There is an immersive art experience coming to town and we are bouncing with excitement.
Fitting of its name, Hopscotch originally popped up in Austin before skipping to its first fixed location in San Antonio. Now, founders Nicole Jensen, Hunter Inman, and Brian Claypool are expanding with a second permanent gallery in the Goat Blocks of Portland’s Central Eastside.
“We are so excited to open in Portland and hope to bring joy, happiness, and fond memories to the lives of our guests through this incredible art experience,” Claypool said.
PDXtoday was invited to tour the former Orchard Hardware building, where 14 large-scale installations are starting to be installed by local artists and creative talent from around the world. The 23,000-sqft space will also host a retail space and a lounge serving cocktails (that you can take with you) and food crafted by “Top Chef” contestant Sarah Hauman.
Check it out when it opens on Friday, June 9. You can reserve tickets online now.
Until then, here’s what we’re most excited about.
“Walls Within” by Portland Steet Art Alliance
Renowned Portland muralists like David Rice and Jennifer Mercede will fill the room with floor-to-ceiling canvases. You’ll need to get up close (and take a step back) just to take it all in.
“Quantum Trampoline” by Kuflex Lab
Leap into action on the springy floor of this interactive piece, where you’ll draw pictures with your body’s movements as you drift among cosmic lights and sounds.
“Laser Graffiti” by Todd Moyer Designs
Guests will walk into a room, where a brick overlay is projected on all sides. You’ll be handed a “digital spray paint can” — you can shake it and even hear the spray — as you tag your designs on the wall.
“Rainbow Cave” by Basia Goszczynska
This colorful commentary on humanity’s waste and its relationship with the natural world is meticulously constructed by hand using salvaged plastic bags and fishing nets.
“Augmented Normalcy” by Polis
By putting on VR headsets equipped with specially-designed software, wearers will be able to have an out-of-body experience, where they see themselves from a mind-bending perspective.
