Brooklyn’s industrial buildings keep churning out creativity.
In Greenpoint, artists are transforming a century-old rope factory-turned-skate park into a pop-up venue for a month-long series of performances, benefits, and parties. Sound and light artists will fill the space with 360-degree video projections to create immersive environments for musicians and other performers.
In hopes of upending traditional ideas of staging and performance, a round stage is in the center of the space, which means audiences and art will circulate around the performances.
“The audience will be right on top of the musicians,” said Ken Farmer, creative director of the light and sound art company Nuit Blanche, which is organizing the series of performances beginning on Oct. 6. “It’s an incredibly intimate experience.”
The erstwhile skate park venue the Autumn Bowl will open with performances by OneBeat, an international group of musicians sponsored by the U.S. State Department in an effort to promote every-day diplomacy through music of all genres — hip-hop, electronic, roots, rock, and jazz. The musicians who come from all over the world will perform amid video installations by Cartune Xprez.
And on Oct. 12 and 13, the venue will host Whispers, a sound art festival hoping to bridge the gap between sound art, performance, and music. At the festival, artist Zach Layton will attempt to amplify his subconscious — presenting his unpredictable brand of experimental music — in a collaboration with filmmaker Elisa da Prato. Later, the space will transform into a dance party.
According to Farmer, the idea is to mix genres and show visitors that they don’t just have to go to a sound art installation, or just go to a dance party — you can do both.
The series will culminate in a Halloween party toward the end of the month, orchestrated by the utterly awesome Andrew W.K.
Nuit Blanche at the Autumn Bowl (67 West St. between Milton and Noble streets, www.theautumnbowl.com). Starting Oct. 6, 8 pm.
