Swirl party turns out the hotties with psychedelic aesthetics and Burning Man principles

The Burners of New York kicked off May on a psychedelic trip with their annual Swirl party.

Swirl party turns out the hotties with psychedelic aesthetics and Burning Man principles
Reagan, Jameson, and Virgin Burner
| Liam Koji

The Burners of New York kicked off May on a psychedelic trip with their annual Swirl party.

Hosted at Brooklyn’s 3 Dollar Bill, this tie-dye festooned fete was the collaborative brainchild of Gotham’s most prominent Burning Man camps, Future Turtles, BRC Municipal Pool, and Fruit Pop.


“Swirl started as Queer Burning Man Pride,” explained long-tenured GlamCock Dustin “Dusty” Schur. It’s meant to be a collaboration between multiple queer camps to help build a community and interconnectedness, which is a lot of bringing the Burning Man principles back to the default regular world.”

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Dustin "Dusty" Schur at Swirl
Dustin “Dusty” Schur | LIam Koji

For those uninitiated in the dust-stained culture of Burning Man, every summer 70,000 people schlep to a barren plot of land in the Nevada desert to create a temporary city full of radical art, radical music, and radical interpersonal relationships.

While the event is international, Dusty noted that New York’s Burners have a distinct personality, reflected in Swirl and in its current home at 3 Dollar Bill.

Dusty flanked by his fellow Glamcocks at Swirl
Dusty flanked by his fellow Glamcocks . | Liam Koji

“New York [Burners] in general are high achievers, said Dusty. “It’s our first time doing it [at 3 Dollar Bill].  We have filled out the venue previously every year, so we’re trying to continue to grow our party. This is a larger space, and has another adjacent bar, so hopefully, if we’re successful enough to take over that space next year.”

The Dance floor of Swirl at 3 Dollar Bill.
The Dance floor of Swirl at 3 Dollar Bill. | Liam Koji

One of Burning Man’s principles is civic responsibility. In that vein, a portion of the Swirl’s funds raised are being donated to SAGE New York, which provides services for the queer elderly.

For those of you who missed out on this year’s Swirl, photographer Liam Koji snatched the best images of this psychedelic dance party.

DJ Matt Denton, headliner at Swirl.
DJ Matt Denton, headliner at Swirl. | Liam Koji
Partiers embracing the principle of radical self-expression at Swirl's friendship bracelet making nook.
Partiers embracing the principle of radical self-expression at Swirl’s friendship-bracelet-making nook. | Liam Koji
Body painting at Swirl
| Liam Koji
Friendship bracelet maker
| Liam Koji
Lotus channeling Janet Jackson's iconic Rollingstone cover.
Lotus channeling Janet Jackson’s iconic Rollingstone cover. | Liam Koji
LA GlamCock Bam Bam reuniting with his NY BurnBrother Marathon.
LA GlamCock Bam Bam reuniting with his NY BurnBrother Marathon. | Liam Koji
Jay Michel, representing Camp Fruit Pop, the host of Burning Man's annual Tightywhities Tuesday party.
Jay Michel, representing Camp Fruit Pop, the host of Burning Man’s annual Tightywhities Tuesday party. | Liam Koji
Cotton candy at Swirl
| Liam Koji
Dare at Swirl
| Liam Koji
Dancer at Swirl
| Liam Koji
Fan Boy
| Liam Koji

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