Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey died of a stroke on Saturday in San Francisco.
He was 70 years old.
Harvey was part of a visionary team that created the event known as “Burning Man” more than two decades ago.
Back then, it was on Baker Beach. Now, it has now grown into a festival that draws more than 70,000 people to the Nevada desert every year.
And this summer will be the first without him.
On Monday, KRON4 met with a loved one that was with Larry in his last moments.
She tells KRON4 that Harvey always inspired those around him to create and be true to their vision.
He most recently had another of his own, an interactive robot that without Harvey, she says, now needs the help of local artists
She’d like to make happen in time for the upcoming burn in his honor.
Harvey moved to San Francisco in 1969 to the Haight-Ashbury District.
A decade later, he, along with a group of visionary co-founders, came together on Baker Beach to burn an effigy of a man that paved the way to an event that now draws more than 70,000 people worldwide to Black Rock City, Nevada.
The event known as Burning Man sets the stage as a platform for artists and all things creative.
This year, Harvey had a special art project in mind to add a technological element to the man that mirrors new age society–a robot that can engage with the public at the next event on the playa.
It’s a project that Cheryl Edison, Larry’s girlfriend, says has lost momentum since Harvey fell ill. She’s launched an initiative to raise $200,000 still needed to make it happen in his honor.
Harvey is survived by his son Tristan, his brother Stewart, and his nephew Bryan–and the tens of thousands of people around who continue the Burning Man culture.
To help see the vision through for the project, Edison has asked for help.
She is looking to fundraise, as well as a space to build the robot they hope to transform into a workshop for artists they will call Larry’s place.
Link to help create the robot Larry Harvey had in mind for this year’s burn: http://www.iawakeforlarry.com/
Stewart Harvey is an award-winning photographer whose work has been featured in both museum and gallery exhibitions. He is the brother of Burning Man founder Larry Harvey and the author of the 2017 book, Playa Fire.