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