Photo of artist Danielle Kaufman’s installation, Rumination Attuning, by Asia Morris.
Joshua Fischel’s Music Tastes Good wouldn’t be a completely immersive event without the art installations.
Last year festival goers enjoyed not only an amazing music and food experience, but wondered at the curious contraption that was Parasolvent, a haunting, Burning Man-esque rotating wheel of opening and closing parasols, and took a moment to reflect underneath the hanging bells of Rumination Attuning, a multi-faceted piece inspired by one artist’s visit to a Buddhist temple.
“Long Beach inspires a constant reflection of culture and creativity,” said Music Tastes Good Creative Director Chris Watson. “For the Music Tastes Good team, having an event of this scale without incorporating arts and aesthetics would be a misuse of the space, and no where near as fun.”
Music Tastes Good boasted five art installations in 2016 and this year has increased that number to eight, as well as added a performance piece.
In-progress photo of Kat Bingley’s work in partnership with Pinata Design Studio courtesy of Nicolassa Galvez.
Three larger-than-life hands throwing down the signs for peace, love and music will be designed/constructed by Kat Bingley in partnership with Pinata Design Studio; a 10-foot-high yurt-like structure named Ginger, by artists Jesson Duller and Eddy Vajarakitipongse, will give attendees a space to rest and recharge, complete with pulsating LED lights synced to binaural compositions; and a tunnel designed by Ben Phipps where people can graze from mint and basil herb plants will use recycled plastic sculptures to promote sustainable design and farming.
A freestanding, vertical tasting garden by Rebecca Giesking will encourage attendees to contribute to community sustainability; The Box of Boom by David Hedden will feature a larger-than-life-size “Boom Box” filled with deconstructed percussive instruments that participants can control robotically, setting up impromptu opportunities for beat battles and jam sessions; A giant cassette tape called Mix Tape Shade, propped up with an equally gigantic pencil and designed by Jonelle Holden will provide a shady meet spot and include an ode to Fischel; and The Vertical Horizon by Ali Futrell will create a colorful string wall to be strummed.
Last, but not least, a Magical Musical Parade is The Garage Theatre’s and Sea Funk Brass Band’s performance inspired by the nautical themes of Ween’s 1997 album, “The Mollusk.” Marching to the center of the grounds, dancing, acrobatics and more may encourage the most danced-out attendees to bust out a few more moves.
In-progress photo of Ginger courtesy of Nicolassa Galvez.
“A defining point for me in my community building and arts career in Long Beach was walking down the empty streets of Broadway at 6:00AM and seeing our city transformed into an outdoor museum[…],” said Nicolassa Galvez, art director for Music Tastes Good. “This walk changed my perspective on the use of urban space and art accessibility and still encourages my ongoing hope that Long Beach is inspired by Music Tastes Good’s success in bringing together music and food and art in a masterful mashup, and that funding and support for this type of creative collaboration happens more often throughout the city.”
For more information on Music Tastes Good, check out the link here.