SOAK* 2025

This was Haus Anima’s second SOAK*. (Report from our first SOAK*)

SOAK* is a Burning Man Regional held in Tygh valley, Oregon over Memorial Day weekend. It’s slightly debated why it’s called SOAK* but this year it was probably because it rained on us.

For a second year we intended this to be an easy burn: a smaller camp, existing art, and no new major art projects. And for a second time we made a bunch of new art pieces and had to add a second hauling vehicles. Whoops.

Ribbit and Zhigalka created a new Camp Sign Haus Cats with the help of Andrew, Andy, Colby and Samwise
Skipper brought Honk Dawg and seeded the event with tiny squeakers Squeak Squeak
Kalesta created Dildidol to be featured in a friend’s camp
Ribbit constructed four Monster Mirrors
Ribbit and Kalesta handpainted 60+ tiny picture frames for trinket trading
Ribbit handcrafted fifty Eye Cult Spell bottles for trinket trading
Samwise created Eye Cult porto art

In addition to visual art

Andrew ran a “Negronis Only” bar and performance bit
We added more Haus Anima stickers
Zhigalka and Ribbit coordinated a May Pole
Haus Anima hosted a fire circle where we performed several nights
Kalesta and Skipper participated in leads exchange, shadowing Producers and Placement to better learn how SOAK* runs their event

Camp Layout

We’re black and white and all our frontage, including our neighbor’s RV, looked on point.

Andrew and Patches provided a wonderful solar setup allowing us plenty of power for lights, music, and grinding coffee

Fire Circle

At night our black lights lit up coloring pages, and fire rippled throughout our performance area.

We had a surprise appearance from DJ S Tickets who DJ’d our fire circle from opening till the beginning of quiet hours.

One of our goals in hosting a fire circle is to welcome newer fire spinner and cheer them on. In addition to our camp members, several folks from The Meadow joined us as well as a number of our Seattle friends.

Later in the week Kalesta, Lilac, Ribbit, Patches, Skipper, and Zhigalka all performed in conclave with Andrew and Samwise volunteering as safeties.

Haus Cats

Ribbit and Zhigalka have been imagining a new sign since Critical last year. These got built two weeks before the event!

Patches contributed the name at the event: Haus Cats

There are more notes on their construction at the very end

Monster Mirrors

Three of four Monster Mirrors!

Trinket Trading

Tiny picture frames for trinket trading.

Tiny Eye Cult Spell Bottles

Skipper’s Honk Dawg

Zhigalka with David and Beth after a May Pole dance.

Solar

All the camp is excited that we ran off solar power this year! A big thanks to Andrew and Patches would brought a solar panel and batteries.

The Haus Anima crew

Much Love,

See you next year!

Outtakes

Shout-out to Best Michael for the Seattle Autonomous Zone sticker! A SOAK* easter egg for all the Seattle camps who found themselves placed in The Meadow.