Girvan Burning Man puts on quite a show

May 14 2008 Ayrshire Post

SPECTATORS from far and wide gathered to watch the Girvan Burning Man arts project reach its climax on the shore.

A gusting wind threatened to halt the project in its tracks, but the Carrick Rural Arts Group (CRAG) managed to finish the tall structure as darkness enveloped the shore.

Standing 27ft high, the figure towered over the CRAG team. And as drums started to beat, a fiery incandescent light bathed the scene, mixing singing samba rhythms static fire sculptures and the human voice.

Burning Man 2008 was greeted with whoops and yells as the gathered audience enjoyed a unique one-off arts intervention that lasted just over 20 minutes.

And it all came to a conclusion with the remnants of the tall figure smouldering on the shore as the tide washed around.

It was two weeks in the making, and 12 hours of preparation on the day, before the 20-minute finale.

CRAG’S fire team for 2008 are: Ian Young; Frazer Cunningham; Ian Challis; Roy, Jamie, Terry and David Powell.

There was music from CRAG samba, the voices of CRAG kids, and special thanks to Moira, Billy, Frances Nanette, Noel Porter and Alex Paton at Cairnhill Farm for supplying the straw, and Alex Melville at Ardwell Farm. Thanks also to Girvan Folk Festival for their co-operation.