The Celestial Bug was constructed as a mutant vehicle for Burning Man 2008.
The vehicle is covered in florescent fabric in the shape of a bug. By day it is a colorful critter scooting across the Playa. At night,the Celestial Bug floresces brightly under ultra-violet light. By day: green and orange / by night: neon radiants thereof. Burners were amazed and delighted by the sight of this neon green and orange bug fluorescing its way across the playa.
Background:This vehicle sat for over 20 years in our neighbor’s shed—begging recycle and reuse. It began life as a 1962 VW bug, was rebuilt into a classic 70s dune-buggy, lived a short glorious decade, and then got stored away as a memory. We’ve coveted the dune buggy for many years from across the fence until emboldened by the need to give back to the Burning Man community, we decided to act.
Our desire was to construct a vehicle that would contribute to the fun and excitement of Burning Man, so in 2007 we finally asked our 75 year-old neighbor if he would be willing to sell it. In true Burning Man sprit said “What, that old thing, you can have it.” That started us on our way and we began its resurrection, first back to a street-legal buggy, and now into its alter-ego: The Celestial Bug.
The reason for its being is Joy, and Joy should never die (let alone rust away slowly in a neighbor’s shed). The Celestial Bug was made to spread smiles with everyone.
Here you can see photos of the rebuilding of the dunebuggy, the building of the Celestial Bug, and images of it making its way around the playa in 2008 and the return home to a life as a treasured vintage dunebuggy.
View with the 'lid' off.
View with the 'bonnet' on:
Skeletal view of basic framework over top of original dunebuggy
Click on the photos to go to their photo sets
Dunebuggy Rebuild
Celestial Bug Construction
Completing the Bug on the playa
Photos on the playa
Cleanup
The Celestial Bug was constructed as a mutant vehicle for Burning Man 2008. The vehicle is covered in florescent fabric in the shape of a bug. By day it is a colorful critter scooting across the Playa. At night,the Celestial Bug floresces brightly under ultra-violet light. By day: green and orange / by night: neon radiants thereof. Burners were amazed and delighted by the sight of this neon green and orange bug fluorescing its way across the playa. Background:This vehicle sat for over 20 years in our neighbor’s shed—begging recycle and reuse. It began life as a 1962 VW bug, was rebuilt into a classic 70s dune-buggy, lived a short glorious decade, and then got stored away as a memory. We’ve coveted the dune buggy for many years from across the fence until emboldened by the need to give back to the Burning Man community, we decided to act. Our desire was to construct a vehicle that would contribute to the fun and excitement of Burning Man, so in 2007 we finally asked our 75 year-old neighbor if he would be willing to sell it. In true Burning Man sprit said “What, that old thing, you can have it.” That started us on our way and we began its resurrection, first back to a street-legal buggy, and now into its alter-ego: The Celestial Bug. The reason for its being is Joy, and Joy should never die (let alone rust away slowly in a neighbor’s shed). The Celestial Bug was made to spread smiles with everyone. Here you can see photos of the rebuilding of the dunebuggy, the building of the Celestial Bug, and images of it making its way around the playa in 2008 and the return home to a life as a treasured vintage dunebuggy.
Click on the photos to go to their photo sets
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