Space and Time — Kael Alden @ Clark Planetarium 06.17.2025

Project image of a big cat in a theatre.

Kael Alden puts together a mesmerizing display at Clark Planetarium's Dome Theatre. Photo: Logan Sorenson.

Concert

Kael Alden, a multi-talented musician, shows his expertise in his craft during his performance of “Space and Time” at the Clark Planetarium on Tuesday, June 17, flexing his skills in the visual arts with graphic design, photography and videography applied to Clark’s unique concert environment. Entering in the lobby, there is already a small crowd building and lines forming to check-in. Moving up the stairs and into the spacious dome theater, the audience immediately looks up at the impressive surroundings, adjusts to the new lighting and instantly becomes aware of the new acoustics as the anticipation of something special fills the air.

Alden is introduced by Dome Theater Experience Manager Brandon Crowley, who mentions his impressions of working with Alden and his admiration at his adaptation to the Dome Theater setting. Alden briefly introduces himself to a mixed crowd of friends, fans and new soon-to-bes who are just here for a good Dome Theater experience (as the Planetarium holds other such regular events). But “Space and Time” is special. Alden mentions that this is not his first foray in releasing music — far from it, with his extensive experience with various genres — however, this is a personal feat and a culmination of over four years of work. His work utilizes many different tools: recording, mixing, creating, altering, blending and rendering for what seems a boundless task to create this reflection. This creation is ten songs in total (with the tenth released as a bonus for streaming) and audio and VR versions available to boot. It always was the intention and vision to have this project be fully featured in a Dome Theater release.

The room quiets as the show is about to begin and warm violet hues fall away, giving into the darkness. Out of that darkness comes a small, out-of-focus geometric shape just taking form in stark black and white. The images keep forming, coming at the audience and sucking them out of their seats and into the full experience as the accompanied tracks kick in and the room is suddenly filled with the moon, waves, black holes and space.

A stellar mix of visual and audio pulls the audience through multiple worlds including oceanic scenes, psychedelic features and hard-hitting animal flipbook-style imagery. “Space and Time” is best experienced it firsthand in the correct setting at the Clark Planetarium. It is 40-plus minutes of an artist’s cumulative intent and vision with this specific medium in mind.