In late 2018, Elixart opened its second location in San Francisco in partnership with Onedome, an immersive art museum in the heart of the SoMa district. When Colter Merrick and Sharon Cummings decided to transform their new Nevada City art gallery into something more around 2012, they added a tea bar and hosted gatherings where plant beverages with thousands of years of tradition were served.
“We realized right away how serving these ancient beverages created connection and resonated with the community and that this kind of authentic experience was missing from the marketplace. We wanted to create an elevating experience in an inspiring environment that conveys a respect for the treasures of nature and the plants we consume,” observes Colter Merrick. This is part of a new paradigm trending away from alcohol and towards healthier choices as part of an integrative lifestyle.
Elixart provides non-alcoholic cocktails—or “mocktails”—with plant-based ingredients at a variety of festivals and pop-up events. Elixart’s presence at Lightning in a Bottle for the past four years exposed a much wider audience to their beverages and piqued the interest of Chris Dekker, the founder of Earthdance festival and one of the visionaries behind Onedome Global’s San Francisco project, The Unreal Garden and LMNL (pronounced liminal). Elixart is honored to work with one of the founders of festival culture, making this social medium available to the masses year round.
“It was always our intention to change the landscape of the ‘third place’ (places other than home and work) in our belief that we don’t need alcohol to feel socially connected. We need other options. We want our elixirs to be as tasty as they are exotic, so there was an approachable way to discover healthier drinks that fill your cup.” states Sharon Cummings. Onedome’s interactive art is well matched with Elixart’s goals.
Onedome is changing the museum and gallery experience of the 21st century with the launch of The Unreal Garden, the first mixed reality art experience blending physical, sound, projections and augmented reality using the Microsoft HoloLens headset. And, LMNL, a labyrinth of experiential art with 14 interactive rooms and installations, interconnected into fun otherworldly explorations.
The immersive art at Onedome invites guests to actively participate in an expanded and magical reality. Elixart embraces this concept by designing their own space with artist and collaborator Branch Ellison. Ellison’s 30+ foot bar has literally thousands of precious, semi-precious stones, crystals and gemstones cast into sacred geometric shapes with interactive LED lighting designed by artist Brian Pinkham. Pinkham designed bar lights that could be controlled easily with an iPad. His vision is to hold to the heart of science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke’s adage: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Ellison has worked with Elixart since 2014 when he produced the solo art exhibit, “Time in Form,” with large scale orgonite sculptures for their Nevada City location. Ellison’s work elevates orgonite to the level of fine art with much larger works than generally seen in this complex, alchemical sculpting discipline. “This bar uses crystals and geometry to vibrationally enhance and amplify each beverages’ healing qualities. It’s a piece of functional art,” says Ellison.
Elixart and Ellison weave together imagination and natural elements, creating in a manner that transforms the space and makes it alive, complementing The Unreal Garden. “We are looking forward to bringing even more of this art to guests with a July exhibit in Nevada City,” notes Branch Ellison of Orgonix23.
“From the start of our endeavor, we have wanted to develop alternative healing modalities using all types of natural and organic elements. At The Unreal Garden, we saw the opportunity to create something that supports an emerging health conscious cultural trend. The bar is a central piece of the experience. I wanted people to feel the wonder and joy of a medicinal and delicious elixir on an enchanting bartop while they experience The Unreal Garden,” states Ellison.
When someone approaches the bar at Elixart, bartenders may ask the guest how they want to feel —to be energetic, relaxed, or reflective. The menu is designed to offer a variety of effects with drinks made with plants from all different herbal practices. Elixart uses carefully formulated mocktails, lattés, teas, tonics and kava.
Elixart is doing something new. Its collaboration with artist Branch Ellison and Onedome Global suggest a readiness in our society for something that merges holistic energy with the focus of technology-enabled artistry….a new way to fill our cup with vibrant life.
Visit Elixart, The Unreal Garden and LMNL to experience the next concept for creative, immersive art and social connection. Watch for upcoming events and art exhibit announcements at Elixart.com. See Branch Ellison’s artwork at Orgonix23.com or on Instagram.com/branchellison.
About Elixart
Elixart is a non-alcoholic bar, lounge and visionary art gallery with locations in Nevada City and San Francisco, California. Elixart provides an elevated, social experience with beverages that nourish the body and mind. Watch for Elixart at your favorite festival, such as Lightning In a Bottle or Symbiosis and see also online offerings at Elixart.com or Instagram.com/elixart.
About Branch Ellison and Orgonix23
Branch Ellison is an orgonite jeweler and sculptural artist. Known for his outstanding craftsmanship and precision, Ellison has been recognized as a pioneering developer and orgonite influencer.
Ellison designs and crafts orgonite pendants and sculptures that push the boundaries of what is possible in this rare field of artistic exploration. Watch for his work at many festivals, gemstone and new age expositions, as well the custom Elixart bar in San Francisco at The Unreal Garden. Commissions invited. Orgonix23.com or Instagram.com/branchellison.
About Onedome San Francisco
Located at 1025 Market St., tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.onedome.global and range in price from $22 to $55 each, based on chosen package, date and time. The lounge and Elixart Cafe are open to the public to spend time in this extraordinary space, allowing participants to try some healthy snacks, non-alcoholic beverages from elixirs to mocktails, and create original virtual artwork. See also https://www.instagram.com/OnedomeGlobal/
Onedome is an immersive media company positioned at the intersection of Art, Technology & Experience with its first permanent destination launched in October 2018 in San Francisco. A group of visionaries, artists and changemakers, Onedome creates and curates immersive entertainment experiences that invite collaboration, connection and community. Onedome is looking to open several more locations across the US and the world.
Tags: #Elixart, #BranchEllison, #Onedome, #TheUnrealGarden, #LMNL, #RealityEvolved, #Orgonix
