On Saturday night at Gallery Particulier, music, film, and ikebana came together making for a festive night. The event was masterfully organized by Control Room East (CRE001) which is led by filmmaker Nick Owen.
The music – Imal Gnawa filled the space with a haunting, trance-like music that was warm and spiritual, drawing people into a warm, inviting experience. The music was beautiful, thanks to the skills and talent of the musicians, and the use of both traditional instruments and modern technology.
The Ikebana – That same thread appeared in the ikebana arrangements, where skateboards were folded into the floral installations as part of the display itself. Unexpected materials, including corn cobs and even a washing machine, became part of the compositions, giving the arrangements a playful and contemporary flair.
The flowers also extended into the musical performance. Christina, Mika and Hannah, from the ikebana collective, placed floral elements on the musicians, while the performers’ embroidered costumes reflected the arrangements around them.
The Film – Nick Owen showed his film Kite’s End which uses skateboarding as a way of moving through the city, and absorbing the city, showing how urban space becomes something interior and personal over time.
The Art – People took time to look at, and admire the art on the wall: Open Your Mind: A Visual Mixtape by Elliot Johnson. His ecstatic depiction of musicians was a perfect complement to the evening.
Just as each part of the event linked to the others, the audience connected in a vibrant atmosphere, where people from across New York whose roots stretched to many different parts of the world found common ground through art.
The city’s different frequencies came to hum together in the same room.
And that’s our mission: offering an innovative way of experiencing visual arts! Thank you, Nick Owen.
