Anyone who has spent time on Pittsburgh’s rivers knows just the kind of unexpected wonders lurk at the waters edge. Sycamore Island is one of those wonders. Just a few miles up the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh, Sycamore Island is totally undeveloped (at least in any permanent bricks-and-mortar way) and virtually uninhabited (save for the occasional fishing party or camp fire).
Sounds alluring, right? Mysterious? Even a touch exotic? Perfect location for the next immersive performance art experience from The Drift.
Sycamore Colony is an immersive performance that explores the anomaly of Sycamore Island and its rich ecological and cultural history. The island is a 13-acre stretch of alluvial land in the Allegheny River off the shores of Blawnox, nine miles east of Pittsburgh. It is the last privately owned undeveloped island in Allegheny County. Along the island’s trail, a series of temporary structures, live performers and sound installation will integrate to form a vivid environment where audience members are encouraged to roam and explore. Within this space, an invented mythology of the island will transpire and spur a series of actions that create a singular experience for each visitor.
The experience will begin aboard a small boat as visitors are ferried from Blawnox to the island. After arriving at the island’s landing area, the journey unfolds as a series of events, both planned and fortuitous, experienced along the demarcated trail. The result is a largely self-guided exploration that centers on the isolated and transmuted nature of the landscape, and uncovers the dichotomy of fear and pleasure derived from unexpected encounters.
How can you take part?
Performances of Sycamore Island will run for just two days, Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. It’s free to take part, but space is limited so be sure to Register Online.
Make your way to O’Hara Landing and arrive at least five minutes before your scheduled departure. Happy Exploring!