The “Hanging up my boots” Edition :: Issue #329, Rusty’s Electric Dreams


“You keep playin’ where you shouldn’t be playin’
And you keep thinkin’ that you’ll never get burnt (ha)”

— Nancy Sinatra, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'”



An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #329 :: The “Hanging up my boots” Edition :: 09:14:2022

Hanging up my boots…

So, I’m back from Burning Man.

And I’m not going to lie, it was a tough one. It was hot, hotter for a longer stretch of time than I had ever experienced before, and the wind was fierce, causing whiteout conditions. As a result, I didn’t see much art, or many friends. As challenging as it was, there were some good times because there are always some good times out there.

My final night out there made up for some of the disappointment though. The playa got pin-drop quiet late that Sunday evening in anticipation of the night’s solemn burn. I swung in my hammock looking at the incredible sunset, wearing the same boots I wore back in 1995, only getting up to see the Temple aflame. I watched silently in the warm air and thought about everything personal I had stapled to its walls earlier, everything I needed to let go.

The experience was both profoundly beautiful, and heavy. Now that those things are gone, both physically and energetically, I feel lighter.

Now, as I left the hammock and headed to bed at the end of that night, gently chewing on my thoughts, I felt the soles of my boots falling off with big clomping sounds! Couldn’t help but laugh and wonder if the Universe was telling me to hang my boots up on this whole “Burning Man thing.”

But, as the older, supposedly wiser elder-grownup type that I’ve become, I know better than to make such rash decisions. Instead, I will leave a small space that, somewhere way down the road, I’ll lace up my boots and return to the place that birthed me. For now, I’ll repair said boots and make alternative Labor Day weekend plans.

— Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. I have a few playa gifts left (stickers). If you’d like one, email me with your mailing address.

As seen on the Internets


BRC Weekly

Nothing is sacred: There are fewer things Burning Man-related that I look forward to more than Adriana Roberts’ annual indie playa-rag. You will be hard pressed to find a more honest account of Black Rock City than what is reported on in BRC Weekly (formerly/famously known as Piss Clear). In this year’s issue, there’s a lot to glean: what’s different in 1999 vs. 2022, who/what made the much-anticipated OUT/IN list, and so much more. It’s written and printed pre-event but it always manages to hit the zeitgeist on the head.

:: Smile! 
:: youtu.be/5rlEEmqEvuw

:: Gibberosus hamula
:: horg.com/horg/?page_id=2256 Thanks, Whit!

:: AR is wild, y’all
:: twitter.com/jasteinerman/status/1568948580752269312

:: The sound of TED Talks
:: tiktok.com/@tedtoks/video/7141792788584221995

:: This looks a little too real!
:: youtu.be/fAcYS-_8L2s

:: It kills me that I missed this (first piece)
:: artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-two-burning-man-artworks-created-community-commemorated-loss

:: and THIS
:: blackrocktrainstation.com

Real things you can actually make: yay!


Crown of zip ties

The medium is the message: Behold, my crown of zip ties, bling, and googly eyes! When I was able to make my playa rounds Sunday morning, I stopped by to see a friend and she was wearing one of these. She told me that our mutual pal, the very talented Lisa Hoffman, was responsible. As you can see, I’ve since learned her secrets.

Real things you can actually buy: yay!


Ice Cream Soup

We all scream: Pee-wee’s Playhouse premiered September 13, 1986. If you know your Pee-wee history, you’ll remember in the first episode he makes “Ice Cream Soup” (despite Randy’s attempt to ruin his special snack)! To celebrate this moment in pop culture history, Pee-wee’s got both tees and totes with Dan Goodsell’s adorable “soup can” art through September 20. In full disclosure, I worked on bringing this Warhol-esque project to the world—and proudly so!

(and, speaking of ice cream…)

Featured Events



[Oakland :: 9/30] Fairyland is hosting another fabulous grownups-only event, a live drawing and art-making fundraiser called Drawn Together. I’m pleased to announce that yours truly has been invited to participate as an artist (!) which means my Fairyland-themed art will be sold off to benefit the park! 21+ :: 6 to 9:30 p.m. :: $30 to $100/pp

GLOBAL
[9/22-9/23] World Wide Wander: “24-hour around-the-world” walking workshops put on by CreativeMornings, free!

BAY AREA, CA+
[Berkeley :: Full moons] Moonstruck: a wild concert series (get on their list)

[Alameda :: monthlyMaking $#!% Up Improv at Alameda Comedy Club

[Oakland :: ongoing] NewNow‘s new shows (FB link).

[San Francisco :: 9/16-9/20] Flower Piano is back!

[San Francisco :: 9/30-10/2] Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

[Oakland :: 10/5] Save the date: Driveway Follies is partnering with Kon-Tiki for “a night of puppets & Mai Tais.”

[Alameda :: 10/7-10/9] Alameda Pride: First-ever Pride weekend in our fair city

[Oakland :: 10/8-10/9] Halloween Meltdown with John Waters

[Alameda :: 10/29BlackLight Art Show at Studio 23, 2309 Encinal Ave: “Expect lights out, UV reactive art, special blacklight installations & LED sculptures” (Call for artists)

[Oakland :: 10/30 +10/31] Driveway Follies: amazing shows from dusk to 10 p.m. Head to 3854 Greenwood Ave in Oakland.

[Point San Pablo, Richmond :: ongoing] Now that it’s cooled down again, go get hot at good hot!


LOS ANGELES, CA+
[Los Angeles :: 21st night of SeptemberBa-de-ya! The legacy of the late great Allee Willis will live on through the Willis Wonderland Foundation and its kickoff fundraising party is called Night of Wonders. Hope to see ya there!

[Pasadena :: 10/1-10/2] CatCon

CALIFORNIA
[California] Haunted House list

Shen Yun

Shen Yun is everywhere, even in Black Rock City

[Now what’s really funny is that I was finishing up this issue and heard a noise out front. I went out to see what was going on and found a real Shen Yun ad on my door!]

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is an inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them. If this was forwarded to you, please consider subscribing yourself.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.” People like it. Well, most people do.

My inbox zine is my gift to you. That being said, it’s not cheap to produce. If you have the means, please consider supporting me. Also, mail art is my love language, so feel free to send me some: 3104 Fernside Blvd, Alameda, CA 94501.

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Publisher & Baddie-in-Chief: Rusty Blazenhoff

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