by Dennis Richardson
The Journey Within: A Mind-Bending Cosmic Experience
Brace yourselves for a sensory odyssey like no other! Cosm, the visionary immersive technology company, has teamed up with eclectic DJ, artist, and founder of Fascinated by Everything, Chris Holmes, to unveil “The Journey Within.” This mind-bending audiovisual experience is set to take center stage in Cosm’s cutting-edge 87-foot diameter 12K LED domes, slated for release in Spring 2024.
The Ultimate Sensory Mixtape
“The Journey Within,” a Cosm Studios Original, is a meticulously crafted, multi-sensory mixtape that weaves together the musical genius of David Bowie, Radiohead, Joseph Campbell, Matthew Dear, and more. Holmes combines these sonic masterpieces with a mesmerizing visual landscape. Imagine hand-built LED kaleidoscopes, laser sculptures, and awe-inspiring footage of nature’s wonders, from Antarctica’s icy giants to Malibu’s sandy shores and Minnesota’s pristine lakes, hyper-detailed in all their expansiveness. Prepare to be transported from the mundane to a realm of wonder, fascination, and pure awe.
Photo Credit: Cosm
With decades of DJing and remixing expertise under his belt, Chris Holmes has crafted a magical world of light and color that promises to captivate your senses. His mixtape takes you on a multi-sensory voyage, guided by an expertly curated selection of tracks from iconic artists, avant-garde writers, and revolutionary thinkers who have profoundly influenced Holmes’ artistic journey. “The Journey Within” fosters an appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things by merging light, sound, technology, artistry, and the sheer marvels of Earth. Chris Holmes joins a prestigious lineup of artists in Cosm Studios’ Creator Program, alongside new media artist Nancy Baker Cahill and filmmaker Guy Reid. Together, they push the boundaries of immersive storytelling and design.
Inspired by the likes of Yayoi Kusama, James Turrell, and Dan Flavin, as well as Thomas Wilfred’s Clavilux and Laserium laser light shows, Holmes’ work unfolds as a journey into a transformative state of wonder and fascination. Each kaleidoscope in the experience reimagines the natural world, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of colors, patterns, and infinite possibilities on an unprecedented medium.
The Future is Round
You may have noticed a certain sphere getting quite the attention lately, but it just goes to show that the future of entertainment is indeed very round. Cosm’s 12K LED domes provide the ideal canvas for this breathtaking masterpiece, showing the leaps and bounds technology has made over the years. Holmes envisions Cosm as a “cathedral of light, color, and sound” where the community can gather for a transformative social experience that transcends the digital screens that dominate our lives.
Photo Credit: Cosm
Cosm’s venues are set to redefine fan experiences, blending crowd energy, gourmet food and drinks, exclusive merchandise, and cutting-edge visuals backed by state-of-the-art technology. In addition to “The Journey Within” and “SEEK” by Nancy Baker Cahill, Cosm’s programming will feature live sports events, including NBA games and UFC fights.
Coming Soon to a City Near You
Cosm’s first venue in Los Angeles and its second venue in Dallas are currently under construction, with plans for expansion into other key markets. Stay tuned for more information on the schedule of events when these venues open their doors, and prepare to embark on “The Journey Within,” where sound and vision unite in a breathtaking symphony of wonder and awe. Chris Holmes and Cosm invite you to experience art on a grand scale, transcending boundaries and redefining entertainment as we know it.
About Cosm
Cosm is the leading experiential media and immersive technology company redefining the way the world experiences content. With a storied history of building some of the most innovative experience technology in the world, Cosm provides sensorial experiences for every type of fan, from sports and entertainment to immersive art and education. Its immersive venues bridge the virtual and physical worlds through pioneered technology that expands the realm of what’s possible, connecting people and bringing them together in, what is called, Shared Reality. As the company continues to expand to new cities and countries, Cosm is sparking shared passions and providing guests across the globe with experiences they need to feel to believe. To learn more about Cosm, visit www.cosm.com and follow on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok.
About Chris Holmes
Chris Holmes is an artist, musician and tech alchemist who is constantly learning and endlessly fascinated. For the past 14 years Chris has toured the world as the opening act for Paul McCartney, remixing The Beatles, McCartney, and Wings songs. An accomplished remixer and DJ who has been instrumental in shaping the LA nightlife scene for almost two decades, Chris has remixed, DJed and toured with McCartney, Prince, Bjork, LCD Soundsystem, Spike Jonze, Edgar Wright, Jon Favreau, Banksy, Questlove, Radiohead and Daft Punk. As a producer, his credits include artists from house music legend Felix Da Housecat to beloved icon Sinead O’Connor. Chris has brought his invaluable vision and creativity to events and campaigns for Google, Sundance Labs, Sonos, Shinola, Nissan, Dos Hombres, Comedy Central, and Rockstar Games to name a few. He has served as music director for the LA based charity The Art of Elysium.
