Valerie Mallory is an artist and sculptor based in Oakland, CA and lead artist for Playful Again. She began creating art for Burning Man in 2004. In 2013, her work grew from the Center Camp Café to the open playa with a series of large-scale art installations, including “Womantree” (2014), “Soul Refuge” (2015), “The Bridge and the Cage” (2017), “The Garden of Relationships” (2018), “Bottled Up Genie” (2019) and “Secretly Abandoned Spaces” (2022). Valerie is also a critical care registered nurse.

Mikell Haynes is an artist and designer who grew up everywhere from Long Island to Japan. Originally intending to be a fine artist he ended up working as a graphic designer before progressing into designing packaging and medical devices. He has attended every Burning Man since 1998 and been involved with seven on playa art projects and several Center Camp installations.

Jim Wolff (a.k.a. “Serg”) is headed to his 12th Burn. As a former member of the Center Camp Decor and Documentation teams, he's worked as an artist on numerous projects, including nine Center Camp fence murals and three Cafe kiosk displays of his paintings. Jim recently retired from the aerospace industry where he worked on various rocket engine programs and the Space Station Electric Power System. An avid hiker and yogi, he co-authored the book, “50 Trail Runs in Southern California.” He’s excited to get back to Black Rock City to support Playful Again, share his art, and support his theme camp, Ritual of Victory.

Jack of all trades and electric extraordinaire, Dusty has been attending the Burn since before it was cool. Dusty brings light and movement to all his art projects specializing in tiny art cars, moving art projects, and giant puppetry. You can find Dusty in his hometown of Santa Barbara lighting up the night with monthly parades and events.

Nathaniel Holben (a.k.a. “Bronze Holbein”) is a Bay Area sculptor that specializes in the fabrication of up-cycled metal art. He has assisted in the production of numerous metal monuments and sculptures that now span the state of California and beyond. His work can currently be found at Main Street Arts Gallery and Five sun’s Brewing in Martinez, CA.

Rocket Surgeon and Chief Bottle Washer. Former and future sailor, engineer and dabbler in the arcane. Ice and brine encrusted, with a bit of a fuzzy green complexion.

Helen enjoys treacherous terrain and adventures – the wilder, the better. Fresh from graduating university, she's excited to get off campus and head to the dusty streets of Black Rock City. This will be her second time at Burning Man and the first time on the build team for an art installation.

Returning to Playa for his 5th Burn, Matt Brown (a.k.a. “Wookiegoldboof”) reigns supreme over the Chill Middle Kingdom of SLO County. He's a certified electrician, solar extroadinare, and thinks he's an exotic dancer from time to time. Matt enjoys family, friends, random adventures, skateboarding, art, and music. If you see this creature in the wild, give him a big hug and point him to the nearest ground score!

Matt Nicholson is a first-time Burner and longtime glistener. A serial prankster with a playful spirit, he spends his days as a professional Dad in the nation's capitol (a.k.a. “The District”, not “DISTRIKT”). Matt has a passion for art and music and he dabbles in both, finding endless outlets to release his creativity. He approaches life with an exploratory perspective, never worrying about getting lost along the way.

Man of the mountains! Hailing from the swamps of Lake Tahoe, California, Chris's first Burn was in 2008. This year will be his first official return to Black Rock City since 2015 and his first time working on an art installation. He enjoys snowboarding, kayaking, and getting extra, extra weird in the dust!

Davo Task (they/them) is a budding, multidisciplinary artist, farmer, and musician. Davo is pursuing their BFA in Textiles and also works with black and white film, found objects, sounds, spray paint, and wheat paste. Davo has been assisting Valerie on Playful Again since June and is honored to apprentice with her process and to be a part of the Playful Again team! Davo is committed to cultural and environmental resilience, preserving the analog craft, and defending our planet. Having come to deeply enjoy casting, they are working on a documentary of their experience to be showcased this Fall.

Joce (a.k.a. “Zip-Tie”) is a goofy microbiologist located in San Jose, CA. She works on an antibiotic susceptibility test for sepsis patients, with plans to return to school to become a professor. Last year was her first year at Burning Man. She had an amazing first burn camping with PO@6 and looks forward to helping with Playful Again at Burning Man 2023. When she's not on the Playa, she loves dancing, cooking, coloring hair, driving her Jeep, and hanging out with friends, family and her adorable cat, “Low-Key Stinky Bomb.”

Longtime home brewer and bartender based on the central coast of California, Dylan Brown loves his dog, art, music and getting down on the dance floor. He's excited to bring an exceptional lineup of intricately crafted cocktails to his first Burning Man. This is his first time working on an art installation and he hopes he’ll get to help out with many more in the future!

Writer Gwendolyn Alley (a.k.a. “Art Predator”) went to her first Burning Man in 1992; 2022 will be her 20th Burn. She started spoken word and hung art in the Center Camp Café (1995), breastfed her toddler son Reed in BRC (2005), and worked as nanny for Bettie June of the Artery (2009). In 2014, she helped build a theme camp where she met Valerie and Mikell, and since then, she's helped Valerie many times on and off playa. In 2019, Gwendolyn joined Minstrel Cramp which was a much needed refuge from the raging dust storms in 2022.

Heather Thornton is a Bay Area native, multi-medium artist/maker, and entrepreneur. She received her BFA in 2000 from CCAC with a focus in glass casting, and worked closely in the glass art community consulting and providing raw materials to studio glass makers for over 25 years. She has assisted a variety of sculptors in the Bay expanding and refining her knowledge in mold making. Since connecting with Valerie in late May, she's been delighted to jump in and help with Playful Again.

Pat Mitchell Rusich (a.k.a. “Pat With a K”, “Little Miss Random”, and “Random Spark”) is a veteran burner celebrating her 16th Burn this year. She's been an artist of some sort her entire life. Her first Burn she had one of those magical moments that everybody talks about and knew in her heart and soul that she needed to make something for the Playa. Having been a part of the build team for Valerie Mallory’s art installation in 2022, she's excited to help bring Playful Again to the Burn in 2023.

A former theatrical electrician turned engineer focused on researching renewable energy, David Meakin is a master of moral support and feeding the troops. Equally at home with a micrometers and a mallets, David enjoys playing with all forms of matter and energy. Having spent years living in the deserts of New Mexico, he's bringing his expertise in solar technology to make Playful Again 100% solar powered.

Nate (a.k.a. “Boots”) is a web developer and designer based in Palo Alto, CA who loves creative communities and large-scale art. In addition to developing the website for Playful Again, he helps manage the online presence and visibility for the project. When he's not working on technology ventures, he enjoys backpacking in the Sierras.