Hashtag Happenings: Poetry & Performance Series

Curated by Shana Nys Dambrot

Among the diverse exhibitors and special installations filling the site with visual arts and design, an organic series of time-based experiential works of art engage audiences with sound, movement, AR, and storytelling — all happening live from the heart of the concourse.

The series will begin during the VIP Preview on Thursday evening with interdisciplinary artist Amy Kaps, whose inhabited sculptural performances activate space with an ambient cadence of stripes and motion. On Friday the series continues with unique pieces by dancer/movement composer Friidom Dunn, and history-minded spoken word artist Mike Sonksen. Additional poetry and page performances by Ruth Nolan and brother-sister spoken word local impresarios Arturo and Erika Castellanos, all representing the College of the Desert Creative Writing community, will continue through the weekend. Acclaimed new media artist (and Desert X alum) Nancy Baker Cahill’s free, interactive phone-based Augmented Reality virtual public art program 4th Wall App is available to download and experiment with — inside the fair, out in the landscape, and beyond.

A full schedule of the #happenings will be available in the days leading up to the fair.

Shana Nys Dambrot is an art critic, curator, and author based in Downtown LA. She is the Arts Editor for the L.A. Weekly, and a contributor to Flaunt, Art & Cake, and Artillery.