Over the course of seventeen days in July of 2019, a hot air balloon designed as a reflective and kinetic light sculpture traveled from iconic Trustees land conservation sites in Martha’s Vineyard, greater Boston, to the Berkshires, making seven stops along the way for a series of site-specific happenings and conversations regarding the future of our culture.

When reflecting upon this project, Aitken describes moving from one impression/experience to another during its seventeen day long duration. Each of these “experiences” consisted of various musical and artistic performances, with the balloon evolving into a kinetic light sculpture as night fell.

During these happenings, Aitken asked us to consider questions such as:

• Who are we now?

• Who will we be in the future?

Perhaps now more than ever, these questions are fresh in our minds.

Before you begin writing, take a few moments to consider Aitken’s questions while watching the following video highlighting New Horizon.

Imagine you are in charge of planning one of these happenings. Now, focus on one of your major goals or hopes for our future. Using the platform that Aitken created to present his questions, consider how you would organize an event in order to express the message that you aim for your attendees to experience and consider.

• What sort of experiences will you set up in order to induce a thought process about our collective future?

• In what type of setting does the balloon touch down? Why did you choose this environment?

• What performances are happening?

• Is there music playing? If so, how would you describe the musical performances, and how do they cater to the experience?

• What other types of performances are occurring? Choreographic, musical, visual, etc?

• Doug Aitken’s project was hugely collaborative. Who do you need on your team in order to successfully execute this happening?

• What type of feeling or message do you hope the attendees of this happening will come away with?