Mine the Harvest

So I checked out the X Bash 09 and it was pretty cool. Its an annual music/art festival, sort of Burning Man-esque, held at a clothing optional resort north of Tampa.

Highlights where:

* Randy’s Burning Man camp (OBE: Our of Body Experience) and his mobile art cars. One was a golf cart with a tropical themed bed (with parasol) all around it – so he could drive his bed around Burning Man. He was a cool guy and lit up his large camp dome at night with spinning floral patterns.

* A glass artist who made really beautifully patterned pieces (mostly pipes). The coloration and patterns where awesome. He did demonstrations too – while naked – which was a trip (mind that torch!)

* There were several bands and DJs but the two I found most interesting where Syncrisis and Professional Astronauts. Syncrisis played a good set, they had a good developed sound and I liked the style. Professional Astronauts sounded pretty similar to System of a Down – it was hillarious when they played “Arabian Nights” from Disney’s Aladin – you can imagine how that sounded. Both were well recieved by the crowd and you can catch them playing around the Tampa scene.

* There were some dancers after the bands who danced during DJ Chaos’ set – pretty fun to watch. One was dressed like a mange she-devil, etc.

I had hoped there would be more artists there as it seems like a great alternative venue for attracting them, but unfortunately I only saw a few (there were likely others there on other days as it was a 3 day event.)

The event was hosted by Xanthia,  she was very nice and showed me a new painting she was working on and had some other pieces around, but was not there to display her work in particular but host the event in general. Her studio is there as well and she is an artist in several media. She has some pretty cool stuff and you can check it out at:

The annual event is hosted  at  naturlist resort (The Riverboat Nudist Resort) and is clothing optional.  The croud was predominately in their 20s and 30s, with some older and youger as well. Most people were clothed, but the idea is all about self expression so many were partially or fully unclothed as well.  There was a bubble pit that got going later on and lots of people seemed to like that – it would have a dozen or so people in it at any time, and it is just behind the dance floor in front of the stage. Super sticky bubbles are hard not to like.

This was a pretty cool event and with a bit more promotion could be huge. The have camping facilities and many spaces where artists or groups to get together to do their own thing. It was great having the bands and DJs there, and it would be great to see more artists display there.