Testimonials

The following are emails I have received regarding experiences at the Portals at Burning Man:

Amethyst Portal:

Hi Harlan,
I just got back from BRC last night.
I wanted to tell you that I absolutely loved your Amethyst Portal.
I happened upon it Sunday morning after dancing during the Sunrise set.
It was in the middle of the dust storm and your piece just appeared in front of me during a small break in the whiteout. I was immediately drawn to it. I crawled in and felt transported to a very different place. I found refuge in the portal during the dust-storm. It was relaxing and amazing. I loved the low frequency humming and sounds from the structure. I have to say that I had the most amazing experience of my whole burn within your portal. In fact my experience there will be something that I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life.
Thank you for creating such a wonderful piece and sharing it with myself and the rest of the community. It has made an incredible impact, one that is extremely hard to convey in words…
Thanks for the love, spirit, and generosity.
Ann Torres annimal(at)gmail(dot)com

Sapphire Portal:

I was fortunate enough to happen across The Sapphire Portal this year, and it quickly became one of my most favorite things at the Burn! I can’t even put into words all the thoughts, images, and feelings that were experienced while enjoying the zen-like tranquility of the seemingly alternate dimension that the Portal took me to. It also provided a much needed reprieve from the constant electronica pulse of the playa. Every time I visited the Portal, the atmosphere inside was reverently serene, and my personal experience would be slightly different than the last time, yet consistently left me feeling refreshed and even recharged somehow.
If this is coming off a bit on the verbose side, it’s only because I’m trying to find the thousand+ words necessary to paint the picture of an experience I appreciated immensely. I just wanted to let you know how much I loved your creation.
with sincerity ~ Luna Tick sattelite5812(at)gmail(dot)com

The Sapphire Portal was my favorite thing out there on the playa. It was my first burn , and upon arrival, people I would meet would greet me with a “welcome home!” On Wed. I found my way out to the Sapphire Portal, climbed on top the geodesic box containing the Quasar Wave Transducer with Noah Knowone and this lovely sprite Brandy, and let the vibrations in. I fell asleep briefly, and when I did, the comforting feeling and the actual words “Home Sweet Home,” rushed through my body. I awoke with an ear to ear grin plastered on my face and a warm, at peace feeling dancing in my soul. It really is a portal. I felt transcended, outside of myself, through time and space, through every particle of playa dust, vibrating through the cells of my cuddle-partners, around the world and back to myself resting contently in the middle of a sky-blue portal. Thank you for sharing this special gift with the world.
<3 ~*Christa Susavilla  passiflora.inkarnata(at)gmail(dot)com

My name is Chris, and I wanted to thank you for bringing the Sapphire Portal to the playa this year. Without going into much detail, please understand that the Portal at sunrise following the Man burning (the second time) was the host of one of my most beautiful playa moments in my years of attending Burning Man. During the day, I was struck by the respect and sanctity that the piece invoked, and that one could have any number of experiences in its embrace. The morning after the burn I was surprised and delighted to see that it had opened to greet the sunrise. I found that the Wolf+Lamb set was perfect for my interpretation of the piece. The soundtrack, the place, and the time coalesced into an amazing experience that honestly, did not register at the time but this morning a month later I’m fully realizing just what an impact it had on me.
Thank you again, and I hope that you continue to bring such wonderous works to the playa. I hope this email finds you healthy and well, and I hope the future brings you everything you wish (and pleasant surprises you weren’t expecting).
Sincerely,
Chris Lord cheshiregecko(at)hotmail(dot)com

Hey Harlan, we met briefly at BM. I am a film maker friend of Daniel Pinchbeck, Joao is my name…
I wanted to express that your piece was absolutely incredible, and that it transcends Art in My opinion.
When the Theta waves where played in the sapphire portal, I trully felt it was a spiritual experience in multidimensionality, similar to what you go through under DMT or ayhuaska. It is absolute genius…
I had to keep on going back there every day…
So, Thank You…
Joao Amorim jamorim(at)curiouspictures(dot)com

