No. 12: Odes, Orbits, and Optical Oddities: The Weekly Wondrous World

Issue No. 12 - In numerology, 12 symbolizes cosmic order, much like how a dozen eggs neatly fit into their carton with purpose and potential. From a mathematical viewpoint, it's a sublime number – divisible and harmonious, just like the interdisciplinary dance we choreograph between design, technology, commerce and culture. Imagine this issue as a dodecahedron, each of its 12 faces a perfectly balanced story, reflecting light from every corner of our experiential universe.

In this edition, we dive headfirst into the intellectual depths of Nic Brunsdon’s air-inspired opus, and bask in the therapeutic artistry of Lee Ming-wei, who stitches emotions into art. We'll whisk away to Frida Kahlo's Mexican oasis in the heart of NYC (even if our hearts yearn for Casa Azul), witness the selfie-centric metamorphosis of art museums, take a virtual leap into the debate over 苹果 's Vision Pro, and discover how ARTECHOUSE is making history jump off the walls. We'll peek into Olafur Eliasson 's dance-infused art, explore Kiss's digital resurrection, and even contemplate the weight of paperwork in Philadelphia's most bureaucratic art installation. From the eco-guardian antics of Aurora, the robotic fox-coyote hybrid, to the lavish olfactory escapades in 路易·威登 's latest page-turner, we're going on a whirlwind tour through the most creative corners of our collective mind, where every line is a neuron and every idea a synapse, responding to the universe's mysterious whispering questions with answers that make both scientists and philosophers nod in agreement.

Follow me, intrepid reader, into the world of Issue No. 12 – a number so robust, it's got its own mathematical subgenre, literally turns forward the clock and, if all that weren't enough, moonlights as a dozen in bakeries. Embrace the chaos, relish in the satire, and join me in celebrating the whimsical, the profound, and the outright bizarre.

So off we are, here were go, let's dig in...

Total Eclipse of the Cart

With everything going on this week, it was almost too easy to overlook the solar eclipse gracing North American skies. But fear not, the marketing world certainly didn't miss a beat. They see a solar eclipse not as a mere shadowy spectacle in the sky but as a golden opportunity to be in the aura of our nearby star. Warby Parker, seizing the moment, was practically throwing eclipse glasses around like Halloween candy, while Boogie Board made a play for the car-travel crowd, promoting sketchpads as the essential accessory for eclipse enthusiasts. And let's not forget Sonic's Blackout Slush Float, because nothing screams "cosmic event" like an astronomically phenomenal slushy! Inc. (6 minutes)

Breath-Taking Designs

Nic Brunsdon’s NGV installation, "This is Air," gets its own literary spotlight in a book that's part architectural diary, part ontological inquiry into the art of breathing. The book unpacks the inflatable wonder from its technical inception to its deep ecological and civic ruminations, with contributions that range from the reflective to the practically respiratory. It's like a yoga class for your intellect, where the mat is a blueprint and the poses are ponderings on air, architecture, and how not to hyperventilate in an increasingly metaphorically and literally toxic world. Design Boom (3 minutes)

Of Sand Castles and Stitching Souls

If you've ever wanted to literally walk all over a masterpiece, Lee Ming-wei’s exhibit at the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco is your peculiar dream come true, where a sand version of Picasso's "Guernica" is yours for the trampling. Meanwhile, in another corner, the artist is turning the mundane task of mending clothes into an emotional journey, finally giving those ? socks the respect they deserve. And for his pièce de résistance, a dancer lights and blows out 60 candles in what could be the most elaborate birthday party ritual ever, or a new form of meditation that doubles as a fire hazard. Focus Taiwan (2 minutes)

Pop Art: Kahlo's Kitchen Comes to Grand Central

Ever fantasized about popping a Jarritos US while lounging in Frida Kahlo's cocina? New York's Grand Central Terminal's about to bring this perplexingly unusual daydream to life. This fusion of Mexican soft drink culture and iconic art brings you “Los Sabores de Mi México,” featuring everything from artsy workshops to Kahlo's unshared photos, while resisting the urge to rearrange the fridge magnets. I recommend making the pilgrimage to Casa Azul in CDMX, but si no puede, then swing by Vanderbilt Hall to see Frida's art in a way that's as colorful and effervescent as a bottle of tamarind soda.

