Spindleworks Mystery House

Oct 3rd - 17th : Spindleworks What Not Gallery

The Spindleworks Mystery House is an immersive storytelling installation depicting the tale of the missing Banks family and what happened to them one strange night...

One strange night, while the Banks where enjoying an evening at home with each other, a knock at the door revealed a mysterious package, addressed to the Smithsonian Institution. It must have been a mistake being sent to their little house but out of curiosity, Mr. Banks pried it open, digging his old crowbar out of the garage. Displayed within the box was a peculiar silver item labeled ‘Shrink Ray.’ Picking it up, a wild beam shot out of the tip of it, surrounding Mrs. Banks who began rapidly shrinking in size. She shrank down so small that she disappeared from sight. The family yelled out in shock and began a meticulous hunt around the living room for tiny mom!

Meanwhile, Bell Banks was busy in the kitchen cooking up a pizza for dinner, hard at work pulling fresh ingredients from her garden. Bell didn’t know much about pizza making and had begun grabbing local squirrels to bake into the pie. Tiny mom, off on a grand adventure through the house, found her way into the kitchen, only to discover the distraught squirrels attempting a brave escape from their pizza fate. Spooked by these giant critters, Mom tipped over and fell flat into the center of the family’s dinner, becoming stuck to the cheesy mess. 

Back in the living room, Orion the family dog wagged and barked around excitedly amidst the chaos of the family’s search for tiny mom, who were crawling hands and knees across the floor. Orion’s tail, flailing around wildly, hit against the shrink ray, changing its settings and sending another beam flashing through the room, enveloping Gramma. Gramma’s body began to grow, blasting up through the ceiling and sending her out through the roof. 

At this point, the family was more shocked than they had ever been and couldn’t imagine the evening could get any weirder. However, it would get weirder and at that very moment a buzzing sound introduced a swarm of hornets, who had been living in the sewer system under the house that came pouring out of the bathroom sink. Orion lunged at the intruding cloud, only to get stung by their toxic sewer venom, transforming the poor creature right in front of the family’s eyes. The family dog double in size and became a wild beast of the night, chasing terrified Chuck Banks as he escaped up the chimney. 

Come quickly!! Hopefully you can help sort out this distressing mess...

Rosalind Banks

The mother of the family, Rosalind Banks is an enchanting woman. Forty-five years old, this matriarch cares for her family through her magic. An accomplished witch, Rosalind makes a living helping those in her community with her deep knowledge of spells and potions, sharing her passion with this big big world… 

Portrait by Barbara Welborn

Chuck Banks

Mr. Banks is a carpenter who loves to tinker. He spent all summer long with his daughter and spouse building a triple decker treehouse in their backyard. He runs a little business through which he builds spectacular houses all over town, even donating his wildest houses to those who don’t have any. Chuck just had his forty-sixth birthday, and with the new year is looking for a new hobby to tinker around with…

Portrait by Angela Alderete

Bell Banks

The Banks’ only daughter, Bell, is a dreamer with a passion for gardening. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book you can find her out back planting the newest seeds she has discovered and caring for her beautiful garden. Bell is fifteen and just made some new friends in town with whom she’s been practicing a new style of jump rope. Though she doesn’t know much about cooking, she’s looking forward to experimenting in the kitchen and making something fresh for her family from the garden…

Portrait by McKensy Brown

Paula Banks

Paula is wild at heart. After raising Chuck as a local teacher and helping to inspire in him his passion for creativity, Paula retired and toured the world. Through her travels she learned a wealth of new obsessions. While DJ’ing in town for fun, she is an energetic weaver, dancer, and singer. At her eightieth birthday she danced the entire night until sunrise. Growing up here in town, Paula always felt like a big fish in a little pond…

Portrait by Diane Black

Orion Banks

Orion is a good boy. The Banks’ family can be found out back digging great holes and causing loads of havoc in Bell’s garden. He is a self proclaimed ‘curious sniffer’ who is particularly interested in running around, barking, and tracking those darn squirrels. Orion has a nose for mystery and keeps smelling something funny buzzing around in the family sink, though no one seems to believe him… 

Portrait by Kelly Caton