You're here! Thanks for stopping by. The Island of Lost Buoys last appeared at Burning Man in 2019. But she's languished in a container since the pandemic - far too long! Now, it's time to bring the Island's spirit of adventure, ingenuity, and childhood wonder back to the Playa. Join us as a patron saint of wonder. Read on! |  |  |
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PATRON
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SAINT Share our campaign with your people and on your socials. You make the difference! By sharing our project, you help us connect with everyone who can champion the Island of Lost Buoys. Follow us, tag us, collaborate with us on Instagram and Facebook (@islandoflostbuoys) |  |
| . . . a Bahamian island where a gnarled
"Naming Tree" stands tall, embellished with messages
on driftwood, buoys, and even toilet brushes. Atop a hill, a
driftwood treehouse beckons, whispering tales of pirates. This
fantastical art wasn't born of carelessness, but play and
curiosity. Over the years visitors transformed flotsam and
jetsam into whimsical art; left messages for future travelers;
and established a place where creativity, inclusivity,
community, and self-reliance were the norm. This is the Island of Los Buoys , a place where “Leave No Trace” becomes "Reimagine and Reinvent". Here, we see what others discard holds boundless possibility for persistent, if not radical, reinvention. |
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 | Now Imagine a mirage shimmering in the heat and
dust of the Playa. A pirate flag beckons, leading you to an
island. This isn't just any island; It’s the Island of Lost
Buoys rising from the Playa - built in testament to creativity
and adventure. It's a playground of repurposed treasures --
memory foam, fabric, fishing floats and buoys, plastics of all
types, and flags find new life as building blocks for our Island
of Lost Buoys. There is a joy in finding this oasis, a warmth in making new friends, and a thrill in swinging in the hammock and climbing to the crows nest. Our 2024 offering explores the boundless wonder of childhood fueled by imagination and delight. The Island of Lost Buoys recreates that childlike revelry and connection for every Burner who visits our desert shores. |
The Island of Lost Buoys definitely needs some TLC to
reclaim her Playa magic.
As a patron saint of wonder, you can:
Revive the Island
Sustainably
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Steward
Imagination
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Fund Repairs & Transportation
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Support our Sailing Camp Crew
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- $1,200 to Transport our island paradise at Burning Man to the playa and back to its resting place.
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$300 Build site hydration Drink cooler for the crew during
the build to keep us going!
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$300 New lighting for the island We
would like to shift our lighting to be fully solar so the island
has 0 carbon footprint during the event.
- $400 Build team meals Lets keep our crew well fed and happy as they build this piece out in the hot desert all day!
- $300 Repair of the island/ Incidentals We expect to have to do repairs on the fly as the Island comes out of hibernation. This will allow us to buy the necessary materials to make that happen.
- $500 Build team vehicle rental We are renting a truck for 2 weeks to have on playa as our build vehicle to carry tools, materials, and people back and forth to between the island and the camp. This will cover a small portion of that.
- $ above our goal Island improvements/ Crew support Any additional money will be put towards creative improvements of the island and support for our amazing builders who will work tirelessly to create magic on the playa.
Jesse Quinn In 2024, Jesse returns to the Playa for the third time. He will be leading up the build and logistics for the island this year. His Burning Man journey began in 2019, where he helped build and care for our beloved Island of Lost Buoys. In 2022, he was the electrician and lighting lead for the Disturb My Slumber art piece. A veteran sailor, Jesse has first hand knowledge of the "Naming Tree" in the Bahamas. He's not just a Burner, he's also a founding member of the Manjack art trail, a testament to his passion for leaving a lasting creative mark where ever he travels.
| Kimana Littleflower Kimana/ Katniss' first burn was at BM 2022 as a part of build crew/ kitchen lead for the art installation Disturb my slumber. She loved nourishing her team mates and burners alike and learned quickly that playa dust just adds seasoning. She has been a part of several regional burns creating kitchen spaces and meals to feel fellow art builders and burners. She has also traveled to the inspiration location in the Bahamas and is excited to help bring it back to the playa!
| Dr. Chris Vonderheide Medical and spiritual healer and five time Burning Man veteran. Co-founder of the Manjack Art Trail. Assemblage artist of recycled repurposed objects. World traveler and lover of all things great and small. He was a part of building the island in 2019. We are excited to have his whirlwind of passion, creativity and expertise join us on this endeavor. We will try to live us to his WOWWW NOWWW sentiment :)
| Stephen Murray This will be Stephens second time returning home. He made it through mud burn 2023 and couldn't get enough. He is an active member of local burns around his home in SC. He also has worked to make positive changes in his local community. He is also the kazoo king! He owns a kazoo museum and manufacturing company. We are very happy to have his great attitude and leadership in creating the Island!
