Q: What do a mobile diner, an annual arts event in the desert, urban foragers, and Bay creatures that arrived by ballast water have in common?
A: Their itinerant circumstances are often the source of their creativity, survival, and even evolution.
While true nomads are rare in industrialized countries, hybrids of whimsical and economically inventive itinerancies are evolving here in the Bay Area. From the underground food cart phenomenon to Wonderarium (
http://wonderarium.posterous.com/), a giant floating terrarium planned for Oakland’s Lake Merritt, the Bay Area tends to incubate peripatetic creatures and cultures that in turn shape life here and beyond in unusual ways.
Join us for a drink and meet Harley Dubois, the “Mayor of Black Rock City.” Find out how the infrastructure for Burning Man’s (
http://www.burningman.com/) fifty thousand celebrants is built each year in the northern Nevada desert. Chat with platinum-wigged waitresses at the Dust City Diner (
http://www.dustcitydiner.com/), a ’40s-style performance piece complete with blue plate specials; learn about wild foods found inside city limits; and take a hands-on tour of exotic species now at home in the Bay.
Featured Events and Performances...
•Building Black Rock City with Harley K. Dubois
Burning Man is about art and community; it also serves as an innovative model of temporary urban infrastructure. Planning for fifty thousand inhabitants to occupy the northern Nevada desert for a week—leaving no trace of their presence afterward—is an interesting challenge. Learn how organizers and highly skilled volunteers lay the foundation for emergency services, civic and public use spaces, and a municipal airport. A founding member of the Burning Man Board, Harley K. Dubois is one of five members, along with Executive Director Larry Harvey, that comprise Black Rock City LLC, the entity that manages Burning Man.
•Dust City Diner
Step up to a ’40s-style diner, complete with a quilted stainless steel backsplash, red leather stools, chrome finishes, the Ink Spots and the Andrews Sisters on the radio, and-of course—blue—plate specials. Oh yeah, they have a few waitresses, too. For one night only, this mobile, magical, and performative restaurant will serve up portions of retro goodness. Created and operated by artists Michael Brown and David Cole plus a team of volunteers for Burning Man 2008, the Dust City Diner served hot coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches from dusk till dawn at an unannounced location deep in the desert. Tonight, you, too, can savor its homey flavors and the good company at its counters. Learn more at:
http://www.dustcitydiner.com/
•Food Carts
Chairman Bao (
http://www.twitter.com/chairmantruck)
Tamale Lady (
http://twitter.com/tamalelady)
Creme Brulee Cart (
http://twitter.com/cremebruleecart)
Kung Fu Tacos (
http://twitter.com/kungfutacos)
Bubala’s SF Rugelach (
http://twitter.com/sfrugelach)
Smitten Ice Cream (
http://twitter.com/smittenicecream)
•Paul Nosa
Give artist Paul Nosa five words or less, and he will interpret your suggestion into an improvised piece of art through free-motion embroidery on a solar powered sewing machine. How much could a tangible piece of your imagination possibly cost? That’s up to you. Paul Nosa only charges what you think his creations are worth. The raw, rough edges of his designs will remind visitors that being human is a wandering path. A video of Paul Nosa at work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnhjddkLOws&feature=player_embedded
•Accidental Residents with Dr. Karen Kalumuck
San Francisco’s backyards and Bay provide cozy homes for a diversity of species. While some are native, many were brought here through deliberate means, such as importation, or accidental means, such as ballast water. These exotic visitors can sometimes thrive and out-compete native species for resources. Join Exploratorium biologist Dr. Karen Kalumuck for a hands-on tour of common Bay invaders. While you reach inside a marine touch tank, hear the saga of their wanderings and discover their impact on local ecosystems.
•San Francisco Mobile Museum
More than just people and animals are on the move at After Dark. Developed by artist Maria Mortati, the San Francisco Mobile Museum is an experimental platform playing with short-run shows and in-depth experiences. The Mobile Museum appears in store fronts, parks, and social spaces. Exhibits run from high participation, locally grown creations, to traditionally curated presentations.
Learn more at:
http://sfmobilemuseum.org/
***On Thursday, August 5, the museum will be closed from 5-6 p.m. in preparation for After Dark: Nomadic Communities. If you arrive before 5 p.m., please be sure to keep your admissions sticker for re-entry to the museum at 6 p.m.
***Also, please note a change to our After Dark admission policy: In response to feedback from many attendees, beginning Thursday, October 7, only visitors 18 and older will be admitted to After Dark. Thank you for understanding—and for helping make After Dark a success.
To join the After Dark e-mail list and receive notifications of future events, contact
afterdark@exploratorium.edu .
Become an After Dark Member!
Purchase an After Dark Member Pass for $25 and receive free admission to First Thursday evening events — plus a 20% discount at the Exploratorium Store anytime during regular or evening hours. The After Dark Member Pass pays for itself in just two visits and lasts for one year from your date of purchase.
Already an Exploratorium Member? No need to buy an After Dark Member Pass; simply show your Member ID to receive free admission to these events.
After Dark website:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/afterdark