Scoop's up, peeps! “Los Sabores de Mi México” runs at NYC Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall from April 4th to 7th

Hashtag Art

The new wave of art museums, as described in this Grazia article by Pratiksha Acharya, are trying hard to shake off their pretentious past, rolling out the red carpet for the Snapchat crowd with exhibits like "Pride and Self-Prejudice" by Robbie Williams. These museums are doing away with the hushed reverence traditionally associated with art appreciation, instead embracing hashtags, selfies, and social media shares. But let's be real, are they trading depth for likes and shares, turning what should be profound experiences into just another post in the endless scroll of social media? Sure, it is nice to visit exhibits that don't require a PhD in art history to enjoy. But, while making art more accessible is great, are we simplifying it too much or just making it easier to say, "I don’t get it, but it looks great on my profile"? Grazia (1 minute)

Beyond the Glass Case

Approaching this topic from another angle, in embracing the concept of “Doing Museums,” the always insightful Jasmin Jodry paints a picture of museums not as silent halls of history, but as vibrant, interactive spaces that stir our emotions and provoke thought. Imagine museums transforming from mere observers of the past into dynamic arenas where art, social responsibility, and community engagement playfully intersect. It’s not just about what’s on the walls, but more about what happens inside the visitors, turning every museum trip into an emotionally resonant journey that shapes our collective future.

Building on this, and the work my colleagues did at Two Bit Circus, imagine if museums created special "Story Rooms" – immersive environments where visitors can step into the story of an artwork or historical period. I'm imagining stepping into the story, and having some degree of agency, leaving visitors with a new perspective, and transforming the experience from spectating to storytelling. This is but one offshoot of Jasmin's bold vision and challenge to discover how our museums are not just a space for viewing, but could be a canvas for our imagination and participation. Jasmin Jodry on LinkedIn (1 minute)

Vice Fraser's Artistic Symphony of AI and Ancestry

Vince Fraser's "Ase: Afro Frequencies" is an AI-driven time machine through the essence of Black excellence. It's like the universe had a brainstorming session with a supercomputer and then threw a party in an art gallery. Fraser, a maestro of Afro-surrealism, seems to have mainlined into Sandro Kereselidze's digital dreamscape that is ARTECHOUSE NYC, creating a burst futuristic visions, colors and emotions vibrantly choreographed to a mixtape of ancestral, techno-tribal echoes... all of it wrapped up by poet Ursula Rucker's spoken words. From the levitating women in golden headdresses to the electric-blue geometric patterns, it's a cultural rave where every pixel pulses with purpose in a cosmic dialogue between art, technology, and heritage.

Scoop's up, peeps! “Ase: Afro Frequencies” is on view at ARTECHOUSE NYC through the summer. Get tix.

Is It a Headset, a TV, or a Window to Another Dimension?

Apple's Vision Pro: the device that's got everyone talking, but no one agrees why. Is it a game-changer or just a fancy migraine inducer? Users are either in a state of virtual nirvana or just plain confused, probably bumping into furniture. But fear not, Variety is here like a beacon of clarity in this comically bewildering world of mixed reality, ready to unravel the mystery of whether this headset is a technological masterpiece or just an overhyped pair of goggles. Variety (10 minutes).

Do Androids Dream of Electric Squirrels?

Gone are the days of using dogs or even pigs for airport wildlife control in Alaska. Now it's all about Aurora, a robotic fox-coyote hybrid. This robo-guardian patrols the runway hourly, impersonating predators to scare off birds and even bears - if that is possible - without needing any creature comforts or a salary. While Aurora is great at scaring away wildlife, some are fearing from Aurora's videography features that this is all a ruse for robot surveillance. Such silliness. I'm pretty sure she is just taking selfies with the wildlife for her robot Instagram. The Verge (2 minutes)

