Hop to It

Hop into this immersive Austin art experience before the lights go out for good

Jump on into the Deep Eddy Ball Pit.

Photo courtesy of Hopscotch

The merging of technology and social media has birthed an interesting trend in modern art: the temporary interactive art installation. As artists create work that is multi-sensory and, yes, highly Instagrammable, these shows have popped up everywhere from the Museum of Modern Art to the Museum of Ice Cream.

Now, a new interactive installation is jumping into Austin. Beginning February 14 through March 31, "Hopscotch: Light and Sound " will take up residence in a warehouse-style space at 6100 Airport Blvd., bringing with it a series of 13 temporary exhibits from artists in Austin, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Ukraine.

"Hopscotch" will be divided into 13 rooms throughout the 10,000-square-foot space, and encourages active participation by viewers. "Interactive experiences range from controlling the clouds and weather via balloons to painting with light through an infrared brush by hand," says a news release.

The multimedia exhibition combines everything from LED lights to video to balloons. Though not all installation details have been revealed, we do know the following:

Olya by Omnia Rasa — Viewers are invited into into an immersive space of complicated multidimensional structures and light.
Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson — Color, lights, and mirrors construct beautiful boxes that draw viewers in; it’s an optical illusion project that asks visitors to take a closer look at human perception and social interaction, much like the public’s relationship to social media.
Spirits by dadageek
Deep Eddy Ball Pit by Hopscotch — An immersive ball pit
Paint by RGB Wall by Jared Ficklin and Joey Ficklin
Mujō by Kevin Reilly
Gemini 6B by Mickey Delp
Thunder & Lightning by Nate Culpepper and Stacy Wheeler — A balloon installation
Neon Scream by ANGRY CLOUD + DESCND
Hifi God by Jerome Morrison — A "pseudoholographic" interactive art installation
Virtual Reality Experience by Hopscotch
Matrix, Experience Over Things by Hopscotch

“We’re excited to bring together this talented group of artists and to help them bring their concepts to life,” said Hunter Inman, co-founder of Hopscotch, in a release. “This type of experiential art is a perfect fit for the vibrant Austin community that is always looking for a unique and interactive experience.”

Once open, "Hopscotch" will operate Friday from 4-11 pm, Saturday from 1-11 pm, and Sunday from 1-8 pm, though organizers say additional dates and times will be added. After 7 pm, only attendees over 18 are allowed.

Tickets are priced at $23 for ages 13 and up, $15 for children ages 4 to 12, and children 3 and under are free. And, considering this is Austin after all, an on-site bar will feature alcoholic beverages for purchase from Deep Eddy Vodka.

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New

Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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