Revolution – F15 54-498/54-798/60-446/60-746: Expanded Theater

“Hirshhorn Museum, Washington D.C.” by Kristof Wodiczko (1988)

bgansky — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 02:22:19 +0000

This piece offers a portrait of the inner personality of the Hirshhorn Museum, a modern art museum located in close proximity to the National Mall and federal government buildings in Washington D.C. The gun and the candle seem to indicate violence and religious sensation, as the microphones are reminiscent of a press conference, of many channels for one voice and correspondingly high volume. This piece may well be considered as a portrait of America.

“Year Zero” by Nine Inch Nails and 42 Entertainment (2007)

dsakamot — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:02:14 +0000

“Year Zero” was a concept album by Nine Inch Nails about a dystopian version of America 15 years in the future (from the time of the album’s release). It’s a vision of eroded civil liberties, advanced climate change, abuse of military power, and more.

The album itself presented a mostly vague, poetic look into the fictional world; the primary way the story was told was through an alternate reality game that took place in the months leading up to, and for a little while after the album’s release. Clues ranging from a code on a USB drive found in a venue bathroom to a mural painted under a bridge in London led fans, who banded together to find and decipher them, to fragments of various websites existing within the story world. Information from these sites would then lead to other diegetic websites, phone numbers, and for some in the Los Angeles area, the time and location of a physical meeting.

42 Entertainment

“Dismaland” organized by Banksy (2015)

aiott — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:58:45 +0000

This event went viral a few weeks ago, undoubtedly due to Banksy’s reputation. This event is a physical forum for artworks by over fifty artists, modeled after Walt Disney’s Disneyland that runs from August 21 to September 27 this year in Weston-super-Mare, England. The experience of park-goers is a satirical take on a theme park experience– in this mimicry, the park becomes theatrical. The people become participants and must experience the works as if they were rides. Although this project can be considered from a museum-esque because it showcases many different works of art, I think the fake-amusement-park contex is enough to separate it and make it a live piece. The entire park is a live work. Also, unlike museums, this park is not a permanent fixture with rotating galleries or exhibits.

“Strata” by Bricolage (2012)

vsangubh — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:52:08 +0000

Somewhere between truth and fiction, reality and simulation, STRATA is an immersive urban adventure. Arrive at a secret destination, make contact with your Agent, and embark on a private rite of passage where the choices you make determine your destiny.

YouTube / Jeffrey Carpenter – via Iframely

Unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, STRATA challenges the boundaries of traditional theater. Through a series of captivating installations and encounters, you will travel through a meticulously designed space that will awaken your senses and rock your world.

In August 2012, Bricolage, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presented STRATA, an immersive, interactive theater experience. After purchasing tickets online, audience members were met on a Downtown street corner by supposed employees from the fictional Gate Corporation. They were then guided into a secret, undisclosed location (now revealed to be the former Bally Total Fitness Club) and, for two hours, subjected to “refitnessing” in order to reach “iConciousness.” Patrons passed through three floors of specially constructed rooms where the audience member and actor would play out an evocative, personal, sometimes enigmatic scene ending with a “test.”

STRATA (an acronym for the “Strategic Training Research And Testing Agency”), was one of the largest artistic installations in Pittsburgh’s history. City Paper characterized it as “the most ambitious event in local theater history.” It was an original Bricolage production, created in collaboration with lead artist Riley Harmon and Clear Story, and an all-star creative team including Jeffrey Carpenter, Gab Cody, Tami Dixon, Rob Long, Andrew J. Paul, Nina Sarnelle, and Sam Turich. (excerpt http://www.bricolagepgh.org/events/strata-cover-american-theatre-magazine)