Nova festival victims and their spirit remembered at Burning Man
Among the many art installations at the Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert this week is a memorial for the more than 400 visitors at Israel’s Supernova music festival who were murdered on October 7 by Hamas terrorists as part of their bloody massacre across southern Israel.
The installation features a replica of the multicolored tent that stood at the heart of the Nova festival and has since appeared in the Nova exhibit that has been on display in Tel Aviv, New York and now Los Angeles.
Nova Heaven also features a large gate-shaped art piece with the “We Will Dance Again” motto, along with 405 laser-cut angels to represent the Nova victims and a spiral staircase with 100 English and Hebrew messages including “love conquers all” and “compassion unites us.”
Organizers have arranged for several of Burning Man’s famous “art cars,” including a fire-breathing dragon and an illuminated zeppelin, to swing by their home base on the desert landscape, known among aficionados as “the Playa.” They have also set up a series of events framed around the motif of angels and “dancing again,” including sets from Israeli DJs, music from handpan musician Noah Katz and “healing sound experiences,” such as a gong performance from David Shemesh.
Nova Heaven’s organizers include producers of the original Israeli music festival; leaders of the Tribe of Nova Foundation set up to support survivors and spread their message, and longtime “Burners” who understand the power of the desert experience.
“To us, ‘Nova Heaven’ is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of profound loss,” the organizers wrote on a GoFundMe page where they have raised nearly $100,000 toward a projected bill of $130,000.
“It is a space where participants can connect with memories of those lost, find solace, and draw strength from shared experiences,” they wrote. “This installation is a message of hope and resilience, reminding us all that the human spirit can prevail even in the darkest times.”
The group appears to have taken steps to prevent any vandalism or protest of the type that has taken place against some Israelis in the United States since Oct. 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza. The group says it has recruited dozens of “Guardians” who watch over the installation in six-hour shifts around the clock to “ensure meaningful connections are made to the art piece.”
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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