POP UP

An Artistic Adventure

An interactive, custom-made treasure hunt, wrapping community into site-specific performances.

POP UP: An Artistic Adventure transforms an ordinary neighborhood into an unfolding work of art. Armed with a hand-drawn map and a trail of intriguing clues, audiences embark on a walkable journey to discover a series of site-specific performances—music, theater, dance, and sound—springing up in streets, shops, parks, and unexpected corners. Each performance is inspired by real stories gathered from local residents during our artist residencies, creating a vibrant, community-rooted portrait of place. Part scavenger hunt, part festival, and part neighborhood love letter, POP UP invites audiences to see their surroundings with fresh eyes.

A creative placemaking project, POP UP is tailor-made for each community. By weaving the dreams, impressions, and experiences of local residents into everyday spaces, it transforms familiar streets into shared works of art. Free Soundpainting workshops invite residents into the creative process, culminating in a finale where community members perform alongside the professional ensemble—celebrating local diversity and our shared humanity.

POP UP was conceived by Leese Walker (Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, USA)and Angélique Cormier (Tours Soundpainting Orchestra, France).


Years: 2018-Present

Pop Up (U.S. Premiere) Fort Greene, Brooklyn (2019)

Pop Up Dartmouth Hanover, NH (2022)

Pop Up (World Premiere) Tours, France (2018)

Pop Up (Work-In-Progress) St. Pierre Des Corps, France (2017)

Production History

  • Bethlehem, PA ( 2024)  Zoellner Arts Center and Lehigh University

Audience Member

“POP UP involves the community in every step of the process and makes them feel like their stories - from silly, to quaint, to serious - matter.”

Audience Member

“It showed the humanity of the community.”

Audience Member

“The clues helped me to slow down and look around at the neighborhood in a different way; and to connect with fellow audience.”