The ONTOPO retreat at Outlier Inn transformed a rural recording studio into a site for deep exploration of sound, improvisation, and domesticity. Anchored by an open jam session led by musicians such as Brian DeGraw of Gang Gang Dance, the retreat invited participants—musicians and non-musicians alike—to engage with audio recording and transmission as both a technical and creative practice. The open format encouraged spontaneous collaboration in a space where sound became a medium for both personal expression and communal resonance.

The architectural presence of tiny houses on-site served as a poignant metaphor for simplicity and adaptability, challenging urban participants to reflect on rural domesticity and alternative forms of living. From physical training sessions with S10 to hands-on experiments in radio transmission, the retreat serves as a multimedia platform, offering a recalibration of creative practice within the rhythms of a pastoral environment.

Participating Artists
‍Kamau Patton, Daniel Perlin, Luke Simon, The Jewels of New York, Huy Bui: Solar Light, Anne Apparu-Hall, Ambika Conroy, Josh Druckman, Paul Jacobsen: Tiny House Raising, Sharon Dang, Extra Terrestrial Projects, James Kendi, Shelley Burgon, Megha Barnabas, S10 Training, Brian DeGraw, Nelleke McCowan, Jon Santos, Erik Meier, Eartheater, Data Garden, Mombucha: Kombucha, Alice Schavoir, Seytenes, Morgan Yakus

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