THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE
before the before and after the after
by NONA HENDRYX
THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE
before the before and after the after
By Nona Hendryx
PRODUCED BY SOZO CREATIVE & Baby Buddha’s House
Commissioned and PResented by Lincoln Center
June 2024 World premiere
THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE is a music driven Mixed Reality experience conceived by Nona Hendryx combining Afrofuturist art, music, and storytelling with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Featuring an interactive open forum with humanoid robot Bina48, THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE is an ambitious synthesis of future forward and intergenerational storytelling, inviting us to imagine another world is possible.
Premiering at Lincoln Center in June 2024, THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE is a modular experience in three segments bringing Dreamers (audiences) into multiple immersive spaces across Lincoln Center.
Bina48 is the world’s first Black Female AI. Dreamers begin in her garden installation, designed by renowned multimedia artist Mickalene Thomas, at Lincoln Center’s Atrium. Audiences are immersed in conversations, art happenings and live interactions with Bina48 herself. Next, Dreamers traverse The Bridge: AR Ritual Path across Lincoln Center’s outdoor spaces led by music and visual artist Cyboracle—a virtual avatar portrayed by Nona Hendryx. Dreamers will discover the history of the communities that have populated the land, and interact with various animated touchpoints representing healing energy along the way. The Bridge leads to David Geffen Hall where The Dream Machine awaits: a Mixed Reality Dream world where Dreamers interact with each other and objects, explore colorful worlds filled with choice, and immerse themselves in thrilling virtual performances. VR headsets will be provide so Dreamers can be transported and fully immersed into The Dream Machine, a place to seep up the wisdom of the ancestors and look to the dawn of tomorrow.
Environments and avatars will be designed in collaboration with some of Hendryx’s most thrilling associates—Laurie Anderson, George Clinton, Vernon Reid and Skin—taking on their likeness, ethos, and stories to lead distinct activations within The Dream Machine Experience; the audience can choose the one they'd like to explore. These artists' collective influence on not only American, but global culture at large has paved the road to a more inclusive society.
THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE is also an intergenerational endeavor that uses art as a vehicle to bridge the technology gap, empower young people, and give them the tools they need to succeed and dream. A major purpose behind the project is to create a cyclical pipeline of engagement for BIPOC female identifying and gender non conforming (gnc) youth, ultimately leading to fulfilling careers in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Community partners include Hendryx’s own organization SisterSMATR, Willie Mae Future Sounds, and Silicon Harlem.
Collaborators
BINA48: Robotic Artificial Intelligence
Students working at Willie Mae Future Sounds
“It is critical to the development of society that BIPOC technologists are included and participate in the development of the new realities being created; to ensure Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in science and technology, specifically the fields of augmented, virtual, and mixed-reality. We are addressing the technology desert for young POC’s through interactive AR, AI & VR experiences along with game application development.
The Dream Machine Experience will seek out, support, inspire and promote BIPOC talent hiding in plain sight, yet overlooked and underserved in developing mixed-reality applications and interactive experiences; increase their participation in all levels, decision-making roles, IP ownership, product development, deployment, marketing and sales, i.e., employment throughout the game design and mixed-reality ecosystem.
The Dream Machine Experience provides a presence in the BIPOC AR, VR, mixed, and game design communities as a thought leader; developing and creating opportunities for BIPOC technologists and resulting in more diverse, equitable, and inclusive realities.”
— Nona Hendryx, Artist Statement
THE DREAM MACHINE EXPERIENCE is currently seeking co-commissioning partners, funders and technology partnerships for the 2024 World Premiere at Lincoln Center and future iterations.
ABOUT NONA HENDRYX
In the spirit of two fisted political singer songwriters such as, Nina Simone, and Joni Mitchell, NONA HENDRYX tackles social issues, love and politics with a smoky vocal tessitura somewhere between funk and the end of the stratosphere. Hendryx’s legendary career spans six decades of sound and style evolution. Fans know her as a founding member of the girl group, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles (with Sarah Dash, Cindy Birdsong and Patti LaBelle) known as “the Sweethearts of the Apollo Theatre” and inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame in 1999. In the 70s, the group morphed into the Rock & Funk Glam Diva's 'Labelle' with the #1 record, Lady Marmalade. Nona Hendryx emerged as the chief songwriter of the group’s socially conscious and illuminating message songs. If Labelle fans grieved the end of Labelle, Nona Hendryx fans welcomed a new one as the revolutionary art-rock, new-wave goddess embarked upon her own impressive Solo career, which spanned eight studio albums and engaged her with an impressive lineup of collaborators (Prince, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Bono and Cameo), resulting in top ten hits and a Grammy nomination (Rock This Houses with The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards on guitar).
Fast forwarding into the 20th and 21st century’s without losing a note (or gaining a pound) Nona Hendryx remains the Queen of Transformation; writing music for theatre (the Roundabout’s BLUE, written and directed by Charles R. Wright and starring Phylicia Rashad), film (the Lee Daniels 2010 Oscar-nominated Precious),and producing and collaborating in the works of a new generation of artists as well as cowriting songs and appearing on the Terri Lyne Carrington Grammy Award winning, Mosaic Project with Esperanza Spalding, Cassandra Wilson, Diane Reeves and Sheila E.). An activist and vocal supporter for women’s rights, social, political and criminal justice. Helping to raise funds and awareness of HIV/AIDS from the outbreak of the epidemic and still involved today. Dreaming of being an educator because of her English Teacher and mentor Mrs. Lottie Dinkins, Nona worked with education organizations supporting women in prison, a school in Chicago founded by Monica Haslip, Little Black Pearl, taught Stage Craft at The Clive Davis Recording Academy and founded in 2016 her own Non Profit, SisterSMATR.org to bridge the gap in Science, Math, Art, Technology and Robotics for young women of color.
Nona added Ambassador for Artistry in Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston to her career. Working across three departments; Music Ensemble, Music Theater and Berklee’s Electronic Production and Design Department with the guidance of the EPD Chair Michael Bierylo. Nona recently made her directorial debut, collaborating with Berklee’s Dr. Richard Boulanger and Students, the poet Soul Flower and Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy music producer) to create a multi disciplined performance ‘A Rose Out Of Concrete’ with the merged schools, Berklee College and Boston Conservatory including the Conservatory’s Hip Hop Dance students choreographed by the departments Hip Hop dance professor, Duane Holland.
Hendryx presented multimedia performances at MoogFest and MASS MOCA. Having made yet another transformation into a multimedia ‘CyberDiva’, Hendryx still writes music across genres with politically and socially relevant lyrics wrapped in neo-funk grooves, other worldly and soulful vocals, and art-rock charged rhythms.
