NEW YORK CITY PT1 : CRYSTAL CAVERN

Looking through the rear-view mirror, we're glad we didn't bail. Although we were tempted with the Sandy aftermath and a state of complete exhaustion after breaking gravity from Maine. Thankfully, we have true friends who were determined enough to give us the classic, "GET YR ASSES OVER HERE" call. Awaiting us a couple state lines later were two beautiful nights in New York City, catching up with an array of old friends, and our mattress freshly covered in gasoline.

Best advice for those traveling anywhere at any time: NEVER put a gas can on anything fabric. Even if you "think" it's empty... Now with our blankets soaking in baby oil and vinegar and stretched out across the grass.. at least we can think back to our nights in the city and know it was all worth it.

First up, THE CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

Founded by Alanna Heiss (best known for founding P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center), this gallery sits on the 13th floor of a municipal building on the lower east side of Manhattan. Heavily guarded with grumpy staff and metal detectors, it's quite an ordeal just to get ourselves up to the gallery, let alone a drum kit, but there's an oasis when you finally make it up to number 13...

We were there to see our dear friend SERRA VICTORIA BOTHWELL FELS at the opening of her new installation, CRYSTAL CAVERN. We worked with Serra in Detroit last year for the RABID HANDS' installation VODOPOI... and instantly fell in love with her and her aesthetic, in life and in her art.

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                                                                    Another Rabid Hander, VNESSWOLFCHILD, along with TERENCE CAULKINS, created a sound bath for the installation, pushing the visual space into an immersive, felt experience. To hear what they created check out  ART ON AIR... the Clocktower's radio archive. VnessWolfCHild's performance that night was stellar... check out the video clip we snagged!



VnessWolfCHild VIDEO CLIP
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Before setting up our gear in a smaller room down the hall, we combed the two floors of the gallery and scoped  THE GAMELATRON JALAN JIWO by A TAYLOR KUFFNER ... in one word: DAAAAAMMMNNNN!!.. Robotic arms hitting gongs and golden bowls, creating a multitude of patterns bouncing from one end of the room to the other, and each object lighting up as their sound fills the space. Our video in no way does this exhibit justice as the patterns vary from a river of rapid successions to a slower movement more like a quiet pond of a few fish.

GAMELATRON JALAN JIRO VIDEO CLIP

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Upstairs, we were lucky enough to catch the last moments of  SHOPLIFTER's installation NEVERSCAPE. A rainbow of synthetic hair hangs high above your head... if only we could have seen it in it's entirety... but it was literally getting a haircut in these last hours.

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Serra's Crystal Cavern was truly AWEsome.. a tiny tunnel in the entryway led you to the heart of the installation, with only a small supplemental peephole for the less adventurous. However, once in there, you're surrounded by the soothing sounds and myriad nooks to curl up and contemplate... If there weren't so many amazing people and exhibits to witness that night, we might have stayed in the caverns all night.

CRYSTAL CAVERN VIDEO CLIP  

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So, if you happen to be anywhere near New York City now or in the future weeks.. PLANETS is happy to repeat the words of our NYC homies: "GET YR ASS OVER HERE!"

>>> PLANETS AROUND THE SUN and VnessWolfCHild were recorded LIVE at CLOCKTOWER GALLERY 11//13//2012 for ART ON AIR, CLOCKTOWER's Radio Archive...

 <><> LISTEN HERE & NOW



HERE ARE SOME MORE MOMENTS FROM THE NIGHT:

Photos of PLANETS AROUND THE SUN by Samuel Huber     

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SO LONG, VACATIONLAND..

After a year of traveling followed by a five month respite back in Maine, Planets Around the Sun has once again packed everything we own back into the minivan. Imprinting migratory patterns...

With the traveling mindset fully set back in, we reflect on this past summer and fall with all the moments we were lucky enough to capture. Thanks for havin' us, Maine. We'll hold you close to the heart as we migrate through the southern states these winter months.

>> HERBCRAFT at AROOTSAKOOSTIC FESTIVAL in NEW SWEDEN, MAINE  >>>>>

<<< PLANETS AROUND THE SUN at AROOTSAKOOSTIC. photo by Dylan Verner.

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Janane Tripp at her spring home in Montville, Maine at Waterfall Arts // her roommate and one of our favorite musicians  TRACEY TRANCE teachin' a man to fish  

<<< ROCKLAND, MAINE

VVVVVV A happy family at CONTE'S in Rockland. VVVV

PLANETS AROUND THE SUN at the already-missed DIRIGIMUS in PORTLAND MAINE, featuring LEIF SHERMAN CURTIS on guitar and ADINAH BARNETT on her THUNDERBOW. 

PRIDES CORNER DRIVE-IN, Westbrook, Maine !! !! >>>>>>>>>

<<< Hanging posters at SPACE GALLERY in Portland, Maine celebrating 10 years!

Portland, Maine

Front page News >>>

<<<< INJURIES

SHON RA and CK at 33 in Portland>>>

<<<< I-MAN's DJ night makes a return..

Our dear pals  from Portland, Oregon, MSHR in a deep east coast hang>>>>>

<<<<<<< BROTHER LAJOIE <<<<                         

^^^Croquet on the Eastern Prom ^^^

VVV VIDEO NAStieS!!  VVV

VVV TEMPERA with I-MAN getting ready for Sam n' Jen's wedding with some dock o' the bay jamz VVV

^^^^ IMAN and CK workin' hard for the good folks of OTTO pizza and LFK ^^^^

>>>>  PLANETS' PAD at 33 CONGRESSIONAL VVVVVVVVVVVVV

>>> LIMITLESS RANGE exhibit at SPACE GALLERY  >>>>

<<<< TINARIWEN playing at One Longfellow Square in Portland... one of the greatest shows we've seen in a while.

>>>>>CK & I-MAN all matchy matchy day and having our last OXBOW (the farmhouse ale is hands down our new favorite beer)  in Portland, ME at LFK
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Thanks, y'all... it's been a blast!  We'll be in touch. To receive post cards, emails, missives and general treats from the road, feel free to send an email to planetsaroundthesun@gmail.com
Adios, Maine... Go with God... <3 <3 <3  PLANETS AROUND THE SUN