Donate, Collaborate, Participate,
Immolate
then
Regenerate
and
Remember

YOU ARE NOT YOUR HAIR

At Burning Man 2007, an annual art event held in the high desert of Nevada over Labor Day weekend, an art piece named Crowning Glory will unveil. It will be constructed entirely of hair or other hair-like symbols (wigs, synthetic hair extensions, fabric, etc.) and hair ornamentation (jewelry, beads, colored yarns, etc.). The final achievement will be a virtual hair tapestry of all who participate interwoven into a multi-colored, endlessly varied, organic, tactile and mobile creation named Crowning Glory. Please join our hair-raising drive by donating real hair, fake hairpieces or coiffure embellishments to help create our living and naturally evolving coat of many colors.

"Hair is at once the most delicate and lasting of our materials and survives us like love."

This short video paints the picture of the genesis of Crowning Glory better than words ever could

Hair is ultimately both concealing and revealing, since it gives insight into the essence of who we are on the surface, as well as provide our innermost DNA map. Our manes are completely individual, from making a statement about one's persona, a powerful fashion testimony or simply an age marker. Hair is also a renewable resource, naturally green and designed to outlive us, so it is a perfect fit with Burning Man's art theme this year, The Green Man.

When our crown of hair is removed, we are left without any adornment, stripped of our protection, insulation and camouflage. Even today, the sight of a woman´s bald head is not readily accepted and causes confusion (does she have alopecia, is she political, gay, a neo-Nazi, chemotherapy patient, or crazy?) since beauty, youth and sexuality are directly linked to long feminine locks. It is time to remember that we are not our hair, we are not our breasts, we are not our children, we are not our parents, we are not our age, we are not our skin, we are not our wealth, we are not our partners, but WE ARE our inner wisdom, love, strength, integrity and compassion. So whether you are proudly growing your hair, whether you are losing your hair medically or naturally, by choice or not, please consider donating some, or all, of your real or synthetic hair to our art project.

We need your help contacting oncologists offices, hair salons, military barbers, friends, family and others to help raise hair since this project depends 100% on donations to create our hair tapestry. If you´ve never been to Burning Man, or can´t make it this year, this is your opportunity to send an important part of yourself to the experience. Your hair will end up being burned at the culmination of the event, so your essence will have a front row seat inside the burn and be transformed by the flames and subsequent dust devils, and your ashes will be scattered far and wide, connecting deeper into this world.

We hope to showcase a photo gallery with couture hairstyles, donations, baldhead art and colorful stories about your unique hair. All donations are welcome but the longer (2" or more please) the better. Even a single long lock or dread will help. Please bundle in a ponytail or braid and send us a message if you wish. All donations will be anonymous. Again, wigs, hairpieces, synthetic hair and hair adornments welcome too. (As an alternative, if your hair has not been bleached, chemically damaged and is 10" or longer, consider a donation to Locks of Love, which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Please email your questions, photos and stories to: hair@crowningglory.org

Please send your hair/wigs/hair decorations to: Crowning Glory, 484 Lake Park Avenue #269, Oakland, CA 94610