The Magus Tea Party - 2019
El Circo Dia produced a series of two immersive events called "The Magus Tea Party" supported in full by Vau de Vire Society and Opel Productions. Located in 'Vault 4' of the Old San Francisco Mint for the New Bohemian New Years Eve party, and within The Regency Ballroom for the Edwardian Ball. Our team was honored to bring such an ambitious project to life inside these two historic and beautiful buildings.
To enter the densely staged environments, participants first had to find a ticket hidden within the venue, and then undergo a "cleansing" by one of the indoctrination officers.
Once inside of the room guests were greeted by Father Zod, the time-traveling cult leader, to begin their induction process into his mock psychedelic love cult.
Participants received individual blessings, were subjected to absurd cleansing rituals and asked to fill out questionnaires while having their dreams stolen by Father Zod to be stored forever... for safe keeping.
Based on the imagery and practices of real cults from the sixties and seventies, The Magus Tea Party was designed as a "tongue in cheek" intimate social gathering intended to encourage adventure, community interaction and curiosity.
My Roles in the project:
Father Zod, Art Director, Fabricator, Creative Collaborator, Graphic Design & Fabrication
The Induction - step into the time machine, drink the koolaide, tell Father Zod about your dreams, get your hand stamped with glowing magic ink, become one of us and bring your friends.
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Graphic Design - Examples of signage and graphics used to interact with audience.
Intake form, pull tabs, admission ticket, time machine mock-up, Father Zod wanted poster, and Magus Tea Party logo. The psychedelic concentric hexagon is a reoccurring motif, with mysterious properties and meanings.
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Back Story - Within the Magus Tea Party installation, was a photo book, featuring historical cult leader scenes, with Father Zod intentionally, poorly photoshopped into them. This was one of the props used to help induct cult members.
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Magic & Mayhem - Father Zod shown here activating his sacred hexagon amulet.
Photo captured by a Office Max surveillance camera, during an armed robbery.
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