Dave & Buster's Real Estate Power-Up

Dave & Buster's, the beloved adult playground where the cocktails flow as loosely as the grip on a claw machine, is leveling up its global presence with a real estate revamp. They’re ambitiously juggling skee-balls and sale-leaseback deals, aiming to transform from the local arcade to an international powerhouse. It's like playing Pac-Man, but instead of dots, they’re gobbling up buildings and market shares. There are few details on how these upgrades and sale-leasebacks are being financed, but I wouldn't be surprised if you now have to spend upwards of $50 to win that slightly deflated whoopee cushion. CoStar (4 minutes)

Turning Pages in Time

Livraria Letras , the century-old book haven in the city of Porto in Portugual, is more than just a repository of printed words; it’s a dream factory that's been churning out literary fantasies since 1906. Through the eyes of countless book lovers and the hands of storied personalities, this bookstore has become a character in its own right, with tales as rich as the volumes on its shelves. Proudly wearing its heritage like a well-earned badge, Livraria Lello continues to be a sanctuary where books aren’t just sold but celebrated, a place where culture and freedom in reading are as fundamental as the air its patrons breathe. Livaria Lello website.

Bach, Baroque, and Rebellion

St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig is basically the celebrity hotspot of historical German architecture. It isn't just your regular old building with pews. It's a mash-up of centuries of style experiments and a witness to Germany's greatest hits, both musically and historically. It's where Bach dropped some of his most enduring bangers and Leibniz probably got his first dose of holy water. Fast forward to 1989, and this ancient church was leading the charge against communism with the power of prayer, proving that old structures can learn new tricks. Accidentally Wes Anderson (2 minutes)

Scents of Sophistication

Remember those childhood scratch and sniff books? Louis Vuitton's latest creation is a coffee table book that doubles as a world tour for your nose. For a mere $160, you can read about, and more importantly, sniff, everything from Tunisian neroli to French jasmine. But for those with money to burn, a $5,000 deluxe edition includes real samples of these scents, because nothing says "luxury" like reading about roses while literally smelling the money leaving your bank account. High Snobiety (1 minute)

The Financial Highs and Lows of Your Insta Life

In the bizarre economics of social media, it seems our online presence has a price, and it's steep. A study found that to abandon TikTok, users demand a lofty $59 if their friends are still on it, but only $28 if everyone quits – talk about peer pressure! For Instagram, it's $47 to leave solo, but a mere $10 if it's a group ghosting. Seems like we're more afraid of FOMO than of wasting hours seeing pics of an ex-colleague's children or what your high school crush had for breakfast. Becker Friedman Institute (4 minutes)

Geometry's Glow-Up

Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu of HYBYCOZO aren’t just making art, they're answering the age-old question: "When will I ever use this math in real life?" Turns out, you use it to make breathtaking art that lights up like a supernova hitting a glow-in-the-dark paint factory. Like a mathematician PhD in a disco ball factory, their blend of sharp geometry and soft lights, takes us on an arithmetic journey that's part art exhibition, part geometry lesson, and all parts mesmerizing. Their creations are a gentle reminder that maybe paying attention in math class could have led us down a path filled with illuminated polyhedra and less pontificating around the void in a Fibonacci spiral. Shout-out to Dorothy Di Stefano for spotlighting!

The Revival of One Times Square

At the bustling crossroads of Times Square sits One Times Square, a building so strategically placed yet ironically empty, it’s like having a Ferrari just for display in your garage. Now, a $500 million renovation is underway to morph this this iconic yet hollow landmark into a bustling hub of digital and virtual reality experiences. The story of One Times Square's transformation is eloquently narrated in this video by my new friend - and, um, esteemed Chairman and President of Jamestown - Michael Phillips. Diving into Jamestown's vision for One Times Square, which I've learned about firsthand from many in Jamestown's leadership, is like peeling back the layers of an architectural onion, each layer more fascinating than the last. Let me tell you, the blend of fiery passion and brain-bending strategy they're pouring into turning this spot into an immersive wonderland epitomizes the epic journey through the intersecting parallels of design, technology, culture, and commerce. It’s like watching a group of mad scientists and artists trying to reinvent the world's most frenzied city block – and you just can’t help but root for them! Shout out to Heather Gallagher M.Sc. for the share (more on her below).

