CLIENT: The Dalí Museum

EVENT

First Friday St. Pete
September 4, 2026 | 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Central Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets
St. Petersburg, Florida

SERVICES

Creative Development
Special-Effects & Materials Testing
Atmospheric Effects
Site & Weather Planning
Activation Production

PROJECT STATUS: In Development

THE INSPIRATION

In 1939, Salvador Dalí became embroiled in disputes over censorship and creative control surrounding his projects in New York, including his Dream of Venus pavilion for the New York World’s Fair.

In response, Dalí published his manifesto, Declaration of the Independence of the Imagination and the Rights of Man to His Own Madness. Copies of the declaration were then released from an airplane over New York City—turning an artistic dispute into an unmistakably Dalí public spectacle.

More than eight decades later, The Dalí Museum wanted to commemorate that historic moment during First Friday St. Pete, the city’s largest monthly block party.

The original concept called for 4,000 biodegradable flyers to be released from a helicopter above downtown St. Petersburg. Each 5-by-7-inch flyer would be printed on biodegradable rice-paper stock, creating a modern interpretation of Dalí’s original aerial pamphlet drop while promoting the museum’s exhibitions.

THE CHALLENGE

The idea was bold, historically meaningful and appropriately surreal—but the city did not approve the proposed helicopter release.

Rather than abandon the activation, The Dalí Museum approached OCTANT via TBDJCo. to explore other ways to preserve the meaning and visual impact of the original concept.

The challenge was not simply finding another way to distribute promotional material. We needed to make an entire city block feel as though Dalí’s declaration was descending from the sky.

CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE

OCTANT began developing a distributed special-effects system using multiple CO₂-powered cannons and high-output confetti blowers positioned strategically throughout the First Friday event footprint.

Whenever possible, equipment would be placed on approved balconies, rooftops or other elevated positions along Central Avenue. Using multiple deployment locations would create broader coverage and a more natural aerial effect than attempting to launch all 4,000 flyers from one position.

The system could be executed as one coordinated release or divided into a series of timed cues moving down the block. Releasing the flyers in several waves would extend the experience, improve visibility throughout the event area and give attendees more time to understand and capture the moment.

ENGINEERING THE EFFECT

A 5-by-7-inch rice-paper flyer behaves very differently from conventional confetti. Its larger surface area and lightweight construction may produce excellent movement and hang time, but they also introduce variables that require careful testing.

OCTANT is evaluating:

• How the flyers separate during deployment
• The potential for folding, tearing or clumping
• Lift and hang time from different equipment types
• Coverage from elevated and ground-level positions
• The effects of humidity, moisture and wind
• Loading methods and quantities for each deployment point
• The effect of different launch directions and positions
• How changing weather conditions could affect the final cue

Using several smaller deployment points gives the production team greater control. Each location can be adjusted independently for quantity, direction, coverage and timing. If wind conditions make one position unsuitable, that location can be reduced or removed while the remaining deployment points carry the effect.

The final system will be determined through continued testing with the exact printed rice-paper flyers, followed by an onsite evaluation of the approved rooftops, balconies and ground-level positions.

THE OUTCOME—SO FAR

This activation remains in development for First Friday St. Pete on September 4, 2026. However, the planning process already demonstrates the dedication and creative problem-solving OCTANT brings to unconventional production challenges.

When the original concept could not move forward, we did not simply say it could not be done. We studied the history and intention behind the activation, examined the site, evaluated the environmental variables and began testing real-world alternatives.

The objective is not merely to launch 4,000 flyers.

It is to preserve the meaning of Dalí’s original act, transform an entire city block and create a moment that feels surprising, artistic and unmistakably surreal.

WHY IT MATTERS

The best production partners do more than provide equipment. They understand the purpose behind an idea and help find a responsible, achievable path forward when the original plan changes.

That combination of creativity, technical testing and persistent collaboration defines the way OCTANT approaches every project.

Bring us the ambitious idea—even if someone else has already told you it cannot be done.