Larry Harvey
Main co-founder of the Burning Man event.
via Wikipedia: Larry Harvey · see source
Larry Harvey (January 11, 1948 – April 28, 2018) was an American artist, philanthropist, and activist best known as the primary co-founder of Burning Man, alongside his friend Jerry James. He was born in San Francisco and raised in Portland, Oregon’s Parkrose neighborhood. After graduating from Parkrose High School in 1966, Harvey enlisted in the army, where he worked as a clerk stationed in Germany. He later studied at Portland State University.
Burning Man began on the evening of the summer solstice in 1986, when Harvey and a small group took an effigy of a man to San Francisco’s Baker Beach and set it ablaze. The gathering became an annual tradition, and within four years attendance had grown to over 800 people. In 1990, in partnership with the SF Cacophony Society, the event moved to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and was held over Labor Day weekend. What started as a three-day, 80-person “zone trip” evolved into an eight-day counterculture gathering drawing 70,000 participants from around the world. In 1997, six key organizers formed Black Rock City LLC to manage the event, with Harvey serving as executive director until his death. He also served as president of the Black Rock Arts Foundation, a nonprofit that funds interactive, collaborative public art installations outside of Black Rock City.
Harvey was an avid reader, deeply influenced by works such as Robert Putnam’s *Bowling Alone*, William James’s *The Varieties of Religious Experience*, and the writings of Sigmund Freud. He wrote and co-chaired the Burning Man art department and curated the event’s annual theme. As the organization’s main spokesperson and political strategist, he appeared at venues including San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral for a “Radical Ritual” with Alan Jones, the Oxford Student Union, Cooper Union in New York City, Harvard’s International Conference on Internet and Society, and the San Francisco Commonwealth Club.
Harvey died on April 28, 2018, at age 70, from complications related to a stroke he had suffered earlier that month.
- born
- January 11, 1948
- died
- April 28, 2018, due to complications related to a stroke
- field
- Artist, philanthropist, activist
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Co-founder of Burning Man
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1948-01-11
- Birth Place
- San Francisco, California, U.S.
- Death Date
- 2018-04-28
- Occupation
- Artist, philanthropist, activist
- Years Active
- 1986–2018
- Known For
- Co-founding Burning Man
- Education
- Portland State University
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Burning Man started in 1986 on the evening of the summer solstice. An effigy of a man was taken to San Francisco's Baker Beach and set on fire. A small crowd gathered and soon the burning of the man became an annual event. Over the next four years the attendees grew to more than 800 people. In 1990, in collaboration with the SF Cacophony Society, the event moved to the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, and took place over Labor Day weekend. From a three-day, 80-person 'zone trip,' Burning Man became an eight-day counter culture event with 70,000 participants from all over the world. In 1997, six of the main organizers formed Black Rock City LLC to manage the event, with Harvey as the executive director, a position he held until his death. Harvey was also the president of the Black Rock Arts Foundation, a non-profit art grant foundation for promoting interactive collaborative public art installations in communities outside of Black Rock City.
Reader's Guide
Larry Harvey was a voracious reader and was heavily influenced by works such as Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert Putnam, The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James, and the writings of Sigmund Freud. He scripted and co-chaired/curated the Burning Man art department and its annual event theme. Harvey was the main spokesperson and political strategist for the Burning Man organization. He had been featured in such engagements as San Francisco's Grace Cathedral 'Radical Ritual' with Alan Jones, the Oxford Student Union, Cooper Union in New York City, Harvard's International Conference on Internet and Society as a panelist, and the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. Harvey died on April 28, 2018, due to complications related to a stroke he had suffered earlier in the same month. He was 70 years old.
Did You Know?
- Larry Harvey co-founded Burning Man with his friend Jerry James in 1986.
- The first Burning Man effigy was burned on Baker Beach in San Francisco on the evening of the summer solstice.
- Harvey served as executive director of Black Rock City LLC from its formation in 1997 until his death.
- He was influenced by Robert Putnam's 'Bowling Alone,' William James's 'The Varieties of Religious Experience,' and the writings of Sigmund Freud.
- Harvey died at age 70 from complications related to a stroke suffered earlier in April 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Larry Harvey?
Larry Harvey (1948–2018) was an American artist, philanthropist, and activist born in San Francisco. He is most widely recognized as the principal co-founder of the Burning Man counterculture gathering.
What is Larry Harvey's role in the Burning Man story?
Harvey, together with his friend Jerry James, organized the first effigy burn on Baker Beach in San Francisco back in 1986. That single act of communal art and ritual grew into the massive annual desert event held in Nevada's Black Rock Desert.
How does Larry Harvey's story end?
Larry Harvey passed away on April 28, 2018, as a result of complications following a stroke. He was seventy years old at the time of his death.
Why is Larry Harvey important in counterculture history?
He is credited with transforming a small beachside bonfire into one of the largest self-organized art and community festivals in the world. His vision of radical self-expression and temporary communal living shaped decades of countercultural practice.
Where was Larry Harvey born and what was his background?
He was born on January 11, 1948, in San Francisco, California. Throughout his life he worked as an artist, philanthropist, and social activist before his Burning Man project became his defining legacy.
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