The Shrine to Nicks is envisioned as a roadside temple for Burning Man 2023. It will be a space to pay homage to famed singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks and the goddesses Nyx & Hecate.
The Shrine to Nicks is both a sincere celebration of these women & goddesses and also a playful exploration of faith and magic.
Who are Nyx, Hecate, and Nicks?
In Greek mythology, Nyx is the primordial goddess of night while Hecate is the goddess of boundaries, crossroads, witchcraft, the Moon, and various related domains (e.g. ghosts, graves, entrances).
In some accounts, Hecate is the daughter of Nyx.
In modern times, Stevie Nicks came into this world as Stephanie Lynn Nicks on May 26, 1948 at 3:02am in Phoenix, Arizona. Her fans (and detractors) first started noting her witchy nature and fashion sense around the release of “Rhiannon” in 1976. While Stevie claims not to be a witch, and that dressing in black was to make her look thinner, her birth name of Stephanie Nicks is an anagram for “Spin, Hecate’s Kin”… which is complete proof of Stevie’s divine, witchy nature. ;-)
Hecate by Stéphane Mallarmé
Stevie Nicks, photo: Sam Emerson
What will the Shrine to Nicks be?
The Shrine to Nicks is planned as a roadside shrine, meaning you will encounter it within Black Rock City. Its colors are mostly blacks, golds, and silvers. Black for the night, gold for starlight, and silver for the moon.
The shrine is covered in fabrics which evoke the night sky. Inspiration for this is drawn from William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s La Nuit (aka Nyx) and the Paris Psalter. Inspiration is also being drawn from modern cabinets of curiosities, such as London’s Viktor Wynd Museum and Wisconsin’s House on the Rock.
There will be Playatech benches to sit on inside the structure, which will be supported by conduit poles and covered by shade cloth (to darken the interior). Seated within, you will be able to look upon the curiosities gathered, listen to some of Stevie’s music and words, meditate upon your journey, and leave a note or offering.
We plan to use warm-hues and solar power as often as possible for the interior and exterior lighting.
La Nuit by Bouguereau
Nyx (far left) from the Paris Psalter
What is the intention for the piece?
The intention is to bring art to the playa that celebrates, empowers, amuses, and challenges.
The intention is to honor the work of someone who has touched the lives of so many.
The intention is to draw attention to the divine feminine aspects of creation.
The intention is to bring a space for spiritual centering to the playa.
The intention is to have some fun and to be creative.
Is this heresy?
If by “heresy” you mean contrary to orthodoxy or at odds with general belief, then perhaps? But heresy is entirely subjective, and it is part of my spiritual practice to be playful with faith and to approach gods & goddesses with friendly and good-natured amusement.
Art should also be free to challenge and to explore without the confines of cultural norms.
Why are you the one to make this art?
I have brought art to the playa before, with both solo-projects (Speakers for the Dead) and with groups (Catacomb of Veils, BAAAHS). It is also my hope to have other artists contribute to the Shrine to Nicks. If you are an artist and would like to submit a piece for consideration, please email me.
Additionally, I was raised Catholic, and part of that faith was focusing on the male-dominant Trinity of the Father-Son-Holy Spirit. With this piece, I seek to explore a female-centric counterpart with the Mother-Daughter-Vessel of Nyx-Hecate-Nicks (Stevie’s middle name, Lynn, means “lake” or “pool”, evoking the symbolic watery source of the Cup… or Vessel). I have explored spirituality through psychic exploration, sacred medicine, and metaphysical studies for over two decades, and I am excited to put that experience into the stewarding of this art.
Recently, just before the 2022 Burn, I noticed Hecate popping up in my awareness and wrote a Medium post about her.
Also, my campmates in The Living Rumours are all Fleetwood Mac (as well as Fleetmac Wood) aficionados, and many of us met during the building of the Catacomb of Veils.
Where will the donation funds go?
Donations will go to the materials needed to construct the shrine, towards the transportation of the piece to the playa and back, and towards storing it for future years.
We do not plan to burn this piece, as it is something that can grow and expand as time and funds become available.
What do the early mock-ups for the piece look like?
The current plan is to build the shrine within a 12’ wide x 12’ deep x 8’ tall structure covered in shade cloth and “playa-resistant” fabrics, like silk. The intention here is to allow the black to “pop” against the playa, so using fabric that doesn’t accumulate dust is important. Maintaining a color as close to black as possible is in honor Nyx as Goddess of Night.
To honor Hecate as Goddess of Crossroads, there will be three entrances to the shrine.
A small bit of trivia: Hecate was known by the epithet, Trivia… which comes from tri via… aka “three roads”… a crossroads. I wrote an article about her if you would like to know more.
The outside of the Shrine to Nicks will also have a simple, “woven” decoration, as shown in the pictures. The 3-D model excludes the decoration on the central entrances in order to show the interior. The pattern may be present on both exterior and interior.
The floor will be a shade cloth to help minimize playa dust (it is an impossibility to be completely dust-free, but attempts will be made).
At this point, it is very likely that the center of the shrine will hold a representation of the Triple Goddess, perhaps as one would have seen at historical crossroads (but with a Stevie twist… think shawls, tambourines, and top hats).
February 2023 Update - as this project continues to form, the base will more likely be triangular instead of rectangular. This is more in line with the triple-goddess imagery, and having three entrances/exits leans into the Trivia (“three ways”) aspect of Hecate.
How can I support this project?
Thank you for asking! You are welcome to use the donate buttons at the top of this page or below. Any donations made this way will go to this project.
You are also welcome to book a 30-minute reading with me, as I am donating the majority of proceeds to the Shrine to Nicks.
THANK YOU!
Blessed Stevie Nicks
Goddess Born, Daughter of Night
Spin Hecate’s Kin