In the tradition of Burning Man, the culmination of Apogaea is centered around a Temple & an Effigy.
The Effigy can be anything you can imagine! In recent years, we’ve hosted a Phoenix, a Squid, a Volcano, a free-form structure made up of smaller pieces decorated by the community, and an incredibly beautiful butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.
The Temple is a space dedicated to reflection and release, as a counterpoint to the high energy present through most of the event.
For more info on how to submit temple and effigy designs, please visit the Creative Grants page!
What Is The Temple?
The Temple is a unique art piece at Apogaea. The Temple is meant to create a reverent space where participants can meditate, honor what has been lost or gained, go inward, slow down, let go, or whatever other experience can be made of it. Each Temple has its own unique space to be encountered.
What Is The Effigy?
The Effigy is a celebration of community. We help build it, gather around it, watch performances involving it, burn it, and dance to its warmth. There are no real parameters to the project except that it be of significant size and burnable (subject to burn ban restrictions).
The 2022 Temple
“Archways Of The Ancients”
A hexagonal vortex of ancient future design technology. Find yourself lost in the patterns and geometries of this epic monolith!The 2022 Effigy
“Fire Sculpture Garden”
A multitude of amazing fire sculptures, providing warmth and joy to the Apogaeans dancing underneath!Previous Temples at Apogaea
- 2021 – no temple due to event cancellation
- 2020 – no temple due to event cancellation
- 2019 – Temple of Death
- 2018 – Foris Arca: Outside The Box
- 2017 – Hotaru no Hikari: The Firefly Temple
- 2016 – Temple of Resonance
- 2015 – no temple due to event cancellation
- 2014 – The Temple of Infinite Life
- 2013 – Temple of Transubstantiation
- 2012 – Luminaria
- 2011 – Temple of the Moon
Previous Effigies at Apogaea
- 2019 – Draco’s Nest
- 2018 – Big Charles
- 2017 – Heart of Gold
- 2016 – Syzygy: The Library Angel
- 2015 – no effigy due to event cancellation
- 2014 – T.O.T.E.M. – The Throne of the Emergent Multitude
- 2013 – Blossom
- 2012 – Blossom (not burned because of fire ban)
- 2011 – Butterfly/Chrysalis “Transformation”
- 2010 – Communigy
- 2009 – VolCano
- 2008 – Squid “The Next”
- 2007 – Phoenix