The exceedingly wet spring I described in my last post continued, intensified, and caused flooding and destruction through central Texas. A month later, the rain is letting up but this year continues to feel tropical…more like Costa Rica than Texas.

In the middle of these storms, Austin held its regional Burn event, Flipside. The wet conditions made it unlike any Flipside yet – less art, no art cars, sticky mud covering everything, wind and rain, flooding, and it even got dangerous at the end when the water kept rising until people were forced to abandon their belongings and seek higher ground.

Despite all the hardships, this was my favorite Flipside yet. Every problem brought the community closer together – we struggled together, we helped each other selflessly, and we laughed and smiled our way through it all. I left feeling filled up with gratitude, with a more open and trusting heart, and with friendships made deeper.

So, what is Flipside? Here’s an excerpt from the survival guide:

Burning Flipside is an experiment in collaborative community featuring art and music created by those who attend. Attendees are known as participants (there are no spectators at Flipside; everyone collaborates in some way to create the event). Inspired by the Burning Man festival, it is a place for radical self-expression and an experiment in community building. It is a place of acceptance, inclusivity, and respect. It is organized entirely by volunteers. The art and entertainment is created solely by participants. There are no concession stands. No cash transactions are permitted at Flipside – even bartering is discouraged. This is a sincere experiment in creating a gift economy. If you need something, ask for it. If you have it, gift it.

Our events foster an environment of creative self-expression, where participants feel supported to honestly express their inner selves, through artistic creation, performance, and in their social interactions.