The opening performance of The Music Box on Oct 22nd has been widely heralded as the highlight of Prospect 2, New Orleans’ art Biennale. International press has called this avant-garde performance transporting, metaphysical and transcendent. The exhibition continues through December 10th with two more performances featuring legendary musicians like Mannie Fresh, Andrew WK, James Singleton and Hamid Drake amongst many others.

The Music Box is an interactive installation of purpose-built shacks and miniature houses made out of New Orleans’ beautiful architectural details and plentiful salvaged materials; built into in each structure is an invented instrument created by a sound artist. Visitors can interact with this musical shantytown’s singing walls, heartbeat-triggered percussion machine, organ staircase and weather sensitive oscillators. Three monthly live performances are bringing together stellar groups of local and international musicians to play orchestrated  works on these “instruments.” Quintron, the musician and local legend, conducts this experimental shantytownorchestra.The Music Box is an important and exciting prelude to the building of Dithyrambalina, an interactive sound sculpture in the form of a permanent three-story house. This project is being led by the influential street artist Swoon, who is known for her community-driven collaborative endeavors. Swoon has designed the house, but will rely on collaborating artists to bring the Dithyrambalina to life. (READ MORE.)