Our first temporary, fully-immersive experience was created through the Artist in Residence program at Current Studio in Oklahoma City. This experiential art installation took participants on a physical journey through the various levels of human consciousness, from feelings of dreamy introspection to the high energy of being fully awake, and everything in between.
Founders: Tammy Greenman, Kelsey Karper, Laura Massenat, Laurent Massenat, Hugh Meade
Artist Team: Amber Rae Black, Denise Duong, Nicole Emmons-Willis, adam Lanman, William Walker Larason, Erin Latham, Nick Lillard, Mike Litzau, Leigh Martin, Tiffany McKnight, Mandy Messina, Brandon Seekins, Cassie Stover, David Webber, Amanda Zoey
Support Team: Nate Borchert, Torrey Butzer, Erica Colbath, Mikey Colbath, Nima Ferdosi, Barney Karper, Lawrence Kincheloe, Katelynn Knick, Brent Logsdon, Jason Martin, Chloe Massenat, Thomas Massenat, Marke McConnell, Mat Miller, Amanda Robles
SHIFT Curator: Kelsey Karper
SHIFT
Imagine a shift
where compassion factories are built of bubble gum and gumption
with bellies full of pulleys dancing
stamping out all the places you belong
handing out truth-samples on every corner
not the GMO-microwaved truth you grew up on
but genuine organic non-degradable grade-A truth that gets in your bones
Imagine a shift
where every day there plays an orchestra of belong
where oboes ooze enlightenment
electric guitars strum transcendence
medicine bows stroke stomach strings and we are drained of our pains
where cellos know our names
and accordions convince us that we are enough
Imagine a shift
where we hitchhike scared shitless all the way to Machu Pichu
where our costumes all fall off
where we nurture our senses in our wombs
and when they emerge from our bodies blood beautiful we know
that they have loved us their entire lives
Imagine a shift
where we are no longer terrified to survive
where with our hands we have felted the wool of our own security
filled our lungs with the oxygen of audacity
where our ribs have bent to hold our heart our art
because time is temporary and life is short and love is very, very long
Imagine a shift
where you are your own heart’s desire
where all the gardens are tended all the dogs have homes
all the babies are tickled all the orphanages are empty
where all the candy has been tasted and all the oceans swum
and all the songs the songs have all been sung
and we toss our televisions into this here pile
and no one’s a dick
not 7th grade you or Big Easy you or Burning Man you or law-school you
but we have been interwoven we have been chosen
to invent new ways of being now
yes, born without our consent, but not to survive to rise
like all the suns we waited up to see, and to shine in this time
to carve our names in the caves of every mountain we climb
to let our bones be soft and our scars be old and our doubts be thin
and to let us now begin.
— Angie LaPaglia
Inspired by SHIFT, Factory Obscura Poet Laureate Angie LaPaglia composed and performed this poem at our Midnight Dinner, incorporating survey responses from attendees about their memories, dreams, and wishes.