Mixtape #3 was a family dance party featuring DJ Sh-boom, tasty treats donated by Noble BBQ, and a special performance by Singing for Memories, an organization providing choral instruction for elders with memory loss and their caregivers.
Participants were invited to “Surf the Surfeit” by creating mobiles out of recycled materials Herman collected in the "Swap Shop" at her local transfer station and then improvise dance moves inspired by their mobile’s composition. Attendees felt and shared the empowerment of creating sustainably while exploring different types of balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial, and crystallographic), examples of which were projected as well as displayed on various tables and in sample mobiles.
Space invited attendees to dip into their recycling bins and bring items to contribute to their own or others’ mobiles, noting there would also be lots of materials on hand. Katrina Venhuizen, Environmental Educator from ecomaine attended the event to offer clarifying information on what is recyclable locally and offer a variety of recycled giveaway items.
Reflecting Hermans' interest in fostering new connections and mutually beneficial relationships between individuals as well as organizations ,and forwarding her mission to reduce single use plastic and other unecessary consumption, all Mixtape #3 attendees received a Portland Food Co-op coupon for 10% off one bulk item purchase when bringing and refilling a container from home.
At the end of the event, participants could bring their mobiles (or any other item in the Gallery brought by Herman) home, or leave their creations and leftover materials to be recycled or re-release at the Swap Shop. Parents remarked on how their children were inspired by the materials there, knowing instantly what to do, playing together without growing territorial about stuff, and in most cases not developing attachments to the items made or on offer, engaging more with process than product.