Change Preferences | Sign Out
SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives
Page 2 of 2   <      

For Fans of The Funky, Free Parking

A performance by the Videohippos drew an appreciative audience to the Barn Barnacle on Saturday. It also attracted D.C. police, above, who talked things over with Jason Balicki, founder of the studio/performance/exhibition space in a garage off Longfellow Street NW.
A performance by the Videohippos drew an appreciative audience to the Barn Barnacle on Saturday. It also attracted D.C. police, above, who talked things over with Jason Balicki, founder of the studio/performance/exhibition space in a garage off Longfellow Street NW. (Photos By Lucian Perkins -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
Resize
COMMENT
0 Comments 
Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging
» Links to this article

O'Meara mans a small portable synthesizer and a drum while Triplett handles a toy electric guitar -- functional but designed for kids -- and they alternate among a gas mask, a white dust-filter mask and a silver robot-costume mask, all with attached microphones, to distort their voices. Video projections continue to play in the background, providing a surreal stream of imagery, from dancing Donkey Kong characters to Santa Claus-shaped cookies spinning on a turntable. The set is over in less than 20 minutes.

Then the cops come. A police cruiser pulls into the alley, and after a short chat with Balicki, the District's finest are on their way, having advised that neighbors are not too keen on the noise -- we're sure they meant to say "music" -- and that the crowd needs to be indoors by 10 o'clock.

Those who'd planned to listen to the Videohippos, though, seemed pleased by their night at Barn Barnacle.

"We don't need any permission or approval," says Breck Brunson, a 30-year-old Washington artist who praises Balicki's approach to showcasing alternative culture. "You've got the guy in the RoboCop mask -- that's good stuff."

Virginia Millington, 24, had a similar reaction: "I'm pretty impressed by it. It's creating a hidden art scene.

"It's nice to find things like this that weren't here last week or may not be here next week," she adds. "Just the chance to see a minivan disguised as a tank -- anything surprising and unexpected is worthwhile."

Barn Barnacle is at 1307 Longfellow St. NW. The next event will be Sept. 24. Free. For more information write to balicki@email.com .


<       2


© 2005 The Washington Post Company