Dear Harlan –
i thought that the portal was the best place to experience dawn — and basically the most special place in the entire playa.
thanks for sharing
d. - d(at)sunpluto(dot)net

Hi Harlan,
This is Ike, the blue person (or perhaps one of the blue people) who was really touched by the Sapphire Portal. I’ll have a longer write up about my thoughts and feelings regarding it later, and I’ll send you photos too, but I just wanted to drop you a quick note now before I forget.
Thank you so much for building the Sapphire Portal. I hope you’ll consider building the Sapphire Portal again for Burning Man 2008, but if you don’t, I’ll look forward to your next creation with great anticipation.
I don’t feel like I got to spend enough time with the Sapphire Portal, in the end - on Sunday night when the playa was quieter and there were fewer lights and the moon had not yet risen there was a better view of the stars there than ever before, and people were really getting into the Quasar wave transducer, chanting and humming along, one person even playing a digeridoo into the speakers. Then I left the portal to find that the temple had already collapsed in fire, and when I looked back to the horizon, I found I’d missed the moonrise too, but it was still one of the most beautiful evenings of the week.
Best regards,
-Ike ike(at)ikeadelic(dot)org

Harlan,
Thanks for placing such an amazing piece of art on the Playa this year. A LOT of people had a great story or two about the Sapphire Portal; I hope it returns to the Playa next year. We’ll gladly put some money in the collection plate for the
Portal’s return.
Peace
Rick L rick(at)relartivity(dot)com

Hi Harlan,
I enjoyed hanging out in the Sapphire Portal at Burning Man. My ears thank you for bringing Clean Sound to the playa. Thanks so much.
I’ve experienced many of your projects without the influence of DJs, and they are transcendental. My friend who is an uber sound / speaker geek had one of his top playa moments this year in the blue portal. Thank you for continuing to bring art to the playa. I know it is a huge undertaking, both mentally, physically, financially, and spiritually. Take care!
Katherine aka systah rabbit Austin, TX systah_rabbit(at)yahoo(dot)com

I spoke to many folks who enjoyed your installation…
great meeting you, perhaps we will meet again sometime..
Rick rick@roelke(dot)org

Even though I could assume reactions of the portal by the people sitting and meditating in it, what kind of reaction did you get personally? I didn’t get a chance to check it out at night, but grabbed some shade in there for a bit during the day and it put me into a bit of a trance. It was almost as if it controlled my meditation a bit. Very different, but I had that reaction last year in the emerald portal as well.
Keep up the good work!
Jake run.w.xcors(at)gmail(dot)com

Funny, I had actually heard about your piece from a few different people who said it was “amazing”. This year I did not have a bike and was at the mercy of art cars, and didn’t find it. From the video, it is stunning and a huge feat!
marytmattingly(at)yahoo(dot)com

Harlan,
Thanks so much for creating the Sapphire Portal! My girlfriend, Anne, and I spent some amazing time out there. We spoke briefly, but I’m sure you met so many people out there this year. I was definitely impressed by your craftsmanship and subtle details. We were lucky enough to see the doors swing open for sunrise on two mornings. Beautiful. Some friends and I were trying to seek out the right vibe on Saturday night, then I led them to the Portal and we were happy through ’til morning.
brian(at)adriftmobiles(dot)com

Diamond Portal:

hi harlan,
i’m a big fan of your work on the playa this year. i discovered the 11:11 diamond portal at just the right time when I needed to most. i was in the depths of a dark trip on the playa where the world of Sodom and Gomorrah was being repeated and the existance of the diamond portal allowed me the hope of ascension from it all. there’s much more to the story of course but what i mean to say is that your project helped me find my way out of it with that glimmer of hope for those of us watching this civilization slowly become something out of a philip dick novel. peace robin rgoodwin(at)gmail.com