Photo Credit: Cosm
by Dennis Richardson
We all aim to express ourselves with a bit of flair or individuality that you just won’t find anywhere else. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy, and far too common that we come across someone out there who manages to steal our style. Now, all that changes with Novella, the unisex sneaker brand threading a meaningful story into every limited-run design they introduce. (Lucky you, if you saw them in our Summer roundup!)
“Every Sneaker Tells A Story”
Whether it’s for a seasonal refresh, or just in time for going back to school, Novella is reinventing what it means to be unique—from the insole to the outsole—quite literally! Always working with a different artisan or creative to inspire each drop, Novella’s sneaker designs are inspired by said creator to share their story.
From comedians and barbers to poets and painters, these are the rarest designs you’ll see on the feet around you, and for good reason. Novella produces and sells exactly 2,020 pairs of each design, a callback to their founding year.
Furthermore, each pair of sneakers are individually numbered–1 through 2,020–with the number stitched onto the heel tab. Therefore, you won’t see anyone running the streets with the same number from the same Chapter (season) or Verse (colorway).
From the embossed handwriting of poet Rudy Francisco, to the fresh fade inspiration of barber, Sedric Salinas, each design is truly a work of art complete with outsoles that transition from herringbone tread into a unique fingerprint (the combined fingerprints of those involved in the design process). Each pair of Novella’s come with 2 pairs of laces for added customization — a pair that complements the art, and another to accentuate it.
Some recent creatives the brand has worked with include slam-poet Rudy Francisco, textile artist Katherine Entis, comedian Akaash Singh, and more! Check out some of the featured stories below, as you take in more of the juicy creative details:
- The Love Poem is inspired by slam-poet Rudy Francisco and embodies his belief that every poem is an act of love. Love Poem’s design is an homage to Rudy’s medium, by intertwining textile metaphors and unique poetic elements.
- Momotaro is inspired by textile artist Katherine Entis and is inspired by the deconstruction of her textile arts. Momotaro depicts the artist’s vibrant color palettes that became an integral component in her work through a culmination of her personal journey—which is encompassed by Momotaro’s show stopping, waved multicolor outsole.
- Verse 2: The Lion is inspired by comedian Akaash Singh and pays homage to evening wear suited for a night out in NYC. The silky midnight blue jacquard upper showcases custom iconography including a mic cord that is weaved throughout moments of Akaash’s life story found in the print.
If that weren’t enough, craftsmanship is at the forefront with premium Italian leather, interior tongue labels that reveal the artisan’s name, tongues and that borrow from their creativity and craft, and printed footbeds that hold personal meaning. Shop Novella’s wearable art and secure your one-of-a-kind number!
by Dennis Richardson
The 21st Century is finally shaping up to be the future we imagined all those years ago — at least in some regards. When it comes to entertainment, this is certainly true, from the latest innovations in the VR, AR, and XR markets, to fully immersive art installations around the world. Some of the things all of these ventures have in common include, cutting edge technology that implements lights, sounds, smells, touch, and in very special circumstances, taste. But one indisputable fact is that all of these experiences are often mind-blowing, and it’s an exciting time for entertainment and the many ways of consuming art!
Renowned new media artist Nancy Baker Cahill last month announced her newest project and partnership with Cosm, the leading immersive technology, media and entertainment company, which is redefining the way the world experiences art and entertainment by bridging the virtual and physical worlds through “Shared Reality.”
Cosm, a leading immersive, technology, media, and entertainment company, today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with award-winning new media artist Nancy Baker Cahill to release the first-ever art experience in “Shared Reality,” a new type of immersive experience driven by Cosm’s state-of-the-art visuals which seamlessly bridge the virtual and physical worlds.
Baker Cahill, known for her renowned work that pushes the boundaries of AR and immersive video, has been exhibited internationally, including Times Square and a forthcoming installation at The Whitney Museum of American Art, and will be the first artist to join the Cosm Studios creator program. Her new visual narrative piece, SEEK, a Cosm Studios Original, was created exclusively for Cosm’s new immersive entertainment venues, the first of which will open in Los Angeles in spring 2024 and showcase a 26.6-meter diameter LED dome in a 65,000 total square feet facility.