Tunnel Vision

In Milan, where even the rats are design aficionados, architect Andrea Caputo (of the eponymous andreacaputo.com) is turning abandoned tunnels into a hipster’s paradise, dubbed "Dropcity." Here, amidst the echo of 3D printers and the scent of fresh carpentry, Milan’s army of 12,000 architects can finally discuss important things like whether concrete is the new black. It's part think-tank, part modern art show, and entirely a place where you can watch paint drying, or better yet, walls being printed. The Spaces (5 minutes)

From Deep Sea to Deep Debt

Lost Spirits Distillery, a place where you could eat a 16-course meal in a submarine while watching acrobats, is unfortunately walking the plank. Turns out, selling $355 dinners in a fake submarine wasn’t the gold mine it was envisioned to be, even with dragon-topped stills. LBEs looking to pop up in Vegas might want to take note that even a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-themed restaurant with its own rum distillery and Cirque-style entertainment couldn't make the cut. Review Journal (2 minutes)

Tree-Hugging 3.0

You begin by casually strolling through a waterfall that doesn't get you wet, then recline on what could only be described as the lily pad of the future. Here, you can lounge under a gigantic tree and watch flowers bloom, compressing time like you've got Mother Nature on a tight schedule. Welcome to "Forest Bathing: Lupuna" – the newest multi-sensory jaunt into delightful awe by MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST – a rainforest for the Instagram generation that promises all the beauty, but none of the bugs. It’s the kind of place where you half expect a talking tree to give you life advice or a tiny David Attenborough to pop out and narrate your experience. Marshmallow Laser Feast (3 minutes)

Art Meets Cosplay

In Milan's latest "why not?" moment, the Ukiyoe Immersive Art exhibition allows you to explore Japan’s floating worlds – all in glorious 3D. Stepping into this exhibition seems like falling into a cultural rabbit hole – one minute you're in Italy sipping a doppio espresso, the next you're wandering through ancient Japan, immerse in over 300 ukiyo-e works while literally donning a Edo-era kimono. It's an immersive experience that's part art, part history lesson, and part fancy dress party. It’s the kind of place where you might just forget which century you're in, until you remember to post a selife on the Insta.

Scoop's up, peeps! The Ukiyoe Immersive Art exhibition will run until June 16, 2024 at TENOHA Milan.

Inventing Thrills

Storyland Studios is at it again with its Design Challenge, essentially a "Shark Tank" for theme park enthusiasts who’ve spent too much time doodling rides in their notebooks. Aspiring theme park creators get to pitch their most fantastical ideas for the next big theme park attraction, with the hopes of not just winning cash but also turning their dream napkin sketch into a miniature reality model showcased at IAAPA, the behemoth of all theme park and location-based entertainment conferences. By the way, IAAPA is the kind of event that anyone who has even a slight inclination towards fun – or is in the market for a roller coasters – would mark as a must-attend in their calendar. Storyland (1 minute)

Art in Aisle 5

Imagine a store where everything's made from plastic bags and you don't need a credit card, just a sense of eco-guilt. That's the Plastic Bag Store, Robin Frohardt's latest installation at MASS MoCA, mixing puppetry and plastic to serve a buffet of consumerism criticism. You'll leave with a cart full of contemplation and probably a vow to carry a reusable bag. (Shout out to No Proscenium!)

Scoops up peeps! The Plastic Bag store is open May 9 through September 2 at MASS MoCA . Get tix!

Art Goes Electric Boogie

In the "so hip it hurts" category, Olafur Eliasson, better known for his shadowy art installations than his dance moves, stars in Peggy Gou’s latest music video, where he pops and locks amidst a rainbow of lights, and honestly, it’s the crossover we didn’t know we needed. It’s like if a modern art gallery and a dance club had a baby, with Olafur playing the role of both proud parent and slightly awkward uncle on the dance floor. There he is, breakdancing in a light installation, proving that even artists can have a mid-life crisis, but with more style and better lighting.

How Much Do Heavy Metal Holograms Weigh?