It was my favorite moment on the playa this year, After a week of dust storms and infighting at my camp- I stumbled upon the sculpture, climbed into the round/heart opening, and found to my delight that it purred. I have a bad back injury, and found the round support of the metal against my back with the purring vibration to be very soothing. I was soothed to a place of peace, looking up at the sky, and back at the city. It was amazing.Thanks for making it. To discover that the round opening was also a heart was magical. “Fiona Hollins”

I was awestruck when I saw your art piece at the Temple Burn.
Way
to
go.
You resurected it to live a second life sharing joy to everyone there.
All I have to say is
thanks.
Katie katie_lu(at)sbcglobal.net

Hi, my name is Nate Smith, I do the fire vortex work at Burning Man. On Saturday night of the event, My friend Gary dragged me away from my project and took me out to see some of the stuff out in the deep playa. I just want to tell you that I loved your piece. It was great to climb up in it and have the city outlined in the hole. Very magical. The vibration and sound were wonderful as well, I still have no idea how you did it. Thank you for your work., I’m glad I got the opportunity to experience it. Nate “Nathan Smith”

Hey Harlan,
I had the opportunity to meet you (briefly) a couple of times (in that hypha sculpture and the night of the temple burn) although I’m sure you won’t remember considering the number of people on the playa! In any case, I just wanted to repeat that I really enjoyed your contribution to the art on the playa this year, and I hope we’ll see more of it in the future. I love interactive art and spending time (twice) cradled in the window of your portal was a wonderful, other-worldy and meditative exerience. I won’t forget about it; thank you!
love,
sentae(at)earthlink.net

Thanks Harlan, that was very powerful. A big step to sacrifice, but a great clearing also. Do you know the scene in Fellinis film (Amercord) I think where the ship comes out of the fog. It was like that. Lots of love on the next part of your journey, thanks for making our burn so much better.
Love
tony and Marita
T HOUSE WEB SITE www.tonysthouse.com

I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful piece. I usually don’t like seeing something return to the playa, but I was thrilled to get to see and feel it again. This time around we had a newbie to share it with. Ah, to watch a newbie’s eyes widen on the playa.
Thank you, Bobbie bobbie(at)holonet.net

I have many magical moments on the playa, to which I am addicted. I was blessed by such a moment on the evening of the burn when, after getting a shot of the man just fitting inside the portal (from about 100yrds), I smoothed my body against the portal. I was unable to fit into the portal which was a cacophony of reverberating burners. I suddenly felt something happening that was much greater than the sum of its parts. Hard to explain, but somehow transporting. I was, however, slightly saddened by my distance from the core, which drew me in. I was happy to discovery that after talking to the participants( Ali_Kat, need your email ), that the feeling I was experiencing was shared. I am sending along some more photos. Thank you for your vision.
Brian Herman (born 11/11!) doctorherman(at)hotmail.com

Hello Harlan,
So nice to hear from you! Thank you so much for the picture- a lovely memory. Indeed, the Diamond Portal was a significant contributor to my very wonderful Burning Man experience. Watching it burn was quite emotional! As a bass player whose aura seems to take on the exact green color of the Diamond Portal, I was instantly drawn to it, and I found myself coming back to it again and again as if it was in some way connected to me. Ha! That’s art- isn’t Harlan? You know its a sucess when it takes on a life of its own! Cheers to your marvelous accomplishment! I look forward to seeing what you come up with for next year…
Grins, Fire, Dust,
Meg mmorris2(at)washcoll.edu

Yes! Yes! Yes! I am so glad you put up a site dedicated to this amazing piece! I fell in love with it when I arrived around sunset one day, in a break between windstorms. The green side was warm in the sun, and I rubbed my back against it like a cat soaking in the warmth. Much to my surprise it was also purring!! I was fascinated and stayed around long enough to make two new friends. I never did get inside the portal, since I preferred the warm sunlit side near the base, but I enjoyed watching others lie in the tube. We thought it was recordings from space, pulsars. Until someone eventually arrived to check on the piece and I saw there was a bass guitar inside (or maybe someone told me that). I loved the idea that the sound was acoustically generated, when so much on the playa is not… Love, Juicy aka Watergirl aka JennyTemple of Waterboy Camp (Esplanade and CenterCamp in 2004) “The Big Cheez”

