Remember when we perceived reality through the visceral experience of bodies and senses? Yep. It’s difficult to recall a time when our experiences weren’t mitigated by a screen, and our decisions anticipated by an algorithm or a veritable alphabet soup of AI to VR weren’t conspiring to drown out our self-conception as humans. Fortunately, there’s help.
Imagine an evening that awakens the senses through the synergy of art, nature and gourmet cuisine. Too much to ask? Go for it—YOLO, right? This is the promise of VISCERĀLIS, the latest offering from JAD Experience, an event series that immerses audiences in an experience like no other.
Hosted at Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma over two weekends (July 12–14 and July 19–21), VISCERĀLIS offers a much-needed antidote to our tech-saturated lives, as it emphasizes visceral reality over the many virtual distractions that define our contemporary lives.
The event begins with a transformative dining experience crafted from locally sourced, regeneratively grown food. This sets the stage for an open-air ballet choreographed by Julia Adam, a former San Francisco Ballet principal. Adam and her elite corps of dancers will perform against the backdrop of sweeping hillside views, fostering a deep connection between the audience, the community and the natural environment.
JAD Experience is the brainchild of Julia Adam and her husband, Aaron Lucich, a producer, farmer, rancher and agricultural activist. This dynamic duo has combined their passions and talents to create a series of events that highlight the importance of reconnecting with nature and each other. Now in its 11th season, JAD Experience continues to evolve, with Tara Firma Farms serving as its home for the past six years.
“My initial desire to move out of the constraints of the opera house and urban settings 11 years ago is now even more relevant,” said Adam. “Walking on cement with screens in our hands, losing our connection to the earth and each other confirms that what we do is needed now more than ever.”
Lucich adds, “The further we get from our connection to the soil, the more isolated we become. This disconnect might even drive our obsession with technology. JAD Experience provides a much-needed remedy.”
Each evening begins with a multi-course, farm-to-table feast served family-style, featuring transparently sourced food from Sonoma and Marin counties. Lucich, who produces the proteins on site, leads a diverse team in navigating the six-night culinary adventure.
The menu also offers robust alternatives for vegetarians and vegans, as well as beer, wine and house-made non-alcoholic drinks.
After dinner, guests will gather with steaming cups of sipping hot chocolate and bone broth (presumably as two separate beverages) at the open-air stage for the world premiere of VISCERĀLIS. Julia Adam’s team of dancers will interpret her unique storytelling style, which incorporates spoken word, song and exploration beyond the fourth wall, fostering a deeper connection to each other and the world around us.
A limited number of tickets are now on sale for the six evenings of ‘VISCERĀLIS,’ which runs 5:30 to 10pm, July 12–14, and July 19–21, at Tara Firma Farms, 3796 I St., Petaluma. Tickets are available for $200, $250 and $300 at JADexperience.com.
