2004 Camp Placement » Center Camp 2:00 position » Whistle Perfomance Thursday 9:00 PM

Camp Tanabata : Festival of the Stars

Participate in the mythical Asian celebration of wishing upon a star at the Tanabata Tree.
Camp Tanabata is where visitors write their wish, heart's desire or haiku on tanzaku strips to be colorfully displayed on the tree before being cast in the river of fire.

Once upon a time, the emperor of the galaxy and his beautiful daughter, princess Orihime, lived on one side of the Milky Way. The princess was a very hard-working girl; every day she wove from early in the morning till late at night, so she never had time to go out and meet a nice man. The emperor, who was concerned about this, decided to introduce a man to his daughter. He chose a hard-working cow-herder called Hikoboshi, who lived on the other side of the galaxy. Orihime liked Hikoboshi at first sight and the two soon fell deeply in love. However, the princess soon started to neglect her weaving. This infuriated her father, and in anger he separated the lovers, sending Hikoboshi back to the other side of the Milky Way. They were so upset that they wept day and night. The emperor, thinking it was too harsh on them, decided to let the couple meet just once a year when Orihime and Hikoboshi meet at the bridge over the Milky Way.

At Camp Tanabata, we will construct an asian KouBou studio complete with prespun tea bowls for decoration and Raku glazing in a temporary structure on the playa.  Participants will be invited to decorate and glaze their own tea bowl for their own personal enjoyment.  Several ceramic artists will be on hand to assist participants in their creations.  Once glazed or painted the will be fired in a ceremonious Raku firing display. 

Whistleworks Lives On:
On one evening during the week we will bring out the “infamous” steam whistle sculpture for an interactive Ritual Performance at Center Camp. The whiste sculpture will also play a role in the ceremonious ritual of the "burning of the wishes".         

CONTACT INFO:

Phil Solomonson
Supreme Director of Alien Communications
burningchicagoans2002@yahoo.com
Phone: 312-437-0807