We arrive on site. It’s 96 degrees and this is the “cool” day. First things first, set up basecamp. Then it’s prep the lights for the balloon chain at night. Pack the gear for the day. Robert Bose has it down to a system. Then a little lunch, shower and head to the grounds with the gear. Artists’ camp is on Coachella grounds, but it is a 20 minute walk to our “HQ” in the concert field. There are 2 shifts each day, about 2-3 hours each, on, then off, then back on. Stefan, Sonia and I choose the first and third shift. Everyone meets back at HQ at 1am for break down. Back at basecamp around 2am. It’s a blast! But wow, am I exhausted. I am in the tent next to our camp tables and I wake up to 50 cowbells strewn all over. That is tired!
Sonia and I walk to HQ. It’s our first excursion there. Hot! Fun! The energy is alive.
Ben secures the tanks in HQ.
Hey Robert, what color balloons today? Green! It’s earth day!
Sonia blows them all up. Lindsey and I add the balloons to the chain. The band Los Angeles Azules accompanies us on the main stage. It’s quite festive.
Balloons all up! Each balloon is my wingspan apart. I would look up and marvel on that!
We’d tell people who wanted to hold the chain to do this ridiculous pose…getting carried away by balloons. Some actually did it!
Presenting the Balloon Chain in all her glory! What a brilliant yet simple idea Robert Bose has in doing this! After 3 hours of putting them in the sky, studying the wind patterns, answering dozens of questions, letting people hold the line (don’t worry, we have a safety), we get 3 hours off until night shift!
Our lovely relief team, Suzanne and Pinky, take over.
Let’s get a beer and see the art, like that space station back there!
Or Robert Bahr and Rosario Marquardt’s Supernova!
This fabulous artist was live painting her. Love!!!
Salvadoran artist Simón Vega’s Palm-3 World Station, inspired by Cold War era space travel and the artist’s Central American heritage. (Hello Balloons with my wingspan!)
Sonia taking a break!
Edoardo Tresoldi’s enormous mesh wire sculpture of a baroque-style building, Etherea. And Sonia and Stefan have perfect form too!
Etherea and Stefan. Both gorgeous!
Yes…time for a beer! Finally!
Someone asks if we are in the band Arcade Fire because of the matching jumpsuits I made with EN patches. I am well-chuffed!!!
We stumble into the air-conditioned Absolut tent and get everyone dancing. It’s lovely and fun.
Fun times with Stefan Spins! (Per usual!)
Spectra by UK-based design studio Newsubstance, inspired by the sunrise and sunset. Also inspiration in those leaps!
Flower break. Would you look at those violas? My gardenerd heart sang.
Ok, so we had no idea what we were in for. The sun set. The crowds swarmed. The lights came on. It was big time ONNN. Deorro takes the stage.
Deorro is intense beyond words. The crowd goes wild. We exit stage left. Our second shift is up.
That stage Deorro was on looked like a giant spider. Well-designed. As I looked back as we exited through the thick crowd, I couldn’t help but think of many frightening science fiction movies.
Night fell. Winds picked up. Balloons shifted. It was all hands on deck. I held a line on my own above my head since it all went horizontal fast. St. Vincent had my back! Her set, glorious.
Then our shift was over. And Stefan and I headed over to Jean-Michel Jarre. He is the precursor to Daft Punk and dare I say the godfather of electronic music? My dad would listen to his record in the 70’s. It was way out there. His show was energetic, full of projected moving screens and panels. Overall, I was impressed! Unexpected!
We ended the night with Jamiroquai. His music is as great as ever. I danced the whole time. Left a sweaty mess. Newfound energy. But why that weird helmet with an Adidas sweatshirt and jeans? Was very perplexing. He is also kind of a punk. Fantastic, fun, unstoppable music. But would not want to be friends with him. Lastly, break down…and that was our night. Not bad for Day 50, halfway through!
5 Comments
Half way through and rockin’ it out. YOU DANCED SO HARD at Jamiroquai…it was down right inspiring. What a fun day.
Sprinkles!!!!! ♥️
Awesome photos! Looks so fun!! ♂️
wow too many pictures to even comment on! it all looks like a blast. sonya and sprinkles jump so HIGH in those photos. and the night time photo you took of coachella is postcard worthy. looks like an absolute blast, but then everything you do does! living the life!!! 🙂 xoxox
Let the adventures continue!