Transformed a modest Indiana parking garage into a colossal subwoofer setup: Germane Barnes
In downtown Columbus, Indiana, the Jackson Street Garage is set to transform into a symphony of sound and community spirit as part of the Exhibit Columbus 2025 event. The installation, titled Joy Riding, is the brainchild of Germane Barnes, the director of Miami-based Studio Barnes.
Joy Riding reimagines the parking garage as a series of larger-than-life sub-woofers, the bass-heavy speakers commonly found in car trunks in Black communities like Chicago, where Barnes grew up. This immersive installation invites visitors to experience music in a communal space by sitting on speaker-shaped seating while a DJ plays through fully functioning sub-woofers.
The concept of Joy Riding centers on the freedom and joy associated with youth and the experience of driving for the first time—capturing that feeling of independence when taking the car keys and saying, "I'll be back." For Barnes, this links to personal and cultural narratives tied to music, cars, and community.
Barnes hopes Joy Riding will help people understand the feeling of utter freedom, especially during difficult global times. This project aligns with the Exhibit Columbus 2025 theme "Yes And," a phrase from improv theatre emphasizing collaborative, ongoing storytelling. Joy Riding embodies "Yes And" by creating an interactive space where visitors can contribute to the evolving experience through sound, movement, and shared memories, much like the improvisational exchange the theme celebrates.
Pop-up events are planned at Joy Riding, including a car show in collaboration with local car clubs across the state. An old-fashioned drive-in movie night is also scheduled. The installation will make its debut during the Sunset Preview Party on Friday, August 15, 2025, with a DJ spinning tunes through the sub-woofers, and listeners can perch on speaker-shaped seating. The following day, August 16, 2025, Joy Riding will open to the public.
The creation of Joy Riding was a result of some site-specific serendipity, with the parking garage being the Studio's third choice. The custom speaker design for the installation was created with the help of Portland, Oregon-based fabricator Matchless Builds.
Exhibit Columbus runs from August 16 through November 30, 2025, providing visitors with three months to immerse themselves in the joyful and communal experience that is Joy Riding.
The immersive installation named Joy Riding transforms the Jackson Street Garage into a hub for music and community, seamlessly blending sustainable-living principles with home-and-garden architecture, thereby offering a unique twist to the lifestyle of its visitors. During the Exhibit Columbus 2025 event, the installation will not only host car shows and drive-in movie nights but also invite visitors to engage in entertainment through interactive activities, resonating with the event's theme "Yes And."
