Astral Relics of the Great North Woods

FuzzPop Workshop

Milwaukee, WI

Lead Designers: Daniel Murray, John Kowalczyk, Brian Nielson, Micah Ebbe

Additional Sound and Interactive Design: Steve Zydek, Lorna Dune

Contributing Artists: Drew York, Abigail Ziesemann, Sara Bott, Kirsten Josefchuk, Tim Priebe

In a forest clearing, primordial spirits of ancient trees harness the magic of the Northern Lights. From old growth forests to the celestial majesty of the Aurora Borealis, Wisconsin’s Northwoods is a place of beauty and mystery. Astral Relics draws on the colors, sounds, and textures of these woodlands, transforming them into an otherworldly space and invoking the awe and wonder that comes from recognizing our smallness in the complexity of the cosmos.

Pro Tip

Using the glowing panels on the remnants of an ancient tree, visitors can manipulate the rhythms of the ritual, making music for the stars. Enjoy the installation from the main paved path, the mulched pathway surrounding the spirits or venture into the grassy area in the center - if you dare!

Inside the Installation

Materials: Digitally printed ripstop nylon, high-powered blowers, LEDs, multichannel sound system Software: Ableton Live, Max, and MadMapper

  1. The Astral Relics are fabricated from nearly 1,000 yards of heavy-duty fabric designed to withstand a variety of weather, internal air pressure, and enthusiastic visitors.
  2. The fabric designs were created using a combination of watercolors, ink, and digitally edited photographs of local trees.
  3. Each Relic is created from over 200 patterned pieces of fabric assembled in FuzzPop’s Milwaukee studio.
  4. Two internal blowers in each Relic generate over 1,000 cubic feet of airflow per minute.
  5. There are 1,408,576 possible musical creations that visitors can activate by engaging the panels in the center of the installation.
  6. Created with support from Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., Bader Philanthropies, Astor Street Foundation, Heil Family Foundation, and the Wilson Family Foundation.

Artist Bio

FuzzPop Workshop

FuzzPop Workshop is a Milwaukee-based art studio creating immersive experiences that make the local otherworldly. Through its large-scale installations and interactive environments, FuzzPop combines art, technology, and story to create experiences that reflect our technological and ecological trajectories from a new perspective. Founded in 2022, FuzzPop’s multidisciplinary work brings together dozens of local creatives, fostering exciting new collaborations and supporting a thriving creative community in the region. Recent partners have included Milwaukee Summerfest, Joy Engine, and the UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning. In 2024, FuzzPop’s Yield was selected as the GLEAM Audience Choice Award.

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