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Art Of Elysium's Annual GENESIS Event Draws Celebs, Artists, Angelenos (PHOTOS)

Sophia Li |
September 6, 2014 | 9:40 p.m. PDT

Web Producer

Ticket prices ranged from $75-250, raising money for art sessions in children's hospitals and elder care facilities. (Sophia Li)
Ticket prices ranged from $75-250, raising money for art sessions in children's hospitals and elder care facilities. (Sophia Li)

Attendees lined up outside The Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown L.A. on Friday night to see art, film, dance and music curated by some of the most respected names in each genre. 

Curators included Spike Jonze, Beck, Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), and Jakob Dylan (of The Wallflowers) among others. This was the sixth annual Genesis event for Art of Elysium, which promotes healing through art and connects artists with critically ill children. 

Among the nights guests were celebrities like Jennette McCurdy of "iCarly" fame, Matt Lauria from "Friday Night Lights," and Joaquin Phoenix, whose sister Rain coordinated the event. 

One of the most memorable art installations from the night was created - live - on the sidewalk outside the theater. Artist PUSH, who was chosen by Fairey, sprayed a work of graffiti as many guests entered the event. 

SEE ALSO: Watch L.A. Street Artist PUSH Create a Graffiti Masterpiece In 8 Seconds

People experience Chris Milk and Beck's virtual reality concert. (Sophia Li)
People experience Chris Milk and Beck's virtual reality concert. (Sophia Li)
Another notable experience was the 360-degree concert filmed by Chris Milk. People sat in front of computers as technicians fit them Oculus virtual reality goggles and headphones. What people saw and heard in the virtual reality was footage Milk filmed during a Beck concert in Feb. 2013. Beck played on a circular rotating stage, surrounded by a couple hundred viewers in a concentric circle rotating in the opposite direction. The viewers were surrounded by 200 musicians, including choirs and a full orchestra. 

Milk filmed all of this with three different cameras, each set at different vantage points. People who viewed the concert through the virtual reality goggles were able to switch between different views by clicking a mouse, and each unique view also meant a unique listening experience from a different part of the room. If it sounds intense, it's because it was. 

Scott Stuckey's art installation combined audio and footage for an unexpected take on the idea of "music videos." (Sophia Li)
Scott Stuckey's art installation combined audio and footage for an unexpected take on the idea of "music videos." (Sophia Li)
A little guidance was also helpful for Scott Stuckey's video installation. Stuckey, known for creating the experimental children's show "Pancake Mountain," carefully pieced together various footage with music clips and projected them onto cardboard TVs. Half of the video and audio was shot from the show or music he wrote, and half was stuff from other people. 

According to box office staffers, the event sold approximately 1400 of the 1600 seats. Organizers for the event have not yet totaled how much the event raised, but tickets ranged from $75 for standard entry to $250 for VIP seating. 

Look through the slideshow below to see more of what happened at Genesis:

Reach Web Producer Sophia Li here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

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