| Dan Vargas and Krista Wilson This dynamic duo has also sailed the Bahamas extensively and have been to the place where the idea behind the IOLB began. Dan has been to burning man in 2022 and this will be Kristas' first burn. These 2 bring the party wherever they go and have planned many large scale, very creative and ornate events. Their energy, positivity, and caring mentality will be crucial for the long build days!
| Kevin Kingsley This will be Kevins' first burn but has learned quick and is doing it right. He was inspired to participate by family who has been in prior years and had this on his bucket list. We crossed paths in the Bahamas at the right place at the right time and the rest is history. We are excited to have him along in this journey to create magic!
| Renee Orth Renee is a veteran burner of 9 years at the big burn and is a founding member of the regional Emergence in Charleston, SC. She lives the 10 principles every day and is excited to be a part of her first large-scale art installation on playa. She is also leading up the amazing camp we are all joining called End of The Line. She has created and lent her hand to many humanitarian efforts and is a leading force in her communities for the support and growth of everyone. She has been so helpful and generous to allow our pirate crew to join her well established camp. We are grateful for all of her effort thus far and can't wait to build The Island together!
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Let's make this happen together! Click CONTRIBUTE now and become a patron saint of wonder.
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Highlights
See all activity25The Build
| Rise Above: Standing tall amidst the dust and energy, the Island of Los Buoys offers a vibrant haven built from the flotsam and jetsam of our world. Burners gaze out for lost friends (and pirate ships), and revel in the sweeping Playa vista. |  |
Reclaim the Beach: Visitors sink their toes
into our soft, recycled memory foam shores, lovingly covered
with fabrics that mimic the sand and sea. |
The Whispering Leaves: Hundreds of leaves
hand-crafted from recycled Perrier bottles rustle in the
breeze, whispering secrets of forgotten islands. |
Repurposed Treasures: A prop from a TV
series is our Buoy, a beach-combed fishing net turns into a
hammock, and the branches are laden with flotsam and jetsam
the sea has tossed ashore. |
The Real Discovery: There is treasure hidden
on the Island! But it's not buried gold. We think the real
treasure is the joy of finding, experiencing, and carrying on
the legacy of the Island of Los Buoys. |
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Burning Man thrives on community,
responsibility, participation, and artistic expression. The Island
of Lost Buoys embodies this radical adventure. As a magical spot for
connection, reflection, and sustainable art, we’re inspired to once
again create a whimsical desert island oasis built with upcycled
materials and found objects.
We all undertake our own journeys, seeking our own havens, and leave our own marks. The team building the Island of Lost Buoys believes art has the power to heal. Our project serves as a testament to the enduring human spirit, the beauty that can emerge from unexpected places, and the importance of responsible art creation.
The Team
| Art begins with a spark of imagination, a few lines drawn on paper. In the case of large art it involves sharing those ideas with other creative people. When they are inspired too is when the something wonderful can happen. Meet our enormously talented team. |  |
Jesse Quinn In 2024, Jesse returns to the Playa for the third time. He will be leading up the build and logistics for the island this year. His Burning Man journey began in 2019, where he helped build and care for our beloved Island of Lost Buoys. In 2022, he was the electrician and lighting lead for the Disturb My Slumber art piece. A veteran sailor, Jesse has first hand knowledge of the "Naming Tree" in the Bahamas. He's not just a Burner, he's also a founding member of the Manjack art trail, a testament to his passion for leaving a lasting creative mark where ever he travels.
| Kimana Littleflower Kimana/ Katniss' first burn was at BM 2022 as a part of build crew/ kitchen lead for the art installation Disturb my slumber. She loved nourishing her team mates and burners alike and learned quickly that playa dust just adds seasoning. She has been a part of several regional burns creating kitchen spaces and meals to feel fellow art builders and burners. She has also traveled to the inspiration location in the Bahamas and is excited to help bring it back to the playa!
| Dr. Chris Vonderheide Medical and spiritual healer and five time Burning Man veteran. Co-founder of the Manjack Art Trail. Assemblage artist of recycled repurposed objects. World traveler and lover of all things great and small. He was a part of building the island in 2019. We are excited to have his whirlwind of passion, creativity and expertise join us on this endeavor. We will try to live us to his WOWWW NOWWW sentiment :)
| Stephen Murray This will be Stephens second time returning home. He made it through mud burn 2023 and couldn't get enough. He is an active member of local burns around his home in SC. He also has worked to make positive changes in his local community. He is also the kazoo king! He owns a kazoo museum and manufacturing company. We are very happy to have his great attitude and leadership in creating the Island!
| Dan Vargas and Krista Wilson This dynamic duo has also sailed the Bahamas extensively and have been to the place where the idea behind the IOLB began. Dan has been to burning man in 2022 and this will be Kristas' first burn. These 2 bring the party wherever they go and have planned many large scale, very creative and ornate events. Their energy, positivity, and caring mentality will be crucial for the long build days!
| Kevin Kingsley This will be Kevins' first burn but has learned quick and is doing it right. He was inspired to participate by family who has been in prior years and had this on his bucket list. We crossed paths in the Bahamas at the right place at the right time and the rest is history. We are excited to have him along in this journey to create magic!
| Renee Orth Renee is a veteran burner of 9 years at the big burn and is a founding member of the regional Emergence in Charleston, SC. She lives the 10 principles every day and is excited to be a part of her first large-scale art installation on playa. She is also leading up the amazing camp we are all joining called End of The Line. She has created and lent her hand to many humanitarian efforts and is a leading force in her communities for the support and growth of everyone. She has been so helpful and generous to allow our pirate crew to join her well established camp. We are grateful for all of her effort thus far and can't wait to build The Island together!
