ALBUM | DIY PROJECTS | GEAR | MOTR | PODCAST | VIDEO ART | VISUAL ART | PHILOSOPHY
The get bEHIND the aRTS Studio Tour is a chance for Southeastern Wisconsin artists to open their doors to their neighbors and share what creativity is going on in the area. We were thrilled to be invited to introduce our MOTR project at the preview party kicking off the tour, now in its ninth year. Our plan was to park the ambulance outside the event location and play. Preparing for the event was a challenge, initially because of the weather. Spring kept getting interrupted by surprise snow storms. We took the ambulance to our mechanic weeks before the event for a simple tuneup that turned into a much bigger fix. Soon it was at a new mechanic and we learned it wouldn't be ready in time. Three days beforehand, the event organizer presented us with a great new space. Plan B was underway!
We created an installation/performance space that was slightly hidden away. This provided an opportunity to be discovered, just as we intend for the final MOTR presentation. How did we let people know about this?
A cryptic call went out on Instagram - an image showing "Will you find us?" in a suitcase. Email subscribers had been told about the event ahead of time. PR by the event organizers also mentioned that we’d be there.
At the event, people traveled to the second floor of 1601 Washington to see a projection of our heart pulse icon shining through a room window - a clue leading to us. Passing through the door, a glowing suitcase invited guests to take a heart and give a heart while learning about the project. A large video projection of the ambulance edited between our video art was shown on the next wall. When turning the corner, people could find us playing brightly lit synthesizers. There was even a small slide projection on the floor as an added bonus for the curious.
Towards the end of the night, we performed a more structured set. Highlights were a break dancer moving to our sounds and impromptu singing from another member of our community. It was pure joy to see what people could create for themselves in this temporary space.
As people exited, large letters on the door asked, "Will you find us?" We hope that people will go back into their lives and give real heart, compassion to someone else and find us again to share a brief moment of humanity that lasts longer than clicking "like."
Found.
A brief moment in this space allowed us to make real connections with real people. To see your eyes, to hear your voices, to feel your energy, and share each other’s hearts. Thank you to those who found us and for sharing a few heartbeats together. We see you.
ALBUM | DIY PROJECTS | GEAR | MOTR | PODCAST | VIDEO ART | VISUAL ART | PHILOSOPHY