One component of the “Nova Heaven” installation at Burning Man. Photo: Tribe of Nova
This year’s week-long Burning Man event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert includes a large-scale installation and events that pay tribute to victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack at the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel, as the one year anniversary of the deadly massacre approaches.
The installation is called “Nova Heaven” and was co-created by the producers, designers, artists, and participants behind the Supernova Festival as well as longtime Burners, which is the term used to describe members of the Burning Man community, and founders of Tribe of Nova, a community-based organization that supports long-term trauma recovery for Oct. 7 survivors and bereaved families.
The installation features a large arch inscribed with the motto “We Will Dance Again,” replicates the Nova festival’s iconic shade structure, and showcases six wooden spiral staircases that have on each step laser-cut wooden angels engraved with names of the Oct. 7 victims. Also engraved on each step is one of 100 English or Hebrew messages, including “kindness creates miracles” and “music heals hearts.” The short phrases were designed by an Israeli native who was at a party 30 minutes away from the Nova Festival when the Hamas attack took place.
Almost a year ago, Hamas terrorists murdered 405 attendees of the Nova Music Festival and adjacent music events and took 40 others as hostages during their rampage across southern Israel.
Omri Sasi and Sarel Botavia, producers of the Nova Festival, said their vision for “Nova Heaven” is “to create a sanctuary of remembrance and healing” at Burning Man, which runs from Aug. 25-Sept. 2 and is expected to have 70,000 attendees this year.
“This installation is not just a memorial; it is a testament to the enduring spirit of our community and a beacon of hope for the future,” they added in a released statement. “We invite you to join us in the deep playa at Burning Man 2024 to experience ‘Nova Heaven,’ a space where we honor the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future filled with love, unity, and dancing once again.” A fundraising campaign for the “Nova Heaven” installation at Burning Man has so far raised more than $31,000.
Tribe of Nova said in a post on Instagram that the installation “was born out of a deep mission and a desire to send a message of understanding, camaraderie, peace, love, unity, and sanctity,” while commemorating the innocent music lovers who were murdered on Oct. 7.
“The installation aims not only to preserve the memory of the victims but also to tell their story and the story of our community, which has endured one of the most severe terror attacks in history,” the organization added. “The installation is designed as a place where every visitor can connect with the spirit of the Nova angels. Our participation in this festival is not just about remembrance but also a commitment to life and continuity. We see this installation as a place for gathering, healing, and finding the strength to move forward.”
The “Nova Heaven” team will also hold a series of events at the installation, including one on Saturday at exactly 6:29 am, which is the same time that Hamas terrorists began infiltrating the Nova Festival. The Saturday event will include a performance by one of the original producers and disc jockeys of the Nova Festival. The last event at the installation will be a concert on Sept. 1 at 3 am.
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