Downtown FabWorks Portfolio | Ancestral Odyssey

project
description

British artist Vince Fraser’s Ancestral Odyssey installation invites viewers into an immersive reflection on Black identity, ancestry, and futurism. Through mirrored surfaces, soundscapes, and technicolor portals, the piece blends the spiritual and spatial into one fluid experience. Housed inside NOAAM, the museum exhibit creates two intimate, light- and tech-integrated rooms nested within a single gallery.

the
challenge

The New Orleans African American Museum approached us to help bring Fraser’s visionary, high-tech concept to life within the walls of a historic home-turned-exhibition space. The design called for building two uniquely shaped immersive “vessels” inside a shared gallery footprint, with exacting AV needs and seamless reflective finishes. Every element had to support the artwork while honoring the museum’s space and story.

description

We fabricated and assembled two custom-built rooms—one hexagonal, one rectangular—each lined with mirrored surfaces and embedded with LED visual displays. Every detail was designed to support Fraser’s multi-sensory storytelling, including integrated lighting and a unifying sound design featuring poet Sunni Patterson. A full “tech-up” at our shop let us pre-test structures and troubleshoot before final installation. Once on-site, our museum exhibit installation team fit both vessels into the gallery with inches to spare, cleverly hiding a full AV control hub between the rooms—with expert AV integration by our friends at DNE Creative Technology. The result is a stunning fusion of art, architecture, and technology—inviting visitors to step into a living reflection of diaspora futures.

Scott Beelman

Partner, Katapult Events

In the world of live events—where things often change on a whim—it's great to have a fabrication partner who understands our business and exceeds our expectations every single time.

Kristen Kain

Owner, Kristen Kain: Marketing + Events

Downtown FabWorks is a great group to work with on any event project. They are experienced in all things related to scenic fabrication and installation, and they are flexible and accommodating as the needs of the project are developing. Having a reliable scenic partner is crucial to the success of the project—and Downtown FabWorks does not disappoint.

Mandi (Ridgdell) Mueller

Account Manager, Solomon Group

We love our partnership with Downtown FabWorks! Between their quality leadership and fortitude they are second to none.

Paul Utterback

Business Development, Crystal Clear Imaging

A model company for design and fabrication. If you can dream it, Downtown FabWorks can do it.

Irina Gusin

Independent Exhibitions Producer

Dan and his team at Downtown FabWorks were able to fully produce and execute a large-scale structure thoughtfully and in record time when my project's deadline was threatened by Hurricane Ida. I couldn't be more appreciative of Dan's professionalism and hard work during a very stressful and uncertain time. Dan and his team were a joy to work with!

Mike Cassesi

Owner, CASSESI Commercial Construction

Dan and his team are true professionals who are in a league of their own. When it comes to creativity, quality, and skill, Downtown FabWorks is a company that we know we can trust. Dan is down-to-earth, responsive, hardworking, and a true pleasure to work with every time.

Chuck Breaux, Sr.

Owner, Assurance AV Solutions

Working with Dan and his team has been great. We always have a need for custom fab solutions in our line of work and these guys deliver top-notch work on time—every time. I highly recommend them for any of your fabrication needs.

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