Incipit

Incipit, 2025 Pendant by Joel (Sargent Pepper) Briggs.

Joel writes,

“THE INCIPIT PENDANT – BM 2025
“Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.”

The Incipit Pendant was inspired by understanding the true essence of the roots of Burning Man. Burning Man originated on June 22, 1986, on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organized by Larry Harvey and Jerry James. How and what commenced this event is now lore and legend. Regardless, the roots began on Baker Beach, with the Golden Gate Bridge standing majestically in the background, and this is where my inspiration for the Incipit starts.

The Golden Gate Bridge is truly about Tomorrow and Today. This bridge was built with an envision for the future. Everyone involved knew this bridge would allow growth and new opportunities for tomorrow. And the bridge did just that. I can only speculate, but I believe the first Burners who held the inaugural event, under the watchful eye of the Golden Gate Bridge (GGB) knew something magical was happening and planned for the future. Over the years, the Barker Beach event grew until eventually, it was time to move. The GGB and Baker Beach both spurred growth, and with it, Burning Man became a household name.

Burning Man moved from San Francisco to the Black Rock Desert in 1990. Here, its roots allowed it to grow to what it is today.

This pendant has no back and front. It represents a better world for tomorrow, and a reflection about you – hope.

The side with the GGB tells a story by the following quote, “Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.” It depicts how a vision of today brings upon a tomorrow. Here, the GGB is in the background, while the playa surface and mountain contours are in the foreground: a visual representation of the roots of Burning Man. The GGB and the beach represent what once was, signifying that something magical happened. The playa is today, and with it, an event known throughout the world. The BM Effigy is gold-plated and features the city at its base. It represents tomorrow, and with each new year, new art and a creativity that surpasses most events in the world. The gold plating (BTW, real gold from a gold mine) signifies technology and prosperity. Both stem from yesterday and today. Together, the pendant embodies the past, present, and future, fostering creativity and collective action. The heart at the top of the pendant represents everything being done with passion, allowing tomorrow to be better than today.

The side with the orange flames, the Celtic border, and Latin wording all represent hope.

Last year, I had the honor and privilege of having dinner with the Duane’s Whirld camp and their art car, Fluffy the Art Car. I was Matt Kane guest. Dinner was splendid, but the conversations were deep and meaningful. During the roundabout conversations, I encountered an older woman, and her words about the burner culture, past and present, really stuck with me. What she said was this: “Sometimes the best change is no change… hope is sometimes the catalyst with understanding, “once upon a time…” She spoke about how the Celtics and their knots and patterns represent the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth, as well as the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world. She said this was especially true with the Burner community. The border of the pendant is a Celtic double-weave border. It presents a universal balance (similar to yin and yang). For my pendant, it represents today and tomorrow, as well as a harmony between two worlds. That both must be weave to ensure balance. This balance keeps everything in harmony, and no change is required, which makes for a better tomorrow. At other times, the balance may encounter turbulence, and all we can do is hope for a better tomorrow. What I left with is that sometimes change is not always for the best.

Shortly after that conversation, I had a discussion with Timothy R. Yee about the trash fence and how I used it for their camp pendant. He mentioned how profound the trash fence is and how it is a pivotal icon of Burning Man. For a brief period, it serves as our border of security, separating us from the real world, if only for a week. He concluded by saying this, “…we must respect the trash fence. For today, it prevents a chaotic tomorrow.” I never thought of it that way, but he was right. The trash fence is to keep our Burning Man culture together in one place. It not only stops the MOOP, but also has a significant impact in ensuring we are all safe, and we respect the natural world around us. The trash fence is depicted by the orange-colored flames, which are composed of actual used trash fence. (Thank you, Elizabeth Shoemaker). Rumi best says it with this quote, “In each moment the fire rages, it will burn away a hundred veils. And carry you a thousand steps toward your goal.” We should all have a trash fence. Let it be your border for balance. Here, the orange flames signify a movement to burn away those imperfections and negativities, and hope for a better tomorrow.

The Latin quote, “CRAS INCIPIT HODIE” means TOMORROW STARTS TODAY. It emphasizes that the actions taken today directly influence what happens tomorrow. It should be used to reshape what bothers you by taking immediate actions today. But this must come from deep within you. Much like the flames of the trash fence, burn away the negativity and carry on to achieve your goals for tomorrow.

This pendant is dedicated to Christine Kristen / Lady Bee, bee is located on the top of the pendant. Thank you for your hard work and for ensuring that Buring Man art is seen and heard around the world.”

Joel (Sargent Pepper) Briggs is one of the Playas most prolific and artistic makers. Each year he pushes the his concepts past the boundaries in both in material and production methods. Joel also uses precious metals that at comes from his own mining claims! He produces some of the most unique pieces which are highly treasures by collectors. Joel is published in Karen (Suki) Christians, Christine (Lady Bee) Kristen book, Jewelry of Burning Man. p75.