Infinite Oasis
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Mission and Vision
Burning Man is an experiment in community. It is our vision to create a village that lives up to our definition of community: a real family that is connected, cohesive, supportive and nurturing - but one that spanks when the occasion calls for it.
The Infinite Oasis is a community of camps that are in service to the citizens of Black Rock City through each camp's unique theme and presence, from healing to ecstatic dance, lectures to hair washing, interactive art to a neighborhood pub.
The Infinite Oasis will be a refuge amidst the chaos: a place where people willingly contribute, participate and have fun while doing so. We envision our village to be comprised of individuals/camps who have a real intention to be 'in service' but also to take care of themselves, to really play and have FUN through our joint connection! Like a healthy family, it will be comprised of camps that are able to take care of their own needs, and also work in unison for the greater good of the neighborhood such as lending that 'cup of sugar' whenever it is needed.
We are striving to be a village based on service and commitment to others in a sane and peaceful space. In order to facilitate our own sanity, we are requesting space on a deep block behind center camp. This way we can create the village lay out that we want with out the madness of being on the esplanade.
We see the village building in trust and complexity year-on-year. How the village operates is a function of the level of community that exists within each camp and between each camp. For that reason, our intention for the first year is simply to create a framework of support for our community including basic village layout and to grow from there.
Over time, however, we see Infinite Oasis as a neighborhood or village to the passerby: with town planning, central dance and entertainment areas, lighted roadways, public artwork, individual camp signage etc. that tells everyone ‘you are now entering/in/leaving the Infinite Oasis’.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Being part of a larger ‘body’ that reflects your values at Black Rock City is a huge benefit: a critical mass of people with a similar worldview will already be on your doorstep in the form of other member camps. Also, the village itself will be attracting people who you will want to work and play next to. The village will have its own web presence too.
The pool of people of which you will be part should also make it easier to establish and/or run your own camp from year to year. (Relationships deepen fast at Black Rock City, as you know!) The village theme and intention (however it is eventually formed by the representatives from each camp, “The Committee”) will strengthen the message and impact of your camp. The critical mass of people will also, over time, encourage bigger and bolder expressions as alliances and liaisons come together to create voluntary projects that are larger than any one camp could conceive accomplishing by itself (be they practical, playful or artsy).
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE?
When community works, economies of scale are available. It is not our intention that membership of the village requires ‘more work’. On the contrary, some camps have already experienced the benefit of geographic proximity on both a practical and emotional level. The purpose of creating the village is to increase the benefits to each of us for all of the loving work and care that we already put in to creating our individual camps. Many of us are duplicating work. Often, the ‘serious stuff’ gets done, only to find there is no time/energy to create the ‘fun stuff’. Working together to plan a village will enable more of the fun stuff to manifest, creating a more balanced circuit of giving and taking within and between camps.
NEXT STEPS
So far we have up to a dozen camps that are interested and eligible to join forces in the co-creation of The Infinite Oasis. If you are interested in co-creating The Infinite Oasis, please contact Michael Moss or Caitlin Miller as soon as possible:
Caitlin
Miller: [email protected]
(California)
Michael Moss: [email protected]
(Colorado)