Interactive art-tech space prepares to opens its doors, flip on the lights
Hopscotch, an immersive art and technology experience that debuted with a pop-up in Austin last year, will open its long-awaited permanent location on Oct. 2 in the Travis Park Plaza Building downtown.
The space’s debut originally was planned for last fall, then was pushed into this past spring. The building changed owners, which caused a delay, and there were some construction delays as well, said Nicole Jensen, who co-founded Hopscotch with partner Hunter Inman.
This feels like the right time, Jensen said.
“I think people are ready for something like this,” she said. “I always was extremely passionate about it — it’s my baby — but certainly now we’re wanting to bring people together, even at 6 feet apart, to have that energy and the joy that art can bring.
“It’s been hard to tether ourselves to anything carefree. I hope that people can kind of leave their troubles behind for a while and enjoy themselves and not have to think too hard.”
The idea behind Hopscotch is to give artists a platform to pursue large-scale projects, as well as to create an entry point for people who might see contemporary art as intimidating.
Fourteen installations created by artists from San Antonio, across the country and around the world are slated to be exhibited. Five have been announced, including “Walls Within,” an indoor street art gallery created by the San Antonio Street Art Initiative and featuring the works
of such artists as Ana Hernandez, Scotch Willington and James Supa Medrano.
Other installations are “Symbiosis,” a piece by Moscow-based interactive digital art studio Kuflex in which light projections make visitors look like alien beings; “Rainbow Cave,” constructed by Brooklynbased artist Basia Goszczynska from 40,000 salvaged plastic bags and fishing nets, and illuminated with LEDs; “Infinity Boxes,” part of a series by Los Angeles-based artist Matt Elson that creates optical illusions with mirrors, color and light; and “Color Therapy,” an immersive color and light installation created by Austin-based collective Polis Interactive.
Pandemic precautions are being taken. Face coverings will be required, and patrons’ temperatures will be screened before admission. No cash will be accepted. Touch points will be sanitized frequently. High-touch areas will be sanitized regularly, and an air-decontamination system designed to destroy harmful pathogens has been installed.
Admission will be capped at 25 percent of capacity — which translates into 40 people admitted each hour — so advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended.
“It’s over 20,000 square feet, so you’ll feel like you have the place to yourself,” Jensen said.