FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com AUGUST 11, 2016 • TIMES 23 buzz QUEENS BY MARIA GOTAY editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com @RidgewoodTimes On Saturday, Aug. 6, Ridgewood enjoyed a great day of food, music and sustainable technology. Transforming the VanDer-Ende Onderdonk House green space into a playground for the senses, Variance Festival featured music, food and arts, all inspired by the diversity of their community. Variance Festival brought together a unique gathering of people to celebrate music and expression in a green and sustainable way. There was art, food and music, and all sorts of extras! Wrapped into the festival were unique elements like hair-braiding stations and a midday yoga class, and interactive art exhibits that made you think. Most of the art onsite came from artist Gilbane Peck, who posts his art under the title #whatwillyouleavebehind. In line with the mission of the festival, his work upcycles found and discarded materials to give them a second life. Tucked into the tree-lined grounds of the Onderdonk House, he built sculptures out ladders and mannequins. He also hosted an onsite photo booth where attendees could have a portrait taken and printed on recycled paper, which he would then collage on top of. He hoped his art would inspire attendees to think deeper about what they consider trash. The musical lineup also spoke to the diversity of the community. Our favorite performance came from cassette DJ Awesome Tapes from Africa who samples world beats from tapes collected on his travels. He infused the event with all sorts of exotic sounds, from Atomic Jazz of Senegal to Zulu Pop of South Africa. Next up was Oberhofer, who wooed the crowd with his jangly rock ‘n’ roll set. The day’s headliner, legendary Canadian DJ Duo Junior Boys, seduced the crowd into a dancing frenzy. Sips and bites at Variance were also healthy and creative. Presented in a sustainable way, materials were sourced from mostly local and organic ingredients and served on compostable bowls and bamboo boats. Some of the most creative elements of the festival, each food booth offered fare inspired by the musical stylings of the headliners. Awesome Tacos from Africa featured piri piri tacos, while Oberhaus sausages nodded to lead singer Brad Oberhofer’s German background. Nearby, revive kombucha sampled their fermented teas in the unique fl avors of coffee and cucumber-mint. The most unique element of the festival, however, were its solar panels, silently collecting summer sunshine and powering the sound system in real time. When midday showers came to wipe away some of the day’s humidity, most of the crowd bolted into a large, porcupine-like infl atable tunnel to avoid getting wet. Others embraced the rain, starting a soaking wet barefoot dance party in the grassy lawn. It was one of the best moments of the day and perfectly encapsulated the carefree spirit of the community that made Variance wonderful. Eco-friendly music fest comes to Ridgewood Photos: Maria Gotay/RIDGEWOOD TIMES
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