TRANSFORM YOURSELF,

TRANSFORM THE WORLD.

Experience radical metamorphosis on a journey through the seven stages of Alchemy, in synergy with the seven days of Burning Man.

origin

As citizens of Black Rock City for several years, we observed how the ingredients of Burning Man caused a transformation in all who experienced it. We noted the correspondence between these Playa experiences and Alchemy itself.

Forged during our departure from Burning Man in 2016, PlayAlchemist was born out of a dream to bring the gift of a campus designed to further enable deepening of this experience, a container for activation and co-creation of Alchemical personal transformation.

PlayAlchemist contributes to the interactivity of Burning Man through immersive programming day and night, and the Pyramid is a physical representation of this crucible; of alchemy and of higher consciousness. The Grand Pyramid, inspired by the Great Pyramid of Giza, is a gathering place, a learning center and a sanctuary.

Once inside this 71 ft high, 111 ft base pyramid, you are initiated to embark on an internal journey of personal transformation through the seven stages of alchemy; while outside, the seven days of Burning Man unfold.

participate

There are many ways to interact with PlayAlchemist:

Build is at the core of culture; a ritual we hold sacred. See more below.
Apply to join our Build Team here.
Prospective alchemists: request your application to camp with us here.
Interested in speaking at our camp? For speaker + workshop opportunities, inquire here.
Experienced artist interested in playing at our camp? Submit here.
For projection mapping + interactive visual art, submit here.
Bringing your art to the Deep Playa and in need of some extra financial support?
Apply here for a grant.

build

PlayAlchemist is a Burning Man camp that strives to be a crucible for personal transformation — alchemy.

Voluntary hardship is a time-tested recipe catalyzing this type of change by purposefully exploring one’s  limits in a voluntary act of service.  We are a “build driven” camp – which means this is the core of our culture. We hold our build sacred – and sober. No paid labor are involved and no substances beyond caffeine are allowed to be consumed by our 90+ person build crew.

Our camp structures, decorations and art embody the creative expression of our campers and we build for the benefit of the Burning Man community as a whole.

Our gifts to the playa include:

A 71’ tall pyramid (the largest object on the playa) that services as daytime workshop space, nighttime music venue, and beacon/navigation point for all of Black Rock City.
100+ hours of daytime programming in the form of transformational workshops.
A 60’x40’ public chill tent for escaping the desert sun, and enjoying evening musical performances
In 2022: An on-playa sound stage for night time musical acts, aerial and fire elements.

APPLY TO JOIN OUR BUILD TEAM

our build is a ritual.

It takes unparalleled commitment for our pyramid to rise out of the dust: heavy machinery, balance, 24/7 work shifts and teamwork collide to bring this stunning beacon of light to life.

heavy machinery: we have it.
our 140 boom lift
build schedule: 24/7, day + night.
it all begins with a patch of playa.
we build like family.

art

If build is the bones of PlayAlchemist, art is our beating heart.

Our biggest contribution to artistic expression at Burning Man is a 71’ tall structure that’s 110’ wide x 110’ long. It’s a pyramid that both serves as a day time programming venue for transformative workshops, and as a music and performance venue for renowned and emerging artists. It also serves as a playa-wide navigation beacon and refuge during dust storms.

As a canvas, it’s a showcase for mind-blogging projection mapping by creatives from across the globe, brought to life for Burning 2022 via our acclaimed Vessel of Light experience coinciding with the theme of “Waking Dreams.”

In addition to the Big Pyramid, our 2nd small scale pyramid, hosts our projectors. In 2022, it also served as a backdrop for our external sound stage for multi-thousand person musical experiences directly on the playa in front of our camp.

Details regarding visual art submissions, artist grants and projection mapping opportunities:

ART AT PLAYALCHEMIST