Art Outside Interview: The Art of Such n Such

Like many collaborative art experiments, The Art of Such n Such is rather difficult to classify. Part midway show, part burlesque/vaudeville performance, and part fire art extravaganza, it's clear that The Art of Such n Such just has to be experienced first hand. Lovers of beautiful performers, fire, and carnival games will be satiated at this weekend's Art Outside where the Art of Such n Such will engage audiences of all kinds. We had the opportunity to talk to Charlie Smith, the official Instigator of the Such n Such crew about their past experiences, what they'll be presenting at Art Outside and what inspires their madness.

How did the Art of Such n Such get started?  How has it evolved since?

The Art of Such n Such grew from my company, Sparseland, and a series of theme camps and mini art movements that are based out of artistic relationships that stemmed from regional art communities linked through Burning Man and other sub-cultural movements. Such n Such is a collective that is ever changing - I like to call it a "Mobile Art Organism" that builds momentum through the art experience - a collaborative nature or creation that pushes the boundaries of what art can be!

What will you be bringing to Art Outside?

The Such n Such crew will be bringing out some interactive fire based midway games - The Kitty Roaster (a flaming skeeball machine) and The Pigeon Tester (a flaming high striker test-o-strength game) created by an Atlanta based art team. Accompanying these will be a group of large scale solar powered, forged metal floral creations by Jeffry Loy from Atlanta and Joe Martin from Oakland. Such n Such will also be dragging out some good oldies like "Uncle Charlie's Red Hot Cock" - a steel sculpture created by my wife and I of a giant rooster which includes a wood fired teeter totter, a fire cauldron BBQ grill, and a ride. We will also be bringing out the "PEEP-O-RAMA"  interactive peep hole wall that represents twenty artist from around the country that have created diorama boxes that are viewed through an interactive set created by Atlanta based artists husband wife team Jeffry and Nanette Johnson. We look forward to joining forces with some of our West Coast and Texas art pals and making a really crazy, fun loving, art scene out in the Texas landscape.

What is your wildest tale from the years of being the official instigator for a fire/carnival/burlesque variety show?

That's a tough one, as most of the events we go into breed some kinda wacky outcomes. The most recent took place on Saturday night at Bonnaroo last June - the Art of Such n Such crew completely co-mingled with crews out of NYC and Vermont. It resulted in an all night, into the morning complete cluster pile of silliness, rounded out with a variety of music, group sing-a-longs, and nearly naked times. In Ireland last month, we had a crazed Irish man come up and sing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in its entirety with an audience of 400 singing along. The whole thing was a real spine tickler!

Follow this post after the jump for more questions and answers with Charlie Smith and to see a video from The Art of Such n Such's performance at this year's Bonnaroo.

Art Outside will take place on October 9th, 10th, and 11th at Apache Pass in Rockdale, Texas. Tickets are on sale now: Three Day Event and Camping Passes are available for $50, Day Passes are available for $29, and children 12 and under are free.