Nancy is the first artist to join the Cosm Studios creator program and her visual narrative piece, SEEK, is the first-ever piece of Shared Reality art, created exclusively for Cosm’s immersive entertainment venues. SEEK is a 30-minute immersive film dedicated to challenging sensory perception and imagination to prompt deeper engagement with the Earth’s imperiled biosphere. Using the visual and aural language of camouflage, SEEK invites viewers to actively look and listen more deeply and its interactive film odyssey explores a series of bespoke abstract landscapes: Water, Sand & Wind, Fire, and Forest, each layered with meticulously camouflaged imagery and sound.
Cosm’s slate of venue programming will include art exhibitions like Baker Cahill’s SEEK, experiential content, entertainment, and live sports, including live basketball games and pay-per-view events in immersive 8K with the company’s recently announced partners, the NBA and UFC, respectively. Bringing the world’s best fan experiences to life, Cosm’s venues will deliver an atmosphere that merges the energy of the crowd, elevated food and beverage options, specialized merchandise, and state-of-the-art visuals backed by the company’s best-in-class technology.
Cirque du Soleil & Cosm Join Forces
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Cosm also recently announced a partnership to deliver a completely new way to experience Cirque du Soleil. Under the partnership, Cosm will produce and present an iconic Cirque du Soleil show at its forthcoming venues, the first of which will open in Los Angeles in spring 2024 and showcase a 26.6-meter diameter LED dome in a 65,000 total square feet facility.
Cosm’s new generation of venues will bring entertainment to life by utilizing its revolutionary domed and compound curved LED technology, creating larger-than-life ‘’Shared Reality’’ experiences that bridge the virtual and physical worlds, all with corresponding sights and sounds. Merging the energy of the crowd, elevated food and beverage service, and state-of-the-art visuals, fans will be able to experience Cirque du Soleil’s avant-garde creativity from a brand-new perspective.
“From our research, we know our fans are seeking immersive, emotionally-fulfilling experiences featuring creative storytelling through innovative formats that ignite the imagination and foster human connection. This partnership with Cosm will allow us to, once again, push production and technology boundaries to seamlessly blend virtual and physical worlds and cultivate our connection with fans beyond the stage,’’ commented Sébastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
This unique immersive experience supports Cirque du Soleil’s goal to diversify its offerings beyond live shows by expanding its portfolio across gaming, premium content, filmed and immersive entertainment, as well as an increased emphasis on licensing and merchandising.
“Cirque du Soleil has established itself time and time again as a category-defining entertainment genre,” added Neil Carty, VP, Head of Cosm Studios at Cosm. “Its combination of live theater, circus arts, and immersive storytelling has captivated audiences around the world. Now, we combine Cosm’s category defining technology and Shared Reality experience with Cirque du Soleil’s iconic performances to augment that sense of wonder and awe in entirely new ways, and to give fans something they’ve never experienced before.”
Cosm recently broke ground at its first venue in Los Angeles at Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, and announced its second venue in Dallas at Grandscape — where it just broke ground last week — with plans to expand to additional locations in key markets.
About Cosm
Cosm is the leading experiential media and immersive technology company redefining the way the world experiences content. With a storied history of building some of the most innovative experience technology in the world, Cosm provides sensorial experiences for every type of fan, from sports and entertainment to immersive art and education. Its immersive venues bridge the virtual and physical worlds through pioneered technology that expands the realm of what’s possible, connecting people and bringing them together in, what is called, Shared Reality. As the company continues to expand to new cities and countries, Cosm is sparking shared passions and providing guests across the globe with experiences they need to feel to believe. To learn more about Cosm, visit www.cosm.com and follow on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
About Nancy Baker Cahill
Nancy Baker Cahill is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist whose hybrid practice focuses on systemic power, consciousness, and the human body. She creates research-based immersive experiences, video installations, and conceptual blockchain projects rooted in the history of drawing. Her monumental augmented reality (AR) artworks extend and subvert the lineage of land art, often highlighting the climate crisis, civics, and a desire for more equitable futures. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of 4th Wall, a free, AR public art platform exploring site interventions, resistance, and inclusive creative expression. Baker Cahill is an artist scholar alumnus of the Berggruen Institute and a recipient of the Williams College Bicentennial Medal of Honor. She is a 2022 LACMA Art and Tech Grant recipient and her work was acquired for LACMA’s permanent collection. The Whitney Museum of American Art has commissioned and will acquire a new original video and AR work, launching in the fall of 2023.
