The Sonic Brainwash

Interactive art installation Created for drive thru Burning Man Affiliate Event “art, Beats & Tacos”.

To provide some much needed distraction, community, art, and music to the Sacramento region during COVID, Sacramento Valley Spark, the local Burning Man organization, hosted a drive-thru event called "Art, Beats, & Tacos" in late July of 2020. This Burning Man style event incorporated DJs, food trucks, burner art, live performances, and burners themselves all as entertainment and "food for the soul." One of the main attractions at the event was the Sonic Brainwash, a collaboration between myself, Sean Stillwell, Lucaso Maroney, and Eliza Maroney.​

The Sonic Brainwash was a way to transport participants out of the default world and into a fully encapsulated dreamscape inside the safety of their own car. From the outside the Brainwash looked like a trippy drive through carwash with wash options similar to its default world counterparts. After selecting "Shallow Cleans", "Deep Rinseless Wash", or "Truly Enlightened Deluxe", cars full of young and old alike would enter a neon wonderland where they were serenaded with positive affirmations, healing meditations, and inclusive messaging.

Thanks to Ed Fletcher, Sacramento Valley Spark, the city of Rancho Cordova, and all of the volunteers for making this event possible. And special thanks to the amazing Brainwash Crew, we couldn't have done this without you!

 Featured in the Sacramento Bee.​