Did you see the fall of Order and Chaos on Friday night '05?

Jordan 10-E · Post by **Jordan 10-E** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:34 pm

This last year I built a 50' tower installation half way between the Man and the Esplanade at about 4:30. It wasn't far from the Dicky Box. It was called the "Tower of Order and Chaos".

On Friday during the night it fell down. Ultimately the guy wires used were too weak and they snapped on one side. I was not there when it happened. I heard rumor that an art car tangled and pulled it down, but I am not sure that is true. I think a person may have done something that stressed it and caused the wires to fail. I am sure it was not the wind. BTW, no one was hurt or any such thing. Future precautions will pretty well guarantee there will not be a repeat performance.

The purpose of my post is to gather any information you might have seen or heard related to this incident. Someone out there must know something! Someone must have seen it happen. Was it you that saw it? Did any of your friends report seeing it happen? I would like to know what the real cause was. I may never find out, but maybe I will. If you have any information please let me know. I don't care about specifically identifying the person or artcar, just to know how it happened.

Thanks for your help.

Jordan 10-E (Generator)
jordan10e (at) hotmail.com

BTW, here is a link to some of the photos found in the Burning Man image gallery.

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi? ... =9&go.y=14

bravetiger · Post by **bravetiger** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:20 pm

I rode by, I believe it was after the man burned and before the temple burn. I notiiced someone climbing all the way up adjusting the cables or something. I held on to the ladder or scaffolding to make sure the guy didn't fall..... maybe he was sabatoging the whole thing???!!!! and I was unwittingly part of it.

Jordan 10-E · Post by **Jordan 10-E** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:58 am

bravetiger wrote:I rode by, I believe it was after the man burned and before the temple burn. I notiiced someone climbing all the way up adjusting the cables or something. I held on to the ladder or scaffolding to make sure the guy didn't fall..... maybe he was sabatoging the whole thing???!!!! and I was unwittingly part of it.

Actually that was me on the ladder. It was friday night. I remember you stopping to hold the ladder for me. I had to borrow a 20' ladder from someone to make some adjustments. I was pulling power cords down from the middle part of the column to get them plugged in so the internal lights would work properly. Long story, but the powercords got stranded half way up the day before so I couldn't plug in all the lighting. You actually did a great service because the lighting had not been right the night before. At least the lighting was the way it was supposed to be the night it fell.

So no need to worry. Actually I owe you a beer or something for your help. Make sure to try and get in touch again this year.

Next year I am going to make some ID type badges that hang on a necklace to help identify me and others that are helping with the installation. That way if I am adjusting something or other then it will be more "official".

As for the immediate cause, I received an email just last night from a key DPW person that was called out to the site by the rangers about half an hour after it fell. The report given to him by the rangers was that the wires were struck by an art vehicle. This confirms the rumor I had heard through the grapevine that night from a friend. I just haven't been absolutely sure until now.

So there it is, it was an art vehicle, not a lone person, which is much more acceptable to me. I guess I can now let go of any crazed conspiracy theories!

For my project this year I am going to be far more diligent in this area. There will be stronger wires and anchors. Each set will have a seperate light trained on it. There will be reflectors and flags marking them. The wires will not be extended any further outward from the base of the tower than they need to be, keeping them tucked in if you will. Plus, the circular "courtyard" area around the base, which this last year was marked by small lighted posts, will be far more elaborate and lighted.

Now that I pretty well know I still would like to hear from anyone that actually saw it happen with their own eyes. Really I am now satisfied with what I have learned, but it would be interesting to hear anyway.

I thought I was prepared, but I can see where things could have been done differently. It was a learning experience to say the least, but in some ways I believe it was "meant to be". Now it can be put behind me and we can all move on to the future.

Thanks for your reponse.

bravetiger · Post by **bravetiger** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:39 pm

I figured the guy would be you, but it made for a more interesting story if I was an unwitting acomplice.

That was quite a shrine that you built, it was quite beautiful while it stood. As for the beer, I'll be collecting on that soon, I also look forward to your new structure.

I'm actually amazed that more tales of people getting "clotheslined" or mishaps like this happening in the darkness of the playa haven't been told. Well hopefully we'll be out there early and we can help out in raising the new structure and lighting those cables.

Bravetiger

Did you see the fall of Order and Chaos on Friday night '05?

Did you see the fall of Order and Chaos on Friday night '05?

It was an Art Vehicle.