Operation Critical Bowie (audio) by DJLAJesus

On Tuesday, September 23, 2014 in Chicago--David Bowie Day--a plan months in the making was finally hatched on the plaza of The Museum of Contemporary Art. It was opening night of the David Bowie Is exhibit, and we were executing Operation Critical Bowie, a #BowieFlashMob.

It all started with a half-serious conversation between photographer Alyce Henson and Fabulous Ladies of Fitness troupe leader Jennifer Boeder, which they agreed was too good to just disregard. Jenny then floated the idea past me and I whole heartedly agreed. I immediately got to work on constructing a medley of Bowie songs which would honor the retrospective nature of the exhibition, but still keep things moving for a dance routine.

Jenny and the additional Fabulous Ladies of Fitness, Dorie Silverman and Molly Kavanaugh, then choreographed a performance to go along to it and got to work recruiting performers. Not a problem, given their consistent turnout of die hard dancers at their several-years-running monthly party "Get Physical" at Cole's Bar in Logan Square.

We rented a battery powered, mobile sound rig and I disguised it in a couple of custom fit cardboard boxes to help camouflage until performance time, we strapped them to a cart, and wheeled them into place on the plaza before ripping off the false fronts to reveal the speakers.

While we were worried that we might be kicked off the premises, the exact opposite happened and the MCA welcomed us with open arms.

Operation Critical Bowie... mission accomplished.

Audio clips:
1) Introduction: Peter And The Wolf (narrated by David Bowie)
2) Life on Mars
3) Fashion
4) Let's Dance
5) Under Pressure (Album Version) / Under Pressure (Vocals Only)

See the entire photo set:
http://www.shigleyphoto.com/20140923_bowie_flashmob_gallery/index_2.html