Hi - My friends and I spoke with you for a bit on the afternoon of the burn. In fact, if you could see through the diamond, you would be standing on the other side, by the ladder. My friend Will (lying down) is recovering from cancer, and has a lot of residual pain from the chemo, and he just loved lying down in there and letting the vibrations penetrate deep inside his aching body. We really appreciate the work that you put into this piece, and I found your website very interesting. Thanks, Jilla - Wyoming “Jill Anderson”

We thought you might like to hear about our 2004 BM experience with your art installation.
At BM 2004, one of our favorite experiences, perhaps our very favorite and most moving, took place at your “Diamond Portal”, which my brother John fondly nicknamed “Green Hole Sun”…it reminded him of the other sculpture in Volunteer Park. Here’s what happened on the night of the Temple Burn. Wild Bill ( my spouse) and Andreas (fellow Burner since 2001) and I were making our way toward the Temple on bikes that night. You may know Andreas, his brother Peter was with Taos Station in another year (I don’t think Peter was there in 2004). Andreas’ idea was that we park our bikes at the Portal and then walk the rest of the way. But when we got there, it seemed so inviting, and someone was up there by himself (I think - my memory could be just a little foggy). So we climbed up and joined him. Could it have been you?
We lay down low in the Portal, feet pointing in alternating directions, gazing out at the stars. From our perspective, there was no ground below, only the stars above. The sound we felt and heard emanating from within the Portal was like an engine. giving us the feeling that we were on a spaceship, floating peacefully through space. Then, the first “explorer” started humming, along with the engine sound of the spaceship. Perhaps he was humming all along, and I just didn’t notice until then. He persuaded all of us to hum along, And we did. Before long, some other people joined us in our little “spaceship”. I’m not sure how many we had up there, they came and went, staying different amounts of time. And somehow, we lost our sense of time. Perhaps it had something to do with not looking down at the ground.
Then the Temple began to burn…and our attention was drawn to it. It was almost as if we were a visiting alien spacecraft, observing from afar the habits of the local creatures. It was truly a beautiful sight. Instead of being up close, as we had originally planned, we viewed the Temple burn from such a distance that we could see the entire thing, and as you know it stretched a very wide distance across this year. Your Diamond Portal/Green Hole Sun was in every way a fantastic gift that you shared with the rest of the city. Thank You! Merilieu

Hi! Had a fun time climbing around on “The Diamond Portal”! It was just a fun photo opp at the time, but now that I have read more about the piece, it is fascinating! I wish I could have known more about it on the playa! Something I do remember about my experience with it, when sitting in the hole, it feels comforting and soothing. I think it has to do with the roundness holding me and the vibrational sounds. The other woman climbing on it with me mentioned the same thing. Anyways, thanks! Dakini (Jaime Jean) “Jaime Jean”

I love your art. Thank you for building the Diamond Portal and for displaying it at Burning Man this year. I visited it on several occasions and one morning, early in the week, I was able to take an amazing photograph of your art piece all alone in the playa landscape… nothing but the portal… the sky (a dramatic cloudful sky!)… and the playa… I shoot with film, so I don’t have it in digital form yet, but I will share it with you soon. I love your photograph so much that I know that it is a photograph that I will want to share with others in thefuture. It is an amazing piece of artwork situated on a very dramatic landscape… aphotographer’s dream. I want to get your permission before doing so because it isyour artpiece in the center of my photograph. My photography is my art and my passion. “Rey Madolora”

My son & I, Doug Sr. & Doug Jr., were enjoying your art one night when you came out to do some structural damage repair and we had the pleasure of assisting you. We talk about that night and your explanation of the bass audio you devised for your art. I came across your web address in the BM e-mail, took a look and thought I would let you know how your work is still giving us pleasure in just discussing it. Thanks again and we hope you and your family have the happiest holiday’s and a healthy and prosperous new year. Doug, Sr. “Doug”