The Shot: Mastodon Mesa

Jada, left, and Laena, who declined to provide their last names, took in the scene. “I love weird stuff. It’s like brain food,” Laena said.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Graham Kolbeins, left, co-curator of the show, and friend Blake Besharian were excited about the night.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“All the weirdness is immediately subverted by the guy with the neurobiology exhibit. All mammals look the same as fetuses and it has led me to believe God has to exist or cannot. I feel like I have really learned something tonight,” said Max Landis as he clutched a curling iron.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Stephen Gibson, Johnny Rodgers’ assistant, sorts through tape.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

A view into the show.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“The Design Center is like the inside of an ‘80s townhouse,” said Stephen Franklin, with one “room filled with Pabst Blue Ribbon.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“I like how the music changes from room to room, but you can still hear the one before,” said Tyler Thacker. “It all runs together.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Morgan Gerstmar, left, and Drew Denny are the performance-art duo Lola Loshkey. They created noisy sound-scapes while wearing skeleton bodysuits.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Dorian Woods created a vision of his apartment. The piece involved him lying on the floor, making noises into a microphone as his “assistant” asked passersby for money.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Mya Stark, co-curator of the show, and artist Stephen Gibson sit in the “Birth Swamp.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Suki-Rose Etter was seated for the evening beside a sign that read: “Give me one personal truth or one secret for one gift.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

A gift traded for a secret is revealed!  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“It’s all about the feeling it gives you. You walk in with a clean slate and just have to experience it. It can be interesting,” said Nick, right, who along with Veronica declined to provide a last name.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Abdi Talimi, left, and Jacinto Astiazaran said they enjoyed the cacophony of the performances.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“This kind of freaks me out. But it’s fun,” said Jeff Hughes, right, with Trevor Luisi.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Attendees Ben and Kate, who didn’t provide their last names, take an apple break. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Ben said of the event. “The noodling of mermaids and theremins are my favorite,” Kate said.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“I think it’s awesome they’re using extremely expensive equipment, but they’re just making noise,” said Robert Braden, left, with Paloma Garcia.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“I’m not really sure what’s going on. But I’m interested,” said Edie Kahula Pereira. “It’s subversive. I don’t feel like I have to understand it -- just experience it.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Arlett Vereecke, center, described the show as “kind of alien.” Vanni Mangoni, at right, called it “catchy and weird.” With them is Ous Mellouli.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Self-proclaimed “old geezer” Kent Hodges, of Santa Barbara, said he was “delighted that the PDC was hosting such an open-ended free event.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“This is awesome,” said Joey Mann. “It makes you uncomfortable, and I like that.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

A detail, including a doll and children’s books, of the installation performance by Dorian Woods.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Lola Loshkey in action, with sound and stuffed animals.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

“This show is completely rad,” said Nathan Jones, left, with Kyle Tidd.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Three, who said he went by just the one name, had traded a personal truth for a present from Suki-Rose Etter. “I got a present I never expected!” he said. He would not say what that present was.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Jahan Khajauipour said he was enjoying the show: “It’s a lot of fun.”  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)

Eugene Kotlyarenko loves jumping.  (Robyn Von Swank/For The Times)