What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2022 COVER STORY The Weird And The Wonderful Expect the unexpected in music, art at FORMAT APRIL WALLACE and MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette C olorful tree houses, a mirrored hot-air balloon, a disco madhouse and daily invasions of Soundsuits are some of the many things you can see and experience at the FORMAT — "For Music + Art + Technology" — Festival Sept. 23-26 on the private Sugar Creek Airstrip. The 250 acres of forest- enclosed green space, just a six minute drive from downtown Bentonville, will be the site of this brand new festival in Northwest Arkansas, created by a partnership among OZ Brands, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary. More than 50 artists will be performing live, including Australian band Rüfüs Du Sol, Phoenix, Beach House, The Flaming Lips, British electronic music project Jungle and The War on Drugs, among others. Tickets for the event went on sale in late April. While the festival will have traditional main and side stages for performances, live music will also happen in a number of alternative settings, such as a converted disco barn, a multi-room speakeasy, hidden forest enclaves and an open-air pavilion, according to a news release. The premiere of an artificial intelligence collaboration between John Gerrard and Richie Hawtin will take place during the festival, revealing data- and environmental-responsive digital artwork. An "ever-changing" musical composition will be played alongside it. Visual arts will play a strong role in FORMAT with installations, integrated performances and art experiences by several well known artists, including Jacolby Satterwhite, Pia Camil and Marinella Senatore. Nick Cave's iconic Soundsuits will make daily "invasions" at the festival. Cave's elaborate costumes made of discarded materials are works of art. One of Cave's sculptural Soundsuits — a large construction of twigs, synthetic berries and metal over a mannequin — was on display earlier this year as a part of "The Dirty South" exhibit at Crystal Bridges. A mirrored hot-air balloon, called New Horizon, by Doug Aitken will make an appearance, and artist duo "assume vivid astro focus" will place colorful tree houses and other wooden structures in the forest. The barn will be transformed into a "disco madhouse" by artist Maurizio Cattelan's Toiletpaper Magazine, and a large scale maze made of recycled plastic bottles revealed, created by guerrilla collective Luzinterruptus, will be revealed. Guests can also look forward to large-scale light installations, an interactive textile sculpture and a new design to one of the prominent venues involved in the festival. NICK CAVE The Soundsuits are coming. And this time, the elaborate costumes — works of art — made of discarded materials will be worn by 14 people chosen in the region. The Northwest Arkansans inside each suit will dance and interact with the happenings and performances of FORMAT Festival, including those of Chic, The Flaming Lips, Phoenix and The War on Drugs. Cave says the performers will spend two days workshopping and going through a series of exercises that will be interesting, fun and exciting. "I don't want anything to be planned," Cave says of the performances of the Soundsuit "Soundsuit, 2009," fabric with appliquéd crochet and buttons, knitted yarn and metal armature is an example of one of Cave's sculptural works and was part of the "Crafting America" exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The Soundsuits in FORMAT will differ, becoming wearable, highly moveable costumes with supports on the shoulders for parts that extend 4 and 5 feet above the wearer's shoulders. (Courtesy Photo/Crystal Bridges Museum) Nick Cave has captured the imagination of Crystal Bridges Museum patrons with his Soundsuits, but the FORMAT Festival, Sept. 23-25 in Bentonville, will see the artworks become interactive. (Courtesy Photo/Sandro)