ARYON HOPKINS

A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse {WIKI}. NERD Island is assembling a large group of first time mummers to perform our chaotic disaster dance in front of City Hall and the rest of Philadelphia via local news. We have 50 mummers confirmed and are looking for 50 more before New Years Day.

HOW IT WORKS

• 1. Contact Us
  Contact Aryon via email, phone, text or in person at any of our meetings/rehearsals before New Years Day. We will work out if you’re best suited as a disaster stricken tourist, earthquake, tornado, volcano or hurricane.
• 2. Rehearse
  Show up to any of our rehearsals or watch online and practice at home. Our choreography is chaotic yet easy to pick up.
• 3. Perform
  Meet us around Broad & Washington at 9am. We begin marching around 9:30 and will perform and be done by 10. We then meet up with the Vaudevillains and Rabble Rousers around 5pm at 2 Street (2nd & Washington) to party and perform for another couple of hours. Best way to start the New Year.

COST

We are only asking for the $1.75 badge fee to participate. Donations on top of that are greatly appreciated but not necessary.

NERD Island has been busy printing posters illustrated by Mummer Keith Greiman, bedazzling sequin buttons built by Mummer Jarmel Reitz and printing Disaster Fashion that is similar to our costumes.

Distribution of Proceeds

50% Heads Together Haiti
A group of Haitians who work for community development, education, and social enterprise in their villages.

50% NERD Island
A Mummer Comic Brigade working to build community through collaborative art making in Kensington & Fishtown.

We have begun choreographing our 2011 Mummer Performance. Our Mummer Comic Theme is a Natural Disaster Dance Off and we will be moving and shaking together as Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Volcanoes, and Hurricanes.

We will update our rehearsal progress as the week progresses. We rehearse every night from 6-8pm at a performance space near Front & Norris. Our full schedule & clubhouse for costume making, float building and backdrop painting. Join us! If you are having difficulties viewing this rehearsal check them on youtube.

NERD Island 2011 Mummer Disaster Dance: Rehearsal #5

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NERD Island 2011 Mummer Disaster Dance: Rehearsal #4

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NERD Island 2011 Mummer Disaster Dance: Rehearsal #3

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NERD Island 2011 Mummer Disaster Dance: Rehearsal #2

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NERD Island 2011 Mummer Disaster Dance: Rehearsal #1

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We’ve been fortunate to catch a flood of press the last couple of weeks. We are looking forward to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer and working with Peter Crimmins of WHYY for a New Years Broadcast of All Things Considered.

NEWSWORKS / WHYY /// Full Story

Listen to the audio
Peter Crimmins captured scissor sounds and an awkward expression on my face during one of our weekly meetings.

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TEK LADO /// Full Story

Liz Spikol spread the word to the new bilingual generation.

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THE FEAST /// Full Story

Embedded Mummer Reporter Abigail Bruley shared her first Mummer meeting experiences on NBCPhiladelphia.com’s The Feast

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FISHTOWN STAR

We were featured in the recent issue of the Fishtown Star. Thumbnail image of this post and photos in the article by Faye Murman.

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PHILEBRITY /// Full Story

This article has the best opener with “I don’t think the announcer knows what the hell is going on here, and neither do we. It looks like they’re having fun though, and thats what counts.”

NERD Island will be sharing their rehearsal space with the Rabble Rousers at an amazing multi-use space just under the Market Frankford El at Front and Norris. Rehearsals from 6 to 8pm every weeknight starting on Monday the 27th until New Year’s Eve.

This 8000 sq foot practice space at Front and Norris was generously donated by a local Realtor who is revitalizing our Kensington Neighborhood. The space is available for rent. If you’re interested in leasing the property please contact Mike at 267.593.8437.

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Saturday December 18th, noon – 6pm
SPACE 1026 // 1026 Arch

NERD Islanders Aryon and Jarmel are participating in the annual Off The Blanket Flea Market at Space 1026 today. There will be t-shirts, zines, american beardos, books, records, cds, cookies, prints, shanks, old stuff, calenders and a very special NAIL SALON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All by NERD Islanders Aryon Hoselton, Jarmel Christ and more and Space 1026ers like Caitlin Perkins, Anni Altshuler, Michael Gerkovich, James Ulmer, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Joanna Quigley, Bill McRight, Bonnie Brenda Scott, Emilia Brnitnall Leah Mackinand and more!!!!

Mummers Jarmel and Izaak have been creating our Natural Disaster Theme for the past week. Earthquakes, Twisters, The Wizard of Oz, Lil’ John, Volcanos, Sirens, Screams are some highlights.

We are offering 4 Affordable Website Workshops this month to raise money for our Mummer Brigade and Heads Together Haiti, a group of Haitians who work for community development, education, and social enterprise in their villages.

Full Details & Location: http://updatecontent.com/workshops/

Schedule
Wednesday, Dec. 15th 10am – 2pm
Saturday, Dec. 18th 10am – 2pm
Tuesday, Dec. 21st 6pm – 10pm
Wednesday, Dec. 29th 6pm – 10pm

Overview of Instruction
Four hours to learn how to design, build and update your own website EASILY. All skill levels welcome. Our hands on workshops are small group and collaborative. They are perfect for Small Businesses, Musicians, Artists. Anyone At All.

Distribution of Proceeds
50% Heads Together Haiti
A group of Haitians who work for community development, education, and social enterprise in their villages.

50% NERD Island
A Mummer Comic Brigade working to build community through collaborative art making in Kensington & Fishtown.

NERD Island is inviting everyone in our local Kensington & Fishtown Community to participate in this year’s Mummers Parade. We are dreaming big this year and looking for 100 people in ANY AREA of Philadelphia to participate. Invite your family, friends and neighbors to participate.

As the recent writeup on the Frankford Ave Arts website states:

Aryon and the rest of the Nerd Island Brigade have decided that they will power their entire part of this year’s parade using only human energy, no fossil fuels.  Between that and generally thinking that the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby involves some of the coolest people in all the world, Nerd Island has decided to invite KKSD folks to be a part of Nerd Island during the 2011 Mummer’s Parade.

To quote YouTuber walrusgiggles: “Poor, poor guy”.

NERD Island is a Comic Mummer Brigade. Our division entertains through comedy and critiques through satire. There is nothing funny about natural disasters unless you’re dressed like one on Broad Street, New Year’s morning.