PE Mistery Machine 8-28 — File 212206

PUBLIC EVENT/SPECIAL ALCOHOL LICENSE APPLICATION City of Somerville, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Application #: PEL21-000059 File #: 21-008584   Application for: Public Event Organization name: bent/haus: Ben K. Foley + Allison Tanenhaus   Event name: The Mistery Machine Description: Our public art project serves to entertain, educate, and provide cooling relief to Somerville residents in the heat of summer. We'll be arranging a series of water misters securely affixed to an event tent structure to emit a steady stream of cooling droplets that can be walked through and under. We will then align projectors to beam colorful kaleidoscopic animations that would be captured, refracted, and reflected in the mist. This will create a vibrant light show that all ages can not only enjoy by viewing from a distance, but also from experiencing up close and actually in the invigorating installation.   Location: Chuckie Harris Park, a terraced green space with an oversized slide, play areas and community garden plots, plus benches. Date(s): Saturday, August 28, 2021   Rain date(s): Sunday, August 29, 2021 Setup starts at (time): 6 pm   Event starts at (time): 8 pm  Cleanup after the event ends at (time): 10 pm   Event ends at (time): 9:30 pm Entertainment: In addition to the interactive cooling art show, we will have light electronic instrumental music to create a relaxing ambience. There will be no lyrics (so it is fully family-friendly) and at a low volume so as not to bother neighbors. Temporary Structures: Essentially, our installation is a traditional tent structure (without the fabric affixed) upon which hose misters will be secured, creating a "ceiling" of cooling mist. Set-back projections will beam video art onto and above this mist, illuminating it as a sort of environmental screen (like how rainbows appear over and around waterfalls). The tent is typically used for bike races, so we will secure it with weights and sandbags (like for outdoor market setups). We will attend to it the whole time, so it won't be left vulnerable to the elements or to tampering. Attendees:     Max attendance at one time: 40   Total people attending: 75     Maximum attendees accommodated: 100   Total Somerville residents attending: 65   Attendee fees or suggested donations: $0   What is your budget for this event: $900   Social or cultural benefits:  A big part of this project (a recipient of a Keep Cool Somerville grant) pertains to educating the public about heat mediation, comfort, and safety, as well as pressing issues like climate change effects on our region. We are in the process of connecting with other Keep Cool Somerville grantees to see where there is crossover with their literature and messaging. This will lead to a magnification of outreach and a deepening of our event's social and cultural benefits. The project also has an immediate health benefit. In   Financial benefits:  N/A

addition to the all-ages entertainment value of the light show -- and the educational component -- the cooling mist will provide heat relief to anyone and everyone, free of charge, during what is sure to be a scorching summer. Event Contact: Allison Tanenhaus Event Contact Phone: N/A Event Information  Yes/No If yes, Describe Open to the public? Yes We are working closely with Keep Cool Somerville (and thus the Office of Sustainability and Environment), the Somerville Arts Council, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development to amplify the message and promote it to all of our networks via social media (including the SomervilleParks Instagram account), email, flyers, and other communications. Food served? No Caterer used? Alcohol served? No Grill/open-flame device used? No Streets blocked? No Sidewalks blocked? No Arrangements:     Police Detail: No Parking (for Attendees)? No Restrooms? No Liability Insurance? No Will any public parks be used? Yes Chuckie Harris Park Has the event occurred in the last two years? No Approval Conditions: Approved By: CS Mayor, Approved Scott Whalen, Approved CS Traffic and Parking, Approved Christine Morin, Approved Dennis Sullivan, Approved John J. Long, Approved

Keep Cool Somerville bent/haus Proposal

summary We're envisioning a series of misters and fog machines lined up to emit a steady stream of cooling droplets that can be walked through and under. We would then align projectors to beam colorful kaleidoscopic animations that would be captured, refracted, and reflected in the mist. This would create a vibrant light show that all ages could not only enjoy by viewing from a distance, but also from experiencing up close and actually in the installation. Think of it like when a rainbow appears over a waterfall or a sprinkler—only less wet and with a lot more visual impact. timing We’d like to have the installation up for one night (tying it into ArtBeat, for exam­ ple), but repeated several times throughout the summer in different locations. This way it’s more of a traveling attraction that can be accessible to folks who aren’t as centrally located (and may be even more in need of cooling opportunities).

structure The structure would be a frame, like an aluminum pop-up canopy tent. Affordable, collapsible, anchored by either stakes or weights or sandbags like you would do at a farmer’s market (sans tent awning). These pre-made structures are strong, go up in seconds, are extremely portable, and above all are tried and true in regards to safety. This isn’t necessarliy the exact one we want, but something similar to this:

water For the potable water delivery, we’d set up a consumer (or maybe commercial) misting system like this: The water source would be ideally found from an existing tap, which we hope could be found in many parks, likely for public water bubblers and park grounds maintenance. If we set up by a pool or sports field, they could have a fresh town water source. Worst case scenario, we rent a small pressurized water tank. This will be low volume drawn, as well as rela­ tively low pressure. A garden hose or sink could do it based on our research.

electrical We’d source power through the grid and extension cords if possible. Otherwise, we could procure a large deep cycle battery and inverter (Ben owns a setup that we could use) that would suit this project perfectly. The system would run projector(s) and a laptop or simply a media player. The projector would not be set up directly next to the water; it would be set up around 30 feet from the struc­ ture on either tripods, milk crates, or cinder blocks for stability. If we incorporate live electronic music or recorded music, we will also need to power amps and speakers (which we would seek to borrow, either from the city or from various musicians in our network).

Supplementary Media

past work

credits • Debuted at “GlitchKraft: Allison Tanenhaus + Friends,” Emerson Contemporary, Fall 2019 • Featured on ArtConnect’s Instagram, July 2020 • “Breacher, Murmurations, and Wavelengths,” created for Open Air 2020, UConn Avery Point, Groton, CT, curated by Charlotte Gray of the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery • “Orbteka” was super-sized and reimagined for “Art on the Marquee 30” on an 80-foot-tall multi-screen LED marquee (the largest urban screen in New England!), Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Spring 2020 • Featured in CODAmagazine’s issue “Technology & Art VII” • Featured in the Anharmonic Online Film Festival, August 2020 • Featured in UConn Magazine, Fall 2020 • Featured in CADAF (Contemporary + Digital Art Fair)’s #DigitalArtMonth, October 2020 • Featured on Thanks, Artists Club’s Instagram, December 2020 • Featured in Union Square Video, December 2020 and January 2021 • Selected for the 9th Annual International Video Poetry Festival in Athens, Greece, March 2021 • Selected for WetDovetail’s Virtual Gallery Open Call 1:4 (sponsored by Arts Council England) • Featured in The Viewing Room ft. Outpost Gallery, Norwich, UK, April 2021