5 Things To Do Before You Go to Mars
You wouldn’t just go off to Mars without preparing, now would you? Here are five tips to maximize your time and experience at artist Tom Sachs’ monumental SPACE PROGRAM: MARS (open through May 17).
Tip 1. Watch the movies on tomsachsmars.com! (You’ll be glad you did.)
In order to gain access to the Landing Excursion Module (LEM), you must pass indoctrination. The very first step of which is to watch Ten Bullets, Color, and the Energies and Skills trilogy. These highly entertaining movies from Tom Sachs’ studio are directed by the brilliant Van Neistat (pronounced “Nice tat.”) The movies are also available to watch in the “Cinema” at SPACE PROGRAM: MARS. There is popcorn.
Tip 2. Practice Knolling.
Always be Knolling. [Image; wikipedia]
Tip 3. Get your tickets online.
Buying tickets online is easy. This is especially important for the live demonstrations! Tickets are selling fast. We’d hate for you to be left on Earth.
Tip 4. Wrap your hands in giant balls of blue masking tape.
Okay, that may be a little extreme, but you’re going to want very badly to touch the amazingly detailed knobs and buttons on these sculptures. These are delicate instruments, and the slightest touch could be cataclysmic! [Image: Jeff D. Taylor’s Tumblr]
Tip 5. Peruse the Zine and learn your Space Name.
The SPACE PROGRAM: MARS ZINE (short for magazine) made by Tom Sachs and his studio is filled with 90+ pages of photos, information, and cheat sheets for indoctrination. You can even learn your space name. Mine’s Tango Foxtrot.
Miscellany
Pack light; all bags must be checked. Wear a helmet; you can park your bike on 67th Street where it will be watched. Be on time; there’s a ton to see and you don’t want to feel rushed on Mars.
Complete visitor information can all be found on tomsachsmars.com.
SPACE PROGRAM: MARS is open through June 17, 2012 and is a coproduction of Creative Time and the Park Avenue Armory.
