450 hours of sensory deprivation. 150 local artists. 1 book.
On Saturday, November 20th, Float on will host a book launching party for Artwork from the Void. The book explores art stemming from the removal of all external stimuli. No light, no sound, no gravity. Just a 90 minute sojourn into the deep self with the results being captured and documented in the book.
Float On is a float tank center, specializing in sensory deprivation. Since they opened last year they’ve had over 7,000 floats, 300 of which were given away to artists as part of this project. Float tanks are sound-proof, light-proof tubs containing 200 gallons of water kept exactly at skin temperature. 850 lbs of epsom salt is dissolved inside each tank, making them more buoyant than the dead sea. “Over 90- minutes, this elimination of outside stresses helps the mind and body to relax and produces a dreamlike state. It’s amazing how much insight and inspiration come out of a stimuli-starved brain,” says Graham Talley, one of the four owners of Float On.
So how exactly does sensory deprivation and art fit together? In January of 2011, the owners of Float On began experimenting with an artists program offering free floats to 150 local artists. In exchange the artists agreed to begin to working on their pieces directly following their second float. The result was Artwork from the Void, a full color art book documenting the 150 pieces that emerged from the project.
The pages show subconscious minds translated through oil and acrylic, art that at times appears to be inspired more by psychedelics than by utter darkness. “The people in our program blew us away,” Talley commented, “We had everyone from art students to their professors. There are people who floated to break through creative blocks and others who found relief from physical traumas that usually make it difficult to work.”
Artwork from the Void is a newly released book featuring 150 artist's post-sensory deprivation creations.
A few of the artists include Meredith Dittmar, John Shlichta Theo
Ellsworth, Birdie Krebs Mona Superhero, M@ Leavitt, Aron Steinke,   Josh
Fitz, Laura Borealisis and Harrell Fletcher.
The launch party is set for November 20th at 7P.M. with with live music, food and wine. They will also be offering copies of Artwork from the Void for $25 (regularly $47.95). Artists will be mingling, signing copies of the book and doing what everyone who goes to Float On does, nothing.
Currently, the original artwork is making its way around the world to both national and international float centers that will host the paintings. For more information, visit their website at www.floathq.com.