Blazing Swan is an annual regional Burning Man event held adjacent to Jilakin Lake near the town of Kulin, Western Australia. It is promoted as an experiment in temporary community and artistic expression, guided by eleven main principles, including radical inclusion, gifting and radical self-reliance.
| Blazing Swan | |
|---|---|
 Blazing Swan logo spray painted onto an art piece in 2015 | |
| Location(s) | Jilakin Rock City |
| Inaugurated | 2013 |
| Most recent | March 27 – April 2, 2024 |
| Website | www |
The event occurs around Easter each year, usually over a period of seven days. The event location is on bushland adjacent to Jilakin Lake, and is referred to as Jilakin Rock City. A wooden effigy is built and burned at the culmination of the event.[1]
History
editA collective of artists/producers who had attended the Burning Man Festival in the US, organized the official regional event in Western Australia.
| Year | Theme | Date | Location | Participants | Ticket price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Ignite | 2 June | Bickley | ~150 | ||
| 2013 | Syncronicity | 1 September | Mosman Park | ~250 | $15-$30 | |
| 2014 | Inception | 24–28 April | Kulin | 1400 | $145–$195 | |
| 2015 | Inspiration | 1–7 April | Kulin | 1900 | $145–$255 | |
| 2016 | Illumination | 23–29 March | Kulin | 2500 | $150–$250 | |
| 2017 | Elemental | 12–18 April | Kulin | 2700 | $150–$250 | |
| 2018 | Beyond the Black Stump | 28 March – 3 April | Kulin | 3200 | $200–$300 | |
| 2019 | Happy as Larry | 17 - 23 April | Kulin | 3000 | $200–$300 | |
| 2020 | Perception | 8 - 14 April | N/A | $200–$300 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[2] | |
| 2021 | Phoenix | 1 April - 6 April | Kulin | 1500 | $250–350 | |
| 2022 | Poseidon's Flame | 13 - 19 April | N/A | $250–350 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[3] | |
| 2023 | Poseidon's Flame II | 5 April - 11 April | Kulin | 3000 | $290–350 | |
| 2024 | Neon Caravan | 27 March - 2 April | Kulin | 3000 | $400–475 |
Blazing Swan, Inc.
editBlazing Swan, Inc. is the not-for-profit incorporated association dedicated to organizing the annual Blazing Swan event.[4]
Community Involvement
editBlazing Swan Inc has been involved with a number of community art projects and philanthropic activities in Western Australia. Some examples are:
- Providing significant art grants to the community to encourage creative expression.[5]
- Donating $10 from each ticket sold at the 2015 event towards funding a full-time age care nurse to the Shire of Kulin.[6]
- Partnership with the Australian Government's 'Work for the Dole' program, to help job seekers gain skills and experience that give back to the community and can help them find a job.
- Donating a three-metre-wide (9.8 ft) metal sculpture created by Matt Bray to the Shire of Kulin, as a permanent public art offering.[7]
References
edit- ^ "The Effigy". Blazing Swan. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "A Letter to our Community". Blazing Swan. 2020-03-16.
- ^ "A Letter to our Community".
- ^ "About Us". Blazing Swan. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ "Art at Blazing Swan". Blazing Swan. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ "Blazing Swan Comes To WA". Rotunda Media. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ "Blazing Swan memento: Kulin's giant egg". ABC Great Southern WA. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-12-30.