At The Helm of Burning Man The Burning Man Project began on Baker Beach in San Francisco with a modest 8-foot human-shaped effigy in honor of the summer solstice. The formerly underground event has since grown into an 8-day, $10 million-dollar celebration of self-expression that draws over 47,000 people to a dry lake bed in the Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada. There is no electricity, water or cellphone service for miles. The event concludes on Labor Day weekend with the burning of a 40-foot tall effigy, the burning man. Afterwards, all traces of the event are removed completely so as to minimize the impact on the environment. Dennis Nishi spoke with founder Larry Harvey about how he became the founder and organizer of Burning Man. Edited excerpts follow....