During last year’s Expanded Cinema project, which put local video art onto the OMNI’s giant canvas, cars sat abandoned, piled up along the road like the vehicular aftermath of an apocalypse. Fields filled with viewers like some out-of-season Fourth of July. And art did what we knew it could: pulled people out of their bubbles and caused them to share collective captivation. It was an example of public art at its best, and Friday it happens again as 12 programmers (many new to the challenge, with a few repeat offenders) take control of the building’s circuitry for this year’s installment of Expanded Cinema: “MultipliCity.” There’s an official viewing party at Hickory House Barbecue (600 S. Riverfront Blvd.), but anywhere you can see the hotel and have access to a radio — the musical component is critical and will play live on KKXT-FM 91.7 — is a good spot. There’s also an afterparty at Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd.), so when the 8 p.m. program wraps, head on over there. Pro tip: Stake out your viewing area early and don’t get up until it’s over. Parking, traffic and general automotive messiness will be rowdy. The event kicks off the Dallas VideoFest, which runs October 9 to 13. Visit videofest.org or blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster.
Fri., Oct. 4, 2013