The Temple of Time Ceremonial Burn took place on Sunday, May 19, 2019.
The Temple of Time Ceremonial Burn Photos
Questions and Answers
Why burn the Temple of Time?
As with all temples created by artist, David Best, it is a place to reflect and leave behind difficult feelings and emotions. Traditionally, the temples built by Best are burned within two weeks, before the wooden structure begins to deteriorate. The Temple of Time remained opened for three months to allow for as many visitors as possible and must be removed before the start of Florida’s Hurricane season.
Who funded for the Temple of Time?
The temple is the first of five public art installations as part of a $1 million grant awarded by the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge.
What can I expect from the temple burn?
The burning of the temple is a public event and participants will be authorized to view the ceremonial burn from safe distance (that distance will be determined based on weather conditions and issued by the Department of Emergency Management). Participants are encouraged to park at the City Hall garage and bring a lawn chair. The burn is meant to be a quiet event and opportunity for the community to come together and reflect.
The Temple of Time
Some of the key dates for this project are:
- January 30 – February 13, 2019: The Healing Temple construction will take place every day, including weekends from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. If you are interested in participating in the construction of the Temple, you must make a minimum commitment of 2 hours, be 12 years or older.
- January 29, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.: Public Presentation & Reception at Coral Springs Museum of Art. David Best will discuss his work and experiences, followed by a reception. This event is open to the public. MEDIA: We will accommodate interviews with the artist prior to the reception, coordination must be made in advance through Media Relations.
- February 9, 2019, 12-5 p.m. is Family Day. This is an opportunity for families with young children to work on the Healing Temple.
- February 14, 2019: The Healing Temple completed, ready for formal opening to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
- February 14, 2019 through (date TBD), 7 a.m. – dusk; daily – The Healing Temple is open to the public for reflection.
- May 19, 2019, 7 p.m.: Temple of Time Ceremonial Burn
The Temple of Time Construction Photos
The Temple of Time Photos
More About David Best
David Best is an internationally acclaimed artist well known for building large elaborate temples, modifying and decorating automobiles and buses, and creating intricate sculptures out of found materials. David’s art career started at the age of 6 years old taking classes at the San Francisco Art Institute where he later received a master’s degree in sculpture. David’s work is collected by preeminent museums and art collectors.
Since the beginning of this millennium, David and the Temple Crew have become revered for their work at the Burning Man Festival held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Similar works have now been replicated in communities from Nepal to Ireland, and with other international locations on the horizon. Most recently, David constructed a Temple inside of the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC as part of No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man exhibition.
David works out of Petaluma in Sonoma County, California where he resides with wife Maggie and a bevy of farm animals, trucks, and an assortment of mutant vehicles.