Letter to the Robot Heart Community
Dear Robots,
I’m writing to inform you all that I’m stepping back from active service to our community, effective immediately. I don’t know if this is a temporary or permanent change, but it feels right, right now.
When Geo asked me to get involved in the camp, Robot Heart was coming off of its first “peak” and a meteoric rise in popularity, and as a result, a feeling it had flown too close to the sun somehow for me. I was reticent to get involved initially, but felt that perhaps there was an opportunity to work together to refine our values and work differently to produce experiences in the broader Burning Man community. From refinement of the door process, to collaboration with many other camps, and many chapters of sounds of I A improvements, and now I I I a new chapter for me focused on music, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Robot Heart over the past decade. Many of you have made me been doing it longer. I have so much love and respect for the collective effort that has yielded the particular nature of what we have produced over the years.
Many other things happened as well. I found family in a way that was unexpected. Through many ski trips, late nights/early mornings, dancefloors, weddings, relationships, travel, shared love for music, these bonds don’t dissipate and I’m not going anywhere. We lost a number of friends, made new friends, and hopefully created many opportunities for folks to experience their lives differently. We have certainly lived, in the fullest sense possible, often together.
That said, since Geo passed, it feels like we have moved through a number of chapters, from grief to new direction. I don’t currently feel fully values aligned with the direction that some in the group seem to have a desire to pursue, and I’ve spent the better part of the past year being more principled about my time and attempting to express my feelings about this. I think continued involvement is likely to just yield more divisive-ness and I don’t want to be responsible for negative sentiment or energy in a group that so desperately needs clear leadership, direction, transparency, and clarity about its process. I wish the next generation of Robots the absolute best, and I remain available for chats, advice, or bad jokes at any point.
Should circumstances change, I remain excited about the potential to continue to turn on the sound system in unique ways and settings with you all.
I encourage you all to dig deep and figure out what's really important to you - perhaps there is new common ground.
Personally, I am beyond proud of the last significant Robot Heart activation I had the opportunity to contribute to. The Robot Heart Residency remains the event I’m proudest to have worked on in my life, and my in my tenure with our community. If it is a high water mark, so be it. We moved the needle in some very important ways, and set an example of how to support the creative process and interact with the broader community, over and over again.
Following my move to Berlin and my shift in focus fully to music, I now welcome the additional space to create and express myself. Without letting go, there can be no room for what’s next and I have a strong desire to do what I can to focus on making music, sharing in spaces that are values aligned as a DJ, and supporting other artists in their creative process, particularly those that are under-represented or misunderstood otherwise. I have as much desire as ever to continue to create, in all capacities. I also have a guest room in Berlin, and hope to host wayward Robot travelers on your respective paths.
Wish you all the best,
Justin