Arts Festival Oklahoma, held on the Oklahoma City Community College campus in southwest Oklahoma City, welcomes the unique and compelling Squonk Opera show “Pneumatica” to this year’s dynamic lineup of entertainment.
There will be six different opportunities to see the show during the festival, two including a workshop afterward about the science involved in the production. Squonk Opera began performing over 20 years ago in a junkyard in Pittsburgh with choreographed cranes and roaring earthmovers and screaming machine shears. Composer Jackie Dempsey and artist Steve O’Hearn work with an ensemble of 10-20 artists to create post-industrial performances with original music, design and staging, outside the rules of mass culture, fashion or academia.
“Pneumatica” is an event about air, made of air and powered by air. The Squonkers pump up the volume with live original music that permeates the air, while inflatables pump up and immerse the audience. Figures and tentacles grow, powered by blowers and vortex fans, and culminate in the 40-foot high Lady Pneumatica.
Not only will audiences enjoy the music and spectacle of the performance but will also discover the power and science of air. The six 30-minute, free performances will be:
• Saturday, Sept. 5, at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. (workshop to follow)
• Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. (workshop to follow), 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Arts Festival Oklahoma has been a favorite Labor Day event in the Oklahoma City metro area since 1978. Over 25,000 patrons attend the festival over the Labor Day weekend to view and purchase original artwork by regional artists, experience exceptional performances and productions, and sample a diverse food selection. Admission is free while there is an additional $5 cost for parking per vehicle. For more information, visit /afo.
