Jacob Nathan is the Live Arts Director @ Providence’s amazing artist run creative oasis and performance space, AS220. Despite that he has given us this list. Take it as you will. We asked (free of instruction or limitations) and we received – DS
TOP 10 of 2015: Jordan Furniture’s Splash The Experience
The greatest cultural achievement of 2015 is Jordan Furniture’s “SPLASH: The Experience” at the Warwick, Rhode Island Mall.
What is Splash you ask? In December 2012, Jordan’s Furniture commissioned experts in laser, water, video, and sound to develop a multimedia bacchanal that is unrivaled anywhere in the world. Nowhere have these features been put together into an entertaining experience that the entire family will enjoy. It’s all ages, free, accessible and is performed on the hour during the week and on the half-hour on weekends, making it the best public art of the year, every year.
Here is Splash’s top 10 from 2015 (to see splash in action click here):
1) Over 9,000 water nozzles.
Having thousands of high-pressure water nozzles spewing hundreds of gallons of water allows splash to manipulate h2o in unprecedented ways. There seems to be no single point in a 360º sphere that remains untouched by moisture during the 15-minute experience. While the water nozzles are often unheralded, they play a pivotal role in Splash’s success this year and deserve some rightful recognition. Without water, you simply can’t make a splash.
2) The smell of chlorine.
No longer do you need to travel to your local JCC or YMCA pool to experience the nostalgia inducing and comforting smell of chlorine. Throughout the entire calendar year, it smelled strongly of chlorine in the Splash chamber. The best part is that unlike the pool you don’t need to take a shower after a day out at Splash. That is of course—unless you worked up a sweat during all of the excitement!
3) Three different shows. Triple the fun.
Splash features three entirely different extravaganzas for audiences to behold: Splash the Experience, Pulse the Rock and Roll Water Show, and the Christmas Show. While you’ll be hard-pressed to choose a favorite amongst these masterpieces, the variety partners with the chlorine to help keep things fresh
4) No Car? No problem.
What would public art be if it weren’t publicly accessible? That’s why Barry and Eliot made sure that Jordan’s Furniture was accessible by the Rhode Island Public Transit System (RIPTA). From Kennedy Plaza, you can take route 21, 22, 30 and 66 on the Warwick Mall/ Community College line and be there in less than 40 minutes! If you are driving it’s even easier, as Splash is located at the intersection of 95 and 295 and is just 30 minutes from Newport and 50 minutes from Boston. For those feeling adventurous, you can enjoy a scenic 3-hour walk down Pontiac Avenue from Downtown Providence. There’s no excuse not to make the trip!
5) Over 15,000 watts of digital surround sound and 20,000 watts of light
If you had to describe Splash in two words: Pure. Power. You might not be on the Vegas strip or at Disney World, but you’d never know it with all of the sonic frequencies and electromagnetic energy that Splashes right in your face!
6) Mash-Ups
Postmodernity reigns supreme at Splash, as the soundtrack showcases the greatness found in the emerging genre of “mash-ups.” You’ll hear everything from Ozzy Osbourne to Bruce Springsteen to Michael Jackson to Thus Spake Zarathustara. The sampling pulls no punches and thankfully cuts right to the GOOD part of that Black Eyed Peas’ song. It’s incredible to bear witness to these disparate sources coming together into a cohesive whole.
7) Dining Out
There are a number of fine and affordable dining options near Jordan’s which allows audiences to re-define the traditional “dinner and a movie” or “dinner theatre.” When out on the town you can indulge in what some like to call the “Splash and Gorge.” Devour some delectable at Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Auntie Annie’s, Candy Zone, Burger King, Fat Belly’s, Charlie’s Grilled Subs, Not Your Average Joe’s, Newport Creamery, Panda Express, Pinkberry, Subway, Taco Bell, or even local legend Dunkin’ Donuts.
8) The Deals
While Splash stands alone as an attraction, you might as well take advantage of some of the amazing furniture deals at Jordan’s Furniture while you are there. Right now you get a free Rem-Fit™Active with the purchase of any Protect-a-Bed® Thermasleep Protector. You can also save up to $500 on Beautyrest brand mattresses and there is Free Delivery on Mattress Sets $597 or more. They’ll even pick up your old mattress and take it off of your hands upon arrival. You’ll certainly need a good night’s sleep after watching Splash, so it’s pretty convenient that it’s inside of a furniture store.
9) The moment when “beautiful day” briefly flashes across the water wall
At some point around the ¾ of the way through mark, a beautiful crescendo occurs as a waterfall façade erupts front stage, and for just a fleeting moment the text “beautiful day” accompanies the hit lyric by U2. One can’t help but agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly.
10) Lasers
The hero of Splash, and main course of the experience is 16 watts of unadulterated lasers. These bad boys and girls cut right through the atmosphere, illuminating the water in colors that even the most voracious artists have never seen before. If you enjoyed planetarium shows in the 80’s and 90’s, you simply must check out Splash to see what the latest in state of the art laser technology is capable of emoting.
Martin Luther King Day is coming up on January 17th, so if you are out of work and have never experienced the wonder of Splash, there’s no better way to celebrate the holiday then heading down to Warwick. Let’s see what 2016 holds for Splash the Experience at Jordan’s Furniture. Happy New Year!