Kiss, undeniably your dad's rock band, and the group of mettalers known for its face paint and fire-breathing, has now embraced the digital age, selling its entire catalog to Pophouse Entertainment, the brains behind ABBA's virtual comeback and proud new collaborators with Cyndi Lauper. In 2027, and for a cool $300 million, fans can now enjoy holographic Gene Simmons and Co. long after they’ve hung up their platform boots. It promises to be either the peak of technological marvel or a really expensive video game. Gene Simmons promises a Kiss-themed experience that could either be groundbreaking or the closest we’ll get to a Kiss theme park without the roller coasters. Deadline (2 minutes)

The Art of Expungement

Philadelphia, known for its historical landmarks, just added a giant glass box filled with paper people inside. This art installation, dubbed “Waiting Workforce,” is a giant glass box crammed with 38 human-like figures made entirely of paper and who look like they’ve been waiting in the world's worst DMV. The exhibit represents the states without clean slate laws, highlighting the plight of individuals battling red tape for criminal record expungement. With stacks of paper symbolizing the mountains of bureaucracy faced by those seeking expungement, it’s like an alternante version of The Philadelphia Museum of Art were it run by the DMV. Visitors can witness firsthand the weight of paper-based woes, leaving them to wonder, “Hey, maybe we should make it easier to clear criminal records,” and also, “Paper cuts are a real danger.” Whyy.org (1 minute)

Scoop's up, peeps! “Waiting Workforce” will be on view for about a month.

Artificial Creativity

Refik Anadol ’s exhibition at the Serpentine Galerie is what might happen if you let a supercomputer binge-watch Bob Ross. In his exhibition, "Echoes of the Earth: Living Archive," Anadol’s AI is like a toddler let loose with finger paints, except the toddler is a highly advanced machine, and the finger paints are complex data sets. It’s like he’s turned the machine learning process into a Montessori class for silicon-based life forms. Sure, AI can beat us at chess and Go, but there’s an entirely different level of discomfort knowing it's now treading into the uniquely human realm of artistic expression. But I guess if AI is going to take over the world, it might as well do it aesthetically. Some argue that Anadol's AI is doing no more than churning out cold, emotionless data into something resembling a kindergartner’s art project, but with the enthusiasm of a hipster discovering Instagram filters for the first time. I disagree. For me, we are no doubt in a surreal world where if you stare at the art long enough, you might just start to believe that a computer has a soul – or at least a degree in Fine Arts. So next time your laptop freezes, maybe it's not broken. Maybe it's just pondering the futility of existence. The Art Newspaper (8 minutes)

Scoop's up, peeps! Refik Anadol: Echoes Of The Earth: Living Archive?Serpentine North Gallery, London, until 7 April

Dream Weavers Unite

If theme parks are where dreams come to life, the Themed Entertainment Association INSPIRE is where those dreams get a strategy session. The event, a cocktail of Hollywood sparkle and Disneyland dreams, included Hasbro 's Matt Proulx (who is showing how toys aren't just for kids anymore with the rigor of a mathematical proof), Wendy Heimann-Nunes (who needs no courtroom to dispense strategy, and probably gave a masterclass in international business without needing a translator) and, of course, Matthew Cross, ICAE, who co-authors our way through the whole event. From discussing the emotional tug-of-war between innovation and authenticity to celebrating the tenacity of immigrant entrepreneurs like LUIS RAMALLO's and Martin Ramallo's Alien Fresh Jerky empire (guys... my kid's believe that this is what remains from alien meat, air-dried to perfection after an "unsuccessful flying saucer crash landing" – please, I need for you tell them that their dad's story checks out), INSPIRE is a testament to the power of imagination (and a piping hot karaoke mic). Blooloop (5 minutes)

The Transformative Tales of Burning Man

Join my friend Heather Gallagher, the woman who turned Burning Man insights into an art form and owns the most spectacularly kaleidoscopic hair in the known universe, for a masterclass in transformation, guided by my another amazing friend, Josh Goldblum, founder of Futurespaces (and Bluecadet ) and the master of bringing stories and insights out of his guests so well, you’d think he invented conversation. A/K/A #CameraGirl, Heather's not just a former Burning Man exec, she's a modern-day alchemist. She regularly turned desert experiences into gold, so imagine what she could do with a little running water. Futurespaces (1 minute)

Scoop's up, peeps! Thursday, April 11 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT. RSVP.

