Sycamore Colony — Scott N Andrew

Sycamore Colony is an immersive performance that explores the anomaly of Sycamore Island and its rich ecological and cultural history. The island is a 13-acre stretch of alluvial land in the Allegheny River off the shores of Blawnox, nine miles east of Pittsburgh. It is the last privately owned undeveloped island in Allegheny County.

Along the island’s trail, a series of temporary structures, live performers and sound installation will integrate to form a vivid environment where audience members are encouraged to roam and explore. Within this space, an invented mythology of the island will transpire and spur a series of actions that create a singular experience for each visitor.

The experience will begin aboard a small boat as visitors are ferried from Blawnox to the island. After arriving at the island’s landing area, the journey unfolds as a series of events, both planned and fortuitous, experienced along the demarcated trail. The result is a largely self-guided exploration that centers on the isolated and transmuted nature of the landscape, and uncovers the dichotomy of fear and pleasure derived from unexpected encounters.

About The Project:

Sycamore Colony is produced by The Drift, a platform for creative projects that explore the rivers within the city of Pittsburgh. The Drift is supported in part by a Seed Award from The Sprout Fund, a grant from the Awesome Foundation, as well as support from Carnegie Mellon University.

Sycamore Island is owned by the Allegheny Land Trust. Learn more about the island’s history on their website at www.alleghenylandtrust.org.