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complex pattern by smacking buttons in the right order?) We ask you, what kind of venue would allow a man in half-unbuttoned overalls to light this "Simon" device, while a volunteer stood in a square cage of metal tubing, the corners of which were spouting 7-foot (2.1 m) flames in random succession? What kind of venue, indeed, would conscientiously let its warehouse-raw brick-oven space cool down for 20 minutes before a kickball-pregnant woman with a makeup black eye dragged The Device out again, in the middle of a faux-redneck party, her thin, sweat-drenched wifebeater nearly slipping off?
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loading dock (which was used as a live performance stage), and two outdoor areas—the building parking lot and the garden space between the building and the river. Despite having an enviable outdoor space and view of
Manhattan, the Lunatarium could not escape comparisons to the unique experience and expansiveness of the old space.
32:. Managed by DUMBO-based art collective Dumboluna, the Lunatarium was in operation between 2001 and 2004. In its last year of operation it moved from the top floor to the bottom floor of 10 Jay Street. Established in July 2001, Lunatarium quickly gained notoriety due to the unique nature of the space and events that took place.
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To enter, attendees were led through a hallway that sat adjacent to a loading dock, then they were to take a freight elevator and ride it to the top floor (9 stories) of the building. The space itself measured at 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m)., with 30 ft (9.1 m). high ceilings, and
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It Never
Happened. We'd like to disclaim everything we're about to say in advance, in case any fire marshals have deigned to leaf through this issue. We mean, really, what kind of venue would bring out a propane-driven version of Simon? (You remember, that toy where you had to repeat an increasingly
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The budgetary constraints not only posed challenges to the financial viability of the space, but also to the execution of production and promotion of events. During the early period of the
Lunatarium, the deposits required to secure use of the space often left Dumboluna in a scramble to gather funds
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The members of
Dumboluna made little money from the Lunatarium, mainly using any profits from an event to subsidize the venue or to pay off debts from a previous event. However, the members were given priority if they wished to work a paying position during an event—such as bartending, coat check or
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When we first went there to hear DJ Spooky spin, it wasn't like they had flame dancers on a midlevel platform, while below a portly gentleman with a very large fire extinguisher was hardly obscured by sozzled loungers twirling in dangling cloth chairs. It wasn't the sort of venue that would install
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large plastic tubeways to explore, its art exhibits providing the interactivity and danger of a playground, back when playgrounds weren't miniature, multicolored, Martha
Stewart lawn decorations. And would said venue, also, leave you dancing home, the rising sun meeting you halfway to the F train?
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As the notoriety of the
Lunatarium and of the neighborhood increased, so did the rent. At the end of 2003, Dumboluna made an agreement with another landlord in the building and moved the Lunatarium to the bottom floor where it produced one-off events for almost one year. The space included a loft,
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The core members of
Dumboluna include founders, Sebastian Holzmeister (President), Mark Winkel (Vice President), and Micha Waschke, in addition to Rhiannon Erbach-Gruber (Musical Director) and Jacky Tran (Promotional Director), both of whom joined shortly after the collective was established.
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Several months after the
Lunatarium first opened its doors, a small side-room was constructed to be used as a secondary performance space. During the Lunatarium's final months on the top floor, the landlord made a unilateral decision to divide the space into smaller rooms to accommodate the
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Much of the furniture was either found or donated, filling the space with couches, mattresses, hammocks suspended from the steal rafters, and large mounds of fabric, supported by garbage bags stuffed with paper retrieved from the recycling plant located around the corner on
Plymouth Street.
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At its peak, events occurred every Friday and
Saturday. Dumboluna produced its own events in the Lunatarium, but also collaborated with other promoters. However, to subsidize the high rent, equipment rental, security and other logistical fees, the collective also allowed promoters and event
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Several art collectives made use of the space, constructing: inflatable plastic lounges (Anakin Koenig Airways); a giant see-saw and other carnival-style rides (Madagascar Institute); a bed with remote-operated flame throwing bed posts (Seal Arts); and, a life-sized version of
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electronics refurbishing company. Although the walls eliminated much of the echo that pervaded the formerly cavernous space and also allowed promoters to showcase more acts, attendees complained that the walls destroyed the original spirit and impact of the original space.
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scenes. Dumboluna also aimed to maintain a democratic appeal through making stances against enforcing dress codes (but offered incentives to dress according to selected costume themes) and keeping cover charges and drink prices lower than most other New York City clubs.
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An artist, known to everyone as "Al," constructed the stage—a modular piece that could be split into two smaller stages, and the two bars—one of which was constructed out of wrought iron. Using steel pipes, he also helped build the racks of the coat check area.
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event. Supporting evidence included video footage of attendees socializing, but not dancing, and promotional materials explicitly stating that the event would not showcase any dance music. The Lunatarium reopened on January 26, 2002, when one of
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headquarters. During the week, the landlord rented the space to an electronics refurbishing company. During weekday evenings, Dumboluna allowed fire spinners to rehearse in the space for free in exchange for performances during events.
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Video projections and multimedia installations were provided by numerous video artists and VJs, including: Honeygun Labs, Larry Carlson, Mumbleboy, Mojo, The v4, Metal Tiger, Amoeba Technology, Funktaxi 1533, F144 and Squaresquare.
144:. Since reopening, the Lunatarium operated intermittently on a one-off basis until 2004. The members of Dumboluna have continued producing events in other locations since the Lunatarium's closure.
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Due to its high ceilings and noncombustible brick walls and steel rafters, the Lunatarium became known as a fitting exhibition space for projections, large sculptures and pyrotechnics.
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Featuring performance art, video, installations, costume themes, pyrotechnics, local and international music acts, they combined elements of New York's club, music and
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Occasionally, art collectives left behind specially constructed furniture and decoration pieces (one notable item included a 20 ft (6.1 m). tall volcano).
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was covered with windows, which allowed for a view of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges.
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for fire code and other permit violations. Ironically, the charge that the Lunatarium violated New York City's controversial
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We mean, come on. Would anyone do that? Nooo. Who would do any of that? It would be silly. Or maybe, just some good hot fun.
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at the last minute and allowing little time (in some instances, less than 4 days) to book, organize and promote an event.
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The Lunatarium was located in a commercial building which also housed rehearsal studios, design studios and
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Village Voice Fly Life column mentions Lunatarium's nomination for the Dancestar USA award for Best Club
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were dropped because the event in question was publicized as an
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production companies to rent the space for one-off events.
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was an art and music space located in a warehouse loft in
183:, Best of Manhattan 2003: Best Contemplation of Jailbait
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The Lunatarium was shut down on January 11, 2002 by the
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had a raw and industrial aesthetic. The wall facing the
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Sketches of inflatable lounges by Anakin Koenig Airways
156:, Massv Poll Award 2002: Best Alternative/unusual venue
271:Event venues disestablished in the 21st century
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140:'s last shows took place before the death of
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276:2004 disestablishments in New York (state)
209:Everything2.com summary of the Lunatarium
194:February 2002 interview with Mark Winkel
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125:New York City Social Club Task Force
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256:Music venues completed in 2001
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261:Nightclubs in New York City
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250:Categories
223:73°59′13″W
220:40°42′17″N
55:East River
18:Lunatarium
104:art party
97:Dumboluna
40:The Space
181:NY Press
160:NY Press
26:Brooklyn
138:Run DMC
46:Yak Pak
148:Awards
79:Simon
69:Decor
22:DUMBO
16:The
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