Welcome to SURPRISES, a conceptual art space creating experimental, immersive installations that invite surprise and community participation. Inspired by small-town life, where familiar places hold hidden possibilities. Follow on instagram or substack to stay informed and become part of what unfolds…
Surprise 1.0 The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party is a celebration of life and living, coinciding- though not coincidentally- with the birth months of the artist (Frankie) and her sister (Katie). This celebration is not person-specific or age specific. It’s for everyone that has ever been born. We all deserve to be celebrated in our unique glory.
Eat a cupcake. Pin the tail on the cat. Sing the birthday song. Blow out a candle and watch the birthday video. Chat with friends and strangers. Enjoy the ambiance that is The Birthday Party.
The Salon was a super meaningful experience. This installation included painting, video, performance, audience interaction, and a sound bath, created in collaboration with Bad Checks. Visitors enjoyed makeovers, manicures, styling, and even haircuts. The Salon Surprise Blind Box sold out!! In unboxing it, visitors revealed: a homemade rose salt scrub, a spinning meditation art piece and more. Some just came to enjoy the sound bath and chill. Every interaction helped the salon become a place to chat, feel seen, and safe. I was also super proud to release the first-ever surprises publication, HAIR THE HELL ARE YOU? - a traditional gossip-style zine memoir.
Kites are fun - for everyone. Participants were invited to fly handmade, painted kites and daydream, turning the sky into our gallery space for one day only at Mission Bay Park in San Diego. Surprise 3.0 was special because the location unexpectedly brought people from different communities together in the joyous activity of flying a kite in unpredictable winds. The element of surprise extended to the purple kite painted with a QR code; those who caught it unlocked a secret video meditation on the impermanence of summer and the passing joys the season.
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The Karaoke Club was held off site at The Do Drop In Secret Lounge, a beloved Portales speakeasy in the back of a sandwich shop, for one night only. What made The Karaoke Club so special was the wide age range of participants who rallied together, belted out their favorites, and let off steam while entertaining their community. Winners of a mystery raffle drawing won surprises untold and all received a code for a digital mixtape of singable songs.
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Surprise 5.0 Haunted
Surprise 5.0 was a multi-day event featuring a video installation- Haunting- in the main space, and an Infinity House in the annex. Both were made in collaboration with Forest DerrMartin. Viewers were invited to choose a tolerance level for a fright in the Infinity House and afterwards enjoy an outdoor screening of a different spooky movie each night. Surprises were given to every 10th customer and candy was shared by all. The blind box offering for this surprise included a limited edition art piece by Forest.
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