UnScuz CA May 2025
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Maker Faire San Mateo Nov 2025
At Empire of Dirt, we don’t just build mutant vehicles — we launch dreams into orbit. Our camp is a hub of performance, creativity, collaboration, and full-on playa absurdity. We’re proud to be a returning Burning Man camp based in Oakland, California, with a long tradition of mobile art, DIY ethics, and radical participation.
Interactivity is Our Mission
Our camp is built around Project EMPIRE, a massive space-themed mutant vehicle that serves as a platform for performance art. When we blast off from camp, it’s not just a drive — it’s a full-on NASA-inspired spectacle complete with authentic audio, choreographed crew, and ridiculous dedication to character. We launch several times a day and return with dramatic “homecoming” landings. We’re bringing these performances to Center Camp Plaza so more of Black Rock City can join in the fun.
But we’re not just about liftoff — we create interactive experiences for all kinds of burners:
🚀 Space Movie Nights: Settle in under the stars for cult classics like Barbarella, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Solaris. Expect surreal visuals, popcorn (maybe), and conversations that linger long into the night.
📚 Book Club Discussions: Drop by in the daytime to talk sci-fi and philosophy. Books on deck include The Martian, Orbital, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. No homework required — just bring your curiosity.🛠️ Mutant Vehicle Chats: Curious how these rolling behemoths come to life? Talk to the builders themselves — our fleet (including Project EMPIRE, Electric Wrecker, and Electrobite) was created by our campmates, not commissioned. We love sharing knowledge, failures, hacks, and sparkly inspiration.
🌞 Shade Senseis: Ever had your shade structure fly away? We didn’t think so. Our camp produces widely-used shade kits, and our team is always on hand to help you anchor your dreams (literally) to the playa.
🔥 Ramp of Death: Empire of Dirt is also the infamous home of this dusty rite of passage. Join us during daylight hours as we goad passersby into attempting flight via our legendary ramp. Spectators and hecklers welcome. Helmets optional. Pride not guaranteed.
A Camp Built on Participation
“Just show up and work.” That’s our motto. Our crew of 20+ dirt-nauts is radically inclusive, highly queer, gender-diverse, and 100% committed to gifting our art, sweat, and strange ideas to the playa. Whether we’re welding in the off-season or hosting intergalactic screenings under LED lanterns, we do it for the magic of the moment — and to make you laugh, think, or launch into space with us.
We’d love to meet you. Look for the giant handmade metal sign that reads Empire of Dirt, lit up in LEDs and possibly shaking from our laughter. Or listen for the countdown. Either way, you’ll know when you’re home.
