Mad Homes

Since today was all around crappy in the weather department we nixed our plans to go boating on a local lake ( rain, not a problem. Thunder and lightning? No thanks.) and instead headed over to Capital Hill for a climb up a historic Olmstead Water Tower . Then over to Hi Five Pie for a quick slice of deliciousness. We spent the bulk of our day hanging out at the fantastic installation currently underway by Mad Art, it's called Mad Homes and takes place across five formerly stately homes that are slated for demolition in August. It's only up until August 7, so get you there pronto! It is magnificent and sad and funny and clever and really, really well executed. There is a volunteer docent in each house to answer questions and generally look after things.



The first house, is shrink-wrapped, as if for sale at Ikea. But don't let that stop you, go on in.


From the inside you can catch a peek at the red straps of the house next door through the shrink film and the raindrops.



Check out this porch detail.....more on that later.


Inside the ground floor, the staircase and much of the upstairs is carpeted, wallpapered and covered in clothing.




Including a wall of underwear, which my boys were thrilled to pose with....


Also upstairs is this room of three dimensional string art. Kids, dogs and grownups. Former occupants? Shadows? Memories?



Down the path around back from the first house, is house number two. This one was heartbreaking. Such a gorgeous old structure with mature roses and huge trees and this magnificent view. It sits directly above I-5 and the noise is deafening.



Inside and outside the building bristles with strange dimensional wall pieces. Very pokey!



Back out front you can see house three and four tied together with packing straps. I think this one was called "Ties that Bind." I wonder what histories the families that have lived in these houses shared. What ties bound them, and if they still do.



Between the houses, climbing through encouraged but not required!






Once inside this woman greets you. She looks like she could just float off the wall if not for that red packing strap holding her down. But she can't she's anamorphic, so is the strap.




Flat a piece of paper. Here she is viewed from the stair above.


Another illusion by the same artist is painted on these globes. The full effect is only visible through a video monitor.


Pay no attention to the boy. He's just interacting with the art....


Upstairs more straps and more rooms.


Some accessible only on your hands and knees.


Outside is house number five and it's latex skin. The artist painted the house with latex, peeled it off and then sewed it, by hand, back together.




But inside is the real secret...


A wolf who rises from the floor.


Quickly!



He has the company of this death defying eagle who swings, pendulum style through the wall into the next room.


There is also a crazy spinning saw blade in the floor.





Remember that porch detail from house Number One? Here it is all grown up.


You can read more about the installation and the homes here:

Capitol Hill Blog talks to the former property owner.

On the planning and the cause.

Blogger, Teacher Tom's perspective.



We have plans to go back before it goes away. We were all impressed and moved by the art. Go and see it if you can.