Wonkapocalypse Now

My friend and creative genius Barron Scott Levkoff, along with his Mystic Midway?crew, are turning our 888 Marin Street, The Midway SF's new space, into a Wonkapocalypse-inspired wonderland, where the only thing more colorful than the candy is the characters. With a lineup that reads like the guest list of the most eclectic imaginary dinner party ever, "Mondo Wonky: Into the Wonkyverse" is less an event and more an exercise in creative chaos. Prepare for an evening where "normal" is the weirdest thing you can be. Get ready to dance, laugh, and possibly question your life choices as you journey through an experience that’s part art, part rave, and entirely bonkers. Featuring everything from drag queens to tattooed oranges (because, why not?), this whimsical adventure promises a night where reality is politely shown the door. Get tix!

Where Dream Makers Convene

The XP Fronts, presented by Erica Boeke 's XP Land in partnership with C2 (the brains behind the renowned creative business gathering C2 Montréal, co-founded with the agency Sid Lee and Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group), promises to be the meeting ground for the most inventive minds in the experience-making domain. Here, you'll find the industry's bigwigs rubbing elbows, exchanging business cards, and probably discussing how to make your next trip to the grocery store feel like a journey through Middle-earth. The event offers a unique opportunity to refine your experiential strategies for the years ahead, collaborate on deals, and connect with fellow visionaries. On the XP Fronts’ main stage, the crescendo of creativity promises to be so intense, it could turn your concept of "experience" on its head. And as the sun sets, the select evening event becomes a melting pot of XP masterminds, likely conspiring to turn your daily commute into a teleportation trial run. Tickets are available by application only here.

Scoop's up, peeps! The XP Fronts will take place May 21-22, 2024 during C2MTL at the Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal.

The Great Theatrical Cook-off

Get ready for No Proscenium's Los Angeles Immersive Invitational: where "sleep is for the weak" meets "improvise, adapt, overcome." Teams have 48 hours to make magic happen in a theater, and you get to see their sleep-deprived genius unfold. You'll witness the birth of the next big things in theater in bite-sized, 15-minute spectacles. And if that's not enough, there's champagne at the end - because who doesn't like clinking glasses to celebrate the power of last-minute brilliance? This year's lineup of competing teams include?Coin & Ghost,?KatNip,?Last Call,?Queen's Fools,?Rogue Artists Ensemble,?The Speakeasy Society,?SpyBrunch, and ?HRS/Cherry Poppins. Get tix

Scoop's up, peeps! No Pro LA Invitational, April 21st, Nocturne Theatre, Glendale, CA

The Summit Where Dreams are Designed

Get ready for the WXO - World Experience Organization's World Experience Summit 2024, James Wallman 's brainchild and the epicenter of everything insanely cool and imaginative in experientialism! Imagine a place where you can learn the dark arts of experience design from sorcerers of the craft, vent your heart out at the Unconference, and then dance it all off in a wild immersive rant and rave – because, let’s face it, the best ideas come in that briefest of moments between a shimmy and a shake! I'm excited to meet up with everyone there, including all those friends from around the globe with whom I've only had Zoom playdates. I'll be the one taking copious notes like a nerdy fanboy during the day and leading the conga line at night!

Let's Dive Deeper Together

Hey there, I'm Lou Pizante , the curious mind behind "The Experientialist." This newsletter is my playground, a place where art, technology, culture, and commerce dance together. But it's not just about what I have to say – it's about sparking conversations, learning from each other, and growing our collective knowledge.

I'm always on the lookout for fascinating new experiences, innovative ideas, and intriguing perspectives. If you've got a story, a project, or a brainwave that you're itching to share, or if you're just keen to chat about the latest in immersive art or groundbreaking tech, I'm all ears.

Why not reach out? Let's connect and explore these fascinating intersections together. Drop me a message, and let's see where our conversation takes us. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!