It might look like it came straight out of one of those fantastical childhood movies we watched over and over again until the vhs tape wore out, but Dithyrambalina is very real. Because that’s what its creator seems to do time and again; bring the places in our dreams to life. Remember Swoon, the Brooklyn-based street artist who created a real-life Waterworld project of make-shift sea vessels and mini cities that travelled the world?
Dithyrambalina is her latest project (this time on dry land); a bohemian musical village based in New Orleans….
Dithyrambalina (what a name!) has been several years in the making, first starting out as a prototype called ‘Music Box’, that saw a decaying 150-year-old house transformed into a ‘temporary village of playable musical houses with interactive instruments embedded into the walls, floors and ceilings of structures’. Launched by art collective New Orleans Airlift and Swoon, the prototype was a runaway success that welcomed over 15,000 visitors to explore, interact, participate in workshops and attend stunning evening concerts. Renowned international musicians came from all over the world to play the village.
But now, its creators want to stretch our imaginations even further and build an even larger evolving musical village; a sonic playground with structures that can travel, as well as having a ‘permanent campus for research, creation, experience and performance of musical architecture’.
Dithythumbalina’s Kickstarter campaign in its final week with just under $20,000 still to raise of their $50,000 goal. All (tax-deductable) donations will go towards the construction of the first five musical structures.
“We will continue to build with salvaged materials as part of this project’s original goal of imaginatively addressing blight in New Orleans. Similarly, the creation of each structure will again bring together visual and sound artists, but this time our artists will be collaborating with unique individuals and organizations from New Orleans and beyond.”
Check out their Kickstarter video pitch:
Other than becoming one of the many hands that would have help build such a unique and ground-breaking microcosm, rewards for backing the project include original signed works by Swoon, visits to hers and other artists’ studios in NYC, collaborating Dithythumbalina musicians coming to perform at your party/ event and more.
Do you want to be a part of bringing Dithyrambalina to life? Starting building it here.
I sure hope I get to see this place with my own eyes one day.
Images by Tod Seelie and Dithyrambalina.com
:::
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
.