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Lillian Byrne Heyward | Lead Artist If asked how I got to this point in life I would say "Mostly by Boat". From my summer job at art school working on a Swedish passenger/car ferry sailing between the US and Canada, 3 Atlantic crossings in a 60' North Sea trawler built in 1932, a season working on a shrimp boat in Beaufort, South Carolina, and presently spending the cold months on our 27' sailboat exploring the islands of the Abacos in the Bahamas.All things follow each other... the car ferry led me to Sweden, Sweden led to my first boat and Beaufort SC, which led to the shrimp boat that gave me money to open a sign company and design studio. The loss of that by fire led me to work in film, first as a sign-writer then graphic designer for the past 25 years. Friendships in film led me to Burning Man and Sam, whose boundless enthusiasm helped me fuse the project to make it both environmental and fun!. Sam led me to Make it Weird in Phoenix Arizona. That is where many of our talented team create and that is where Island of Lost Buoys is being built. So when thinking of what art I could bring to Burning Man I decided to focus on what touched me in a lifetime of sailing and appreciating creativity in others. The "Naming" tree and the Island of Lost Buoys.
| Sam Ogden | Concept Artist and designer of The Big Buoy Sam Ogden is a traveling creative, currently based in Los Angeles, but frequently splitting time between LA, PHX, and the east coast working as a set designer on location for television shows. Growing up in Cary, NC, Ogden graduated from UNC School Of The Arts in 2011 and has worked in film/television production since then. His first project out of school he worked as a carpenter on the first Hunger Games movie. Attending Burning Man for the first time in 2015 with Camp Walter, he quickly caught the burn bug, and since then, has designed and helped build two art cars: Headspace and Simon the Turtle, and now his first art installation with the Island Of Lost Buoys. Sam hopes to continue to design, build, and explore interactive and festival art as well as film production design and travel around the world.
| Tim Callahan | Engineer and Architect Present at BRC in 2007 & 2016, this is Tim’s first full involvement in an art installation at Burning Man.He is a yacht Design Engineer and was the founder and principal of Alembic Studio, LLC-a firm pioneering PassivHaus hempcrete residential designs in North America. He is grateful to Lillian Byrne Heyward, a friend of many years, for her inspiration for the Island of Lost Buoys.
| Marco Antonio Moreno | Metal Magician and Fabricator I am not an artist. In January of 2015, I stumbled onto what would become a newfound passion for creating. I don’t really consider myself an artist. It surprises me to this day how much I love creating and building big works. I found myself spending my days and nights deeply focused on improving my new craft. The acronym for my company is ABI meaning Always Be Improving. My background was in accounting and finance which is not this. I have fallen in love with the challenge of creating big works. From concept to completion it has been my focus to solve the new problem of how to take a 2D image and bring it to life. My process goes like this… I like to dream about it. I like to daydream about it. I like to meditate about it. I visualize the finished product, and, in my mind, I imagine myself reverse engineering the project. I think about all the parts and pieces, how it should disassemble, how it should be packed on the truck, where my hands and body would fit, how other crew members can help, functionality, transport and logistics, timeline for tear down and set up, what potential concerns I can foresee, how to stage the pieces, down to the movements of my body during assembly, where to improve, etc.… During this phase my thoughts are high speed, often warp speed non-stop for several days and very much throughout the entire project to its completion. In my thoughts the projects become real and an extension of my soul which then consumes me. It is in this phase where the magic happens. The rest is a blur.
| Marisa McGuire | Fiber Artist I’m a Phoenix based artist/event planner who loves costumes and working with found/unconventional materials. Although it began as a necessity due to the need to constantly be making something and not having much of a budget, it is now a point of pride to be able to take something languishing and be able to give it new life. I’m honored to be a part of bringing this project home. This will be my third burn, and every year I am able to contribute more than the last. I originally got involved volunteering with Walter Tribe locally after pining for burning man for years and in 2017 while helping build Simon the Turtle I was told “This is your year." I had to go at least once so I made it happen. I drank the koolaid and it tasted so good that in 2018 I spent 5 weeks helping build 6 shipping container bunk houses and participated in my first build week as part of Playa Alchemist’s Pyramid build team. The magic of watching the city grow from nothing and contributing to its creation was not lost on me. Now I can’t imagine any other way to burn.
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