Imagined by the Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri, the experimental city of Arcosanti rests in Arizona’s high desert about an hour north of Phoenix. Since 1970, this unique community has been a work in progress, an “urban laboratory” modeled from concepts of Arcology, the fusion of architecture and ecology. A small staff resides in the city, while thousands of students, artists and tourists visit daily. It also provides the backdrop to FORM, a forward-thinking “celebration of life, art and creativity” organized by Los Angeles-based band Hundred Waters. Only in its second year, FORM is an experience unlike anything else, shaped by its inspiring environment, ethos and the collective energy of its hosts and attendees.
RANGE contributors Victoria Masters and Dave Sutton of Stadiums & Shrines–last seen driving across New Zealand in our Winter 2015 issue–camped at the three-day music event over Memorial Day weekend. They set up cliff-side alongside roughly 200 guests clustered throughout the grounds in a geodesic dome tent courtesy of Heimplanet. Days were spent with friends exploring the labyrinthine structures and surrounding nature, and then convening in the amphitheater at dusk where a beautifully curated flow of performances carried well into the starry nights.
This article was originally published in RANGE Magazine Issue Three.
Images by Victoria Masters.
