Mission

For centuries, gnomes have been living side by side with humans, protecting and tending to their gardens. Gnomes ask for little in return for the luck and support they provide. They may occasionally sneak into the kitchen to nibble on a crumb of bread or morsel of cheese, but for the most part they are quiet and docile.

After centuries of peace and quiet, however, the Gnoman race is craving adventure and excitement. Gnomes long to travel, meet new people and experience the world firsthand. They are jovial and fun-loving, and tend to sing, dance and hit on fairies after a few beers.

Our mission is to liberate gnomes from their humble garden dwellings, take them out into the world and show them a good time.

Gnome Camp to Return in 2007

This year, we will be bringing Gnome Camp back to Burning Man with 100 more garden gnomes and disposable digital cameras. Burning Man, a week-long arts and cultural event that attracts nearly 35,000 participants a year to a remote area in the Nevada desert. Far from the white-walled and sterile environs of fine arts galleries, Burning Man encourages its participants to make wild and unconventional creations that invite social interaction. Common themes include technology, recycling, social networking, decentralization and of course, beauty. Our group, Gnome Camp, has devised a project that encourages participants to consider and explore these ideas through digital photography.

Throughout the week, Gnome Camp will distribute lawn gnomes to lucky recipients. Each person (or group of people) will be instructed to take their gnome on adventures and encouraged to document these adventures using a disposable digital camera that we will provide. At the end of the week, we will ask participants to return the camera the gnome, however, is theirs to keep and cherish forever.

Gnomes on the Playa

Gnome Camp made its Burning Man debut in 2006 with 100 gnomes and 100 cameras. The Adoption Agency was an enormous success, with participants eager to adopt gnomes lining up outside the Gnome Dome long before the agency opened its doors each day. We were sad to have to turn some folks away hopefully they'll come find us again in 2007!

The pioneer gnomes enjoyed adventures on the Playa from the Heebie Jeebie Healers to the Waffle and everywhere in-between. They donned costumes, lolled in the shade at noontime, frolicked with dolls and flamingos alike, rode art cars, danced all night, reveled in brunch beverages and became full participants in the Burning Man experience. A huge thanks goes out to each and every adoptive gnome parent for letting this happen!

We also got over a 90% return rate on the cameras so who says Burners are flaky! Please check out the pictures to see what kind of adventures the gnomes got into.

Adopt a Gnome!

Gnome Parents possess a unique subset of qualities: the ability to care for a mythical creature in a foreign environment combined with a sense of adventure and a passion for photography.

To become a gnome parent, you must first undergo an extensive screening to determine your personal, social and financial acceptability. Be prepared to answer embarrassing questions about your annual income, marital status and hidden kinks, as well as participate in a rigorous examination of physical fitness, all in front of other potential parents. This process can be lubricated and expedited by bribing members of Gnome Camp we are partial to cold beer and hot kisses.

We will also have a Camera Drop Box where you can deposit your cameras at your convenience.

Gnometivities

Past Gnometivities have included dandelion wine socials for gnomes and their adoptive parents, hat-making workshops, a story-telling hour, Gnome-a-oke and endless madcap antics. Expect more to come!

At Burning Man 2007, the Gnome Adoption Agency will be open Mon-Thurs 2-4 p.m. Please arrive early to insure that a gnome goes home with you!

Gnomes: The Future

After Burning Man, we intend to bring the Gnome Camp project to our hometowns of New York and L.A. by continuing to randomly distribute gnomes and cameras, as well as hold Gnome Adoption Agency workshops and Q&A sessions. At this time, we will also add a forum to our website where gnome parents can continue to send in pictures of their gnomes and connect with like-minded gnome owners to share stories and tips about gnome-raising.