It's the kind of event where three performers dancing and undressing in the middle of the street and a student sitting motionless with a hessian bag over her head is situation normal.
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Art, Not Apart returned to the NewActon precinct on Saturday and it delivered what it promised – fading the boundaries between art and the people who experience it.
How many people does it take to play a piano? Up to 11, if you're talking about the version in the Nishi building foyer where Antonio Fernandez happily approached observers to ask them to play their part in adding to the sound.
At least five members of the public had a hand on the ivories at one point, while others stroked, plucked or straight-out banged the chords or wooden frame in a chaotic but charming ensemble effort.
Metres away in the middle of Phillip Law Street three performers played out a working day in dance, in the process changing from corporate office attire to workman overalls in their thought-provoking performance titled Sprout, which reminded curious observers of the need for nature in our life.
Dancer Alison Plevey, a Braddon resident and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts graduate, said the performance was created with the designed city of Canberra in mind.
"It portrayed the symbiotic relationship humans need to have with the environment, and the way we get caught up in this corporate cycle and concrete jungle," she said.
The event was a little sparser at NewActon this year as it expanded to the Westside container village and along the adjacent shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
Festival spokesman Martin Liu said it was estimated about 15,000 people attended across the six hour-event, with about 150 artists contributing in a diverse mix of music, installations, public painting, pottery and dance party.
