Trial In the Destruction of Burning Man Art Project Begins

The trial over the destruction of the Burning Man art project La Contessa begins Monday, addressing issues of property ownership and whether the famous piece of mobile art was abandoned.Plaintiffs Simon Cheffins and Greg Jones, co-owners of the 16th-century Spanish galleon replica that “sailed” at Burning Man in 2003 and 2005, and attorney Paul Quade said that defendant Mike Stewart burned down the work with malicious intent in 2006.

The courts have already decided that a replica boat was not covered under the Visual Artists Rights Act because it was “applied art.” Now the question is whether or not the art project was abandoned and if not, whether the artists can recover from the land owner.

Tags: art, burning man, la contessa, land, law, Moral Rights, Property, sculpture, VARA