Written by Lorenzo De’ Llama
April 23-26, 2026
Various locations around the city as an annual art festival.
Intended audience: People seeking new adventures in art. Discovering Burner and Maker principles along the way. With an entertaining analysis.
WOW
Introducing the WOW festival. Come along with a dozen of your friends. Bring every ear to hear and eye to see. La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls annual event. In its 13th year. Three days of mostly interactive art. With performative shows and art installations throughout the UCSD campus. Provided by creators from around the World. Many of the events are free. While others require just an RSVP or low to moderate cost.
The hidden theme experienced this year was cooperative togetherness. Not as in just a supportive aura. More like an overwhelming urge to celebrate together. The choose your own adventure style path through the art. Allows performers to converge with spectators. Audiences invited to fill Amphitheatre stages. The purpose of much of this art. Strengthening what Burners call Immediacy. The tenth principal sometimes referenced as, “be here now”. Is foundational to the experience of self and co-creation found within interactive art. Into the evening crowd and performers merge into one large parade. Channeling through campus. The barriers to self discovery purged of what holds an individual back from becoming the art. The spontaneity of the moment propelling us along together.
Having seen the changed faces of our art tribe. Throughout the experience. Recognizing our own art of self-becoming. I recollect on the need for these, the festivals of our lives. This is also what we do this for. So, take a pro-tip. Along the way speak with fabricators and backstage crews. They also share in this joy with us. Learn how Makers careful hands and thoughtful hearts go into purposeful creations. Exercise your immediacy and move beyond the passive observer. Express your genuine WOW!
Photo A.
SUZIK, a trio of acrobats with a Matrix style performance. The story of antagonistic bullying becoming a cooperative truce thereby creating a shared flow state.
Photo B.
MUCCA PLAZA, Chicago street theatre marching band. Joined by FREAK NATURE, an LA collective known for the absurdities of puppetry and other such workshop art imaginings.
Photo C.
LAMP, CoLab art installation featured at Youtopia 2025’. Exhibited at WOW 2026’ on UCSD campus. Thank you for leaving the light on!