AxS Festival 2014 | CURIOSITY has commissioned the fascinating LA-based arts collective Machine Project to re-imagine a quintessential Pasadena landmark — the Greene and Greene Arts and Crafts masterpiece — The Gamble House.
For Machine Project Field Guide to The Gamble House, Machine Project founder and artistic director Mark Allen has orchestrated a diverse group of Los Angeles artists to create new works exploring, celebrating, and dramatizing the curious architectural icon. Over the course of the two-week AxS Festival, the history, aesthetic and craftsmanship of The Gamble House will be subtly transformed and revealed through experimental tours, participatory nap concerts, a tableau vivant, puppets, dance, seances, videos, inflatable sculptures, joinery-specific lawn furniture, a secret Swedish-Japanese fusion restaurant and more.
In addition to Machine Project’s daily programming that visitors will experience on regular Gamble House tours throughout AxS Festival , a centerpiece of the Field Guide project will be an all-day series of performances on the grounds and interior of the property.
Asher Hartman
Psychic Reading of the Gamble House
In this film, Asher Hartman psychically reads the Gamble House.
Visit Asher Hartman’s website: asherhartman.com
Carmina Escobar
Omen Avis Choir
This motion-activated bird choir sings to visitors as they walk down the second-floor hallway in the Gamble House, with occasional vocal accompaniment by the artist.
Visit Carmina Escobar’s website: carminaescobar.com
Michael O’Malley
Flower Sculptures
Inspired by the weekly ikebana designs of the Gamble House’s Flower Committee, small flowers sculpted from wood appear throughout the Gamble House, echoing the highly-crafted design of these spaces yet displaying an idiosyncratic sensibility.
Visit Michael O’Malley’s website: momalley.org
Raphael Arar and Chris Weisbart
Projected Shadows Video Installation
This nighttime installation transforms the Gamble House’s exterior through video projected on various surfaces, mimicking the interior’s bas-relief wood carvings.
Visit Raphael Arar’s website: raphaelarar.com
Visit Chris Weisbart’s website: chrisweisbart.tumblr.com
Animal Charm
This mash-up video loops clip art and food, as well as other footage specific to the Gamble House’s time period and style.
Visit Animal Charm’s website: animalcharm.com
Jessica Cowley
Ultimate Bungalow
On display throughout Machine Project’s series at the Gamble House is a hand painted sign “Ultimate Bungalow” by Jessica Cowley.
Matthew Au
Gamble House Roof Sculptures
Half-scale replicas of the Gamble House’s famous roof sit upside-down at various points around the lawn. Allowing for a close-up inspection of the roof’s complex construction out of beams, joists and shingles, these inverted mockups also double as lawn furniture for lounging.
Visit Matthew Au’s website: matthewau.com
Patrick Ballard
A two-story puppet head with blond hair on the front sleeping porch provides contrast to the Gamble House’s brunette interior. Puppeteers activate the sculpture as a closing ritual to the evenings of Sept 27th, Oct 2nd, and Oct 5th
Ken Ehrlich
Gamble House Land Art
The intricately detailed woodwork of the staircase is scaled up and transposed into a two-dimensional image that is etched onto the landscape of the back lawn
Visit Ken Ehrlich’s website: kenehrlich.net
With artwork by: Jeff Elrod, Cayetano Ferrer, Katie Herzog, Emily Joyce, Candice Lin, Sandeep Mukherjee, Rebecca Morris, Laura Owens, Nate Page, Lauralee Pope, Jennifer Rochlin, Sterling Ruby, Anna Sew Hoy, Ricky Swallow, and Henry Taylor.
Additional activities: Poets in closets, musicians in beds, unannounced rituals, music on the Gamble House piano and more!
Hours and Times
Sept 19, 20, 21 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) – Tours noon to 3pm (last tour begins at 3pm)
Sept 23 (Tuesday) – Tours at 12:15pm and 12:45pm
Sept 25, 26, 28 (Thursday, Friday, Sunday) – Tours noon to 3pm (last tour begins at 3pm)
Sept 30 (Tuesday) – Tours at 12:15pm and 12:45pm
Oct 2, 3, 4 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) – Tours noon to 3pm (last tour begins at 3pm)
Reservations for Gamble House tours are available online at the Gamble House website by clicking the BUY TICKETS link on this page. Walk-up tickets can be purchased at The Gamble House, but reservations are strongly suggested as tours often sell out.
Special Machine Project Open House festival hours with free admission for performances and installations:
Open House: Saturday, September 27: 12pm – 10pm
Open House: Thursday October 2: 8pm – 10pm
Family Day: Sunday October 5: Noon-4pm (free to kids 17 and under)