The Capitol Theater – Mobile Immersive Sculpture

A Five Ton Crane Arts Group collaboration

The Capitol Theater (2018) is a mobile and fully immersive sculptural installation—an Art Deco-inspired movie theater on wheels. Designed as a collaborative effort between Sean Orlando, Bree Hylkema, and the Five Ton Crane Arts Group, this spectacular art car was commissioned by the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and later exhibited at the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Oakland Museum of California.

Unlike typical sculptural vehicles, The Capitol Theater was custom fabricated from the ground up, including the creation of a unique chassis and vehicle base. As a result, the structure combines architectural integrity with artistic fantasy—representing a perfect fusion of public art fabrication and mobile spectacle.

Inside, the 15-seat theater features a high-definition cinema screen, theater-grade surround sound, and a functioning concession stand complete with a popcorn machine and custom candy. The convertible driver’s cab doubles as a nostalgic ticket booth, while the full marquee and plush velveteen seats deliver a transportive experience to audiences of all ages.

The Capitol Theater is a rare example of large-scale sculpture fabrication that is both functional and cinematic, bridging the worlds of film, architecture, and kinetic public art.

Lead Artists: Bree Hylkema and Sean Orlando
Collaboration: Five Ton Crane Arts Group and Engineered Artworks

Specs:
Dimensions: 16′ x 12′ x 22′
Custom base vehicle
15-seat theater
High-definition cinema screen
Theater surround sound system
Full marquee and ambient theater lighting
Concession stand with working popcorn machine