There's a hunk of burning love in Kym Spencer's backyard, but not for long.
The Fairfield artist is reuniting with her creative collaborators today to dismantle Psychophilia, a two-storey wooden sculpture depicting a massive human head, for its journey to the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock City, Nevada.
The title of the artistic collaboration by Victoria CORE 2012 - one of 34 Burning Groups in the global Circle of Regional Effigies network - means "love of the mind," says Spencer, adding by way of illustration: "Your big brain turns me on."
Their labour of love measures 14 feet wide and tall by 16 feet deep and reflects the Fertility 2.0 theme at this year's edition of the one-of-a-kind annual counter-culture arts convention in the Black Rock Desert, set for Aug. 27 to Sept. 3.
The festival, which attracts 50,000 spectactors annually, culminates with the burning of effigies created by groups worldwide.
The UVic Fine Arts grad's gender-neutral piece will be among works set ablaze during the trippy celebration of selfexpression, known for its "gifting economy" and such "Burning Man" principles as Radical Inclusion and Leave No Trace.
"I wanted to focus on the fertility of the mind," said Spencer, explaining her concept, brought to life with support from many in Victoria's 120-strong Burning Man community.
They include contractor Matt Wood, whose "structural design" ensures it's "incredibly solid and will come to fruition," and Jim Starr, whose Nanaimo firm Gorgeous Boards provided cedar offcuts.
Friends from Saltspring Island also provided a flatbed truck to transport the art project, which will be reassembled stateside.
Although she admits she'll miss "my baby" when it bursts into flames, she says the burn serves a higher purpose.
"In some ways, it's cathartic," says Spencer, whose creation has a viewing platform, shelter from sun and sandstorms, and can be entered via its ears, heart-shaped door and other orifices to experience distinctly West Coast visuals and soundscape.
Her journey will mark the eighth time this "burner" will visit the avant-garde arts and cultural festival.
"I really feel at home there among all the wonderful weirdos, these incredible people," she says, laughing.
