Planetarium Mobilis featuring Highway Lights
Details
Planetarium Mobilis featuring Highway Lights is your chance to drift through the cosmos without ever leaving the ground. This one-hour immersive art experience transforms a mobile planetarium dome into a dreamy, meditative galaxy of sound and light.
Inside the dome, space-themed imagery inspired by NASA is reimagined by filmmaker Anlo Sepulveda and projected overhead, wrapping you in swirling stars, nebulas, and celestial landscapes. Instead of traditional seats, you’ll lounge on yoga mats and pillows, stretching out under the virtual night sky as the visuals slowly unfold.
The soundtrack for this cosmic journey comes from Highway Lights, an ambient classical duo made up of cellist Sara Nelson and pianist-composer Justin Sherburn. Their music blends sweeping cello melodies with slow-burning drones and gentle textures, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and infinite. Influences like Brian Eno, Arvo Pärt, and Stars of the Lid shine through in their reflective, minimalist style.
As the music and imagery sync together, the dome becomes a kind of sanctuary for stargazers, daydreamers, and anyone craving a reset from everyday noise. It’s less like a concert and more like a guided meditation on the universe, where “astral projection meets sacred minimalism.”
After the performance, herbal tea is served to help ease you back to Earth, giving you a few extra moments to chat softly with fellow travelers or simply sit with whatever the stars stirred up.
- Immersive dome projections of reimagined NASA imagery
- Live ambient classical performance by Highway Lights
- Relaxed seating on yoga mats and pillows
- One-hour continuous performance and video installation
- Herbal tea after the show for a gentle “re-entry”
- Perfect for fans of ambient music, slow cinema, and stargazing
If you’ve ever wanted to float in space while wrapped in lush, live music, this is the night to do it.
Venue Details
Factory on 5th is a lively countercultural art center tucked inside a vintage 1948 pink Quonset hut in the East Austin arts district. It blends underground charm with a welcoming, community-driven vibe, making it a go-to creative playground for artists, performers, and audience members alike.
- Figure Drawing & Painting Sessions
- Regular life drawing classes with live nude models, open to everyone from sketchbook beginners to seasoned illustrators and painters.
- Emphasis on traditional life studies as a foundation of artistic training, with a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
- Supplies available on-site: community pencils, markers, drawing boards, easels, and drawing horses, plus optional sketch pads for purchase.
- Casual, come-as-you-are energy that encourages experimentation, learning, and creative play.
- Creative Events & Performances
- Hosts a rotating lineup of events, from immersive theatre productions to high-energy live music and multidisciplinary shows.
- Past and recurring happenings include:
- Intimate theatre performances in a flexible, industrial-style space.
- Live bands, DJ sets, and dance-forward nights that turn the venue into a glowing, eclectic party.
- Special celebrations and arts community gatherings that highlight local creatives.
- Events often feature a festival-like mix of sound, movement, and visual art, giving each night its own distinct personality.
- Atmosphere & Amenities
- The pink Quonset hut exterior sets a playful tone, while the interior feels like a mash-up of warehouse gallery, rehearsal room, and neighborhood hangout.
- Round-the-block free street parking during many evening events adds to the easygoing, drop-in-friendly feel.
- Complimentary drinks such as wine, beer, or water are often part of figure drawing nights, encouraging guests to relax and stay awhile.
- On select evenings, food trucks park nearby, turning the art session or show into a full night out.
- Community & Culture
- Operates on an “All are welcome, all make art here” philosophy, lowering the barrier to entry for anyone curious about participating in the arts.
- Values creative labor by offering strong pay rates for models and performers, reinforcing a culture of respect for working artists.
- Acts as a crossroad for different Austin scenes: visual artists, theatre-makers, musicians, dancers, bike folks, and more all intersect here.
- Ideal for people who love art but prefer spaces that are offbeat, unpretentious, and community-oriented rather than polished or formal.
- What Makes Factory on 5th Stand Out
- Its distinctive pink Quonset hut shell and East Side location give it instant character and a sense of discovery.
- The mix of figure drawing, experimental theatre, concerts, and creative parties means no two visits feel the same.
- It captures a slice of classic Austin energy: DIY, artsy, slightly rebellious, and endlessly welcoming.
Factory on 5th at 3409 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702 is a place where people come to sketch, watch, perform, dance, and simply be part of a DIY art community. Whether you are picking up a pencil for the first time, supporting local theatre, or catching a genre-blending live show, it offers a colorful, come-as-you-are experience in the heart of East Austin.
Location
- monday9 AM-8 PM
- tuesday9 AM-10 PM
- wednesday9 AM-8 PM
- thursday9 AM-8 PM
- friday9 AM-8 PM
- saturday9 AM-8 PM
- sunday9 AM-2 PM