuel and towels, but if you have extra to add to the kitty or need a special fuel, please bring it.

Sooticas Dream

R.I.P. Caleb “Shooter” Schaber

Flagging y’all to FLAG

To all y’all who are part of a theme camp and all you who aren’t all y’all who want to know get anywhere in the Pyropolis. We are going to need lots of help Marking the city. We mark the roads, we mark the camps, we mark were PETs and Rangers are, and we mark where it’s more dangerous. Please come out and help us Lay out the Land. Sunday and Tuesday before Flipside.

Please contact Psyche lilcpsyche@yahoo.com
& Bill wlbomejr@hotmail.com

Knows it all

Salutations Citizens, Denizens, Flipizens & Freakizens!

The Oracle will take your questions...wait for it... now!

Strap on your pithiest of pith hats and stop by The Temple of the Burning Question (~?~) to scribe your quest (eye-on) that none but the All-iest of the ALL could possible illuminate. All questions will be sent on a high to the immanent-on-high in the great Sunday night conflagration...uh...high-high-high.

I am sure you are positively brimming with questions for the Great Cosmic Catechismic Schism. Should you need assistance in framing your query, dearie, the Oracle will be aboot... (perhaps disguised as “that dude over there” or “y’know: the chicklestix in the da-glo thigh-highs” or “tree stump joe”).

OH! And bring your pet skull by for a play date! As always...Need a skull: take a skull. Got a skull: leave a skull.

love&xxx’s

ThaRev’rendAlacle