Basura Sagrada Temple at Burningman

Trash Alchemy and Sacred Space

The 2008 Temple Crew builds art out of trash for many reasons. The goal is to make something amazing and exotic out of materials deemed unworthy, the stuff we throw away everyday. And while it is obvious that making something beautiful out of refuse is a political act, the question the team hopes to answer with this project is whether it can also be a spiritual act. 

Basura Sagrada is a temple constructed entirely from burnable trash, recycled materials, and the tossed-off detritus of American society. Meticulously detailed, the temple will be a precious space created from non-precious materials. By replacing the gold and marble surfaces of traditional temples with aluminum can adornments and cardboard spires, the hope is to inspire others to see everyday trash as beautiful, to save everyday trash and use it—not because it is responsible or right or necessary to recycle (although that is certainly important), but because people are excited about the materials and medium.

The Temple… is FOR you, is OF you, and NEEDS you… keep your eye on this as it evolves this summer! For more information about the Basura Sagrada temple project, visit www.basurasagrada.org