Once again, we invite you to join us for the next event in our quarterly Elemental Interactions series. These intimate and informal evening talks explore the topics of the ‘four elements’ in a multifaceted, entertaining and interactive way. We’ve brought together an eclectic mix of speakers, including BRAF grantees and other artists, scientists, social historians and others from our extended community and beyond. Our first events, FIRE! and AIR!, were incredibly enjoyable evenings for all, full of captivating speakers and entertaining demonstrations, as well as opportunities to meet and connect with our members and donors.

Our next Elemental Interactions event, EARTH!, will be on October 2, 2008, 6:30 pm at the BRAF/Burning Man offices at 1900 Third Street, San Francisco, California, and will feature these exciting guests:

Hosted by Larry Harvey

In 1986, Larry organized the first Burning Man at a local beach, and the event was born. Larry is currently executive director of the Burning Man Project and the President of the Board of the Black Rock Arts Foundation. He also serves as chairman of Burning Man’s senior staff and Black Rock City LLC, its executive committee, co-chairs the organization’s Art Department, scripts and co-curates Burning Man’s annual art theme, and collaborates with artists in creating aspects of the art theme and the design of Black Rock City.

Artist and Burning Man Earth Developer, Andrew Johnstone adjohnstone.com

At Burning Man, we strive to ‘leave no trace” upon the playa, but when it comes to leaving our historical record, we owe history an accurate record as possible of the event that has come to mean so much to us. Burning Man Earth will attempt to archive the event “in amber” by employing a banquet of various geo tagged media and information, from maps, photos and video, to exotics such as gigapan, gps tracks, 3d models, hi res aerial and even soundscapes. It can further be employed as a framework to a geo referenced social network and participant planning tool.

Kevin Drew and Shawn Rosenmoss, Compost Gurus from the SF Department of the Environment

Kevin Drew has been working in resource conservation and community organizing in SF for 3 decades. He helped start the Red Vic Movie House, Building Resources and the Presidio Recycling Center, managed HANC Recycling in Golden Gate Park and coordinated the deconstruction and salvage of 200,000 board feet of old growth lumber from Army buildings at Crissy Field in the Presidio.  He is currently Residential and Special Projects Zero Waste Coordinator at San Francisco’s Department of Environment.

Shawn Rosenmoss has a degree in engineering from LSU and has extensive background in circus arts, engineering, street performance and grant writing and making. She has displayed her peculiar brand of snarky attitude and waxes pedantic at numerous workplaces, cafes, schools and public spaces in San Francisco for 2 dozen years. Shawn is currently Manager of Grants and Fundraising at the EcoCenter at the San Francisco’s Department of Environment.

The SF Department of the Environment is a major funder of BRAF’s Scrapeden program.

Artist and Attorney, Osha Neumann

Osha Neumann is a sculptor, muralist, writer and a lawyer. In the 1960’s, Osha was a key player in New York’s famous anarchist affinity group, ‘Up Against the Wall Motherf**kers’. His memoir of this time of his life, ‘Up Against the Wall Motherf**ker’ was published Seven Story Press.

Later he moved to San Francisco was inspired by the city’s many murals. Osha painted murals and practiced law in the East Bay for the next 30 years. He became well-known for his ‘Lawyer in a Box’ booth at Berkeley’s weekly Ashby Flea Market, where he offers very cheap 30 minute consultations.

He focused much of his legal work on advocating for the homeless, and through the representation of one of his clients, Jimbow the Hobo, he became acquainted with the many residents of the Albany Landfill, or ‘The Bulb’, where Jimbow lived for 8 years before he faced eviction. Over the years the Albany Landfill, essentially a dump, has become the home of many who cannot or choose not to live in traditional housing.

The land has also transformed into a haven for artists, as well as into a venue for their artwork, who use found-object and reclaimed materials in their art. Since 1999, Osha has worked alongside the ‘SNIFF’ artists, a collective responsible for much of the art at the Bulb, in the creation of numerous sculptures using only materials he’s found at the landfill.

Osha has written numerous articles about the landfill, its art, and the continuing struggle to shape its future.

BRAF members and donors come for free! We want to meet you again and show our appreciation for your support. Stay tuned for our next Elemental Interaction in February of 2009: WATER!

Feel free to spread the word as anyone is welcome to attend– a donation of $10.00 is suggested for non-members. If you know anyone who wants to become a BRAF member, this is a great opportunity to make this event the first of many enjoyable benefits. Please ask them to contact info @blackrockarts.org, call (415) 626-1248, or visit www.blackrockarts.org/participatefor details about joining our community.