From Chihuly glass to the Museum of Ice Cream, you have to see this immersive art to believe it
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![Color Factory is a 12,000-square-foot space containing 15 interactive color experiences. NY 100 Colors, currently on display in Color Factory NYC's lobby, is an exhibit by Tokyo-based artist Emmanuelle Moureaux.]()
1 of 32![Color Factory's giant blue ball pit is matched to the color of the sky.]()
2 of 32![Each ombre balloon is printed with a wish for the world, written by the students at 826 NYC, a local nonprofit.]()
3 of 32![The front of Color Factory's custom-built conveyor belt, which carries rainbow macarons by Mille-Feuille Bakery.]()
4 of 32![Jeff Koons' Balloon Dog (Blue) and Rabbit on view at The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles.]()
5 of 32![The Broad, a free contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles is home to Yayoi Kusamas Infinity Mirrored RoomThe Souls of Millions of Light Years Away.]()
6 of 32![Free and open to the public year-round, visitors can roam through the Stuart Collection on the University of California, San Diego, campus in La Jolla. This delightful collection of public art includes more than a dozen pieces, including a 180-ton teddy bear made of granite and a 14-foot-tall bird that sits on top of a 15-foot arch. They are spread throughout the campus, so its a fun treasure hunt. Richard Fleischners Stonehenge-likeLa Jolla Project is a sight to see.La Jolla Project, 1984, Stuart Collection, UC San Diego.]()
7 of 32![Tim Hawkinsons gigantic, not-so-soft and cozy granite bear. Bear, 2005, Stuart Collection, UC San Diego.]()
8 of 32![Niki de Saint Phalles colorful and towering Sun God (her first outdoor commission in America). Sun God, 1983, Stuart Collection, UC San Diego.]()
9 of 32![Fallen Star, a small blue cottage by Do Ho Suh that sits crookedly atop the corner of a seven-story building seemingly dropped from the sky. Fallen Star, 2012, Stuart Collection, UC San Diego.]()
10 of 32![Kids certainly appreciate Whammock!, an interactive, three-dimensional textile environment of colorful crocheted hexagons, open pockets and hanging pendulums at The New Childrens Museum in San Diego. But adults love this place, too. Throughout the year, there are yoga sessions and family workshops where the whole family can hone in on craft projects.]()
11 of 32![Children are able to move upward through one pocket after another until they reach a colorful expanse where they can run, slide, bounce and rest.]()
12 of 32![Whammock! has a two-ton capacity and is made up of 40 miles of braided nylon. There are only two others of its kind in the U.S.]()
13 of 32![The Wonder Sound is a labyrinth of rooms, nooks, ropes and continuous exploration.]()
14 of 32![The Wonder Sound is made up of 30+ rooms, 18,000 hand-cut wooden tiles, 150 hand-cut paper animals, a secret language and lots of surprises.]()
15 of 32![No RulesExcept is an interactive room filled with 40+ mattresses and 160+ pillow tires for children (and grown-ups) to play, crawl, jump and bounce around in.]()
16 of 32![The Rain House uses sound and colorful imagery to offer kids a creative space where they can play as they would on a rainy day.]()
17 of 32![Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle displays Dale Chihuly's Ikebana pieces, inspired by the Japanese art of flower arrangement. In this installation, they feature long-stemmed flowers and other glass elements, presented dramatically in a wooden boat.]()
18 of 32![Milli Fiore is Italian for a thousand flowers. This large-scale installation is inspired by Chihuly's appreciation for gardens and natural forms.]()
19 of 32![The Persian Ceiling is an installation where visitors have to look up to see the artwork.]()
20 of 32![One of Chihuly's largest installations, the Glasshouse Chandelier is comprised of red, orange and yellow patterned glass elements from the Persian series.]()
21 of 32![Vail takes its outdoor art seriously. This explains why there are more than 45 masterpieces on display in Vail Valley. During hour-long Wednesday Art Walks, guests learn more about the artists, like Denver-based Pedro Barrios and Jaime Molina, who created this colorful street mural.]()
22 of 32![Located at the recently completed I-70 Sandstone underpass, Gordon Huethers site-specific art installation, Roundabout the Mountain, was selected from among 80 submissions and is a visual experience of motion through space. The plasma-cut vertical sections also serve as a headlight glare screen in this mountain silhouette to adjacent properties.]()
23 of 32![A large-scale interactive mural by international street artist Kelsey Montague was created in 2019.]()
24 of 32![In June 2018 a monumental Stickwork installation was created by environmental artist Patrick Doughery. With help from volunteers, they transformed a little corner of Ford Park into a magical world of wood big enough that people can walk through it.]()
25 of 32![Museum-goers at San Franciscos Museum of Ice Cream can jump into the Sprinkle Pool and dunk on the interactive basketball hoop.]()
26 of 32![Dive into the worlds largest sprinkle pool.]()
27 of 32![The Rainbow Room is a crowd pleaser.]()
28 of 32![You can check out Wonderspaces through the year in places like Philadelphia, San Diego and Arizona. Its a touring exhibit where people can connect with art through virtual reality, sound installations and film. The Arizona location is open from mid-October to March. Confessions by Candy Chang, featured here, is a participatory installation that explores public rituals for catharsis and compassion. Inspired by Japanese Shinto shrine prayer walls and Catholic practices, Candy Chang invites visitors to write and submit a confession on a wooden plaque in the privacy of a confession booth.]()
29 of 32![The Corridor by Toby Dye is a tribute to the work of director Stanley Kubrick. Four films play simultaneously, projected across four walls. Each film features a different character inspired by Kubricks filmography. All four films loop seamlessly.]()
30 of 32![Experiment 2.C by Dan Goods and David Delgado explores various notions of awe for a viewer to experience - a sensation of vastness, an inability to define the surrounding environment and the feeling of being surrounded by one object with endless variability.]()
31 of 32![HOSHI by NONOTAK Studio is a depiction of infinite space, utilizing light, mirrors and sound to engage visitors in an immersive, large-scale experience. HOSHI seeks to depict a sense of the future by blurring the lines between the real and virtual, with the goal for the technology to be as invisible as possible so the viewers are able to fully immerse oneself in the experience.]()
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When you think of San Diego, images of impressive sea cliffs, canyon trails and miles of coastline instantly come to mind. It’s a place where natural beauty attracts people from around the world.
But what might come as a surprise is the city’s lively art scene that invites visitors to climb a massive crocheted hammock, explore a Stonehenge-inspired outdoor sculpture and attend inspiring art parties.
In other words, you aren’t just glancing at artwork, you get to be part of it.
And it’s not just San Diego, of course. Cities across the nation have art experiences that are well worth planning an entire vacation around.
From San Diego’s world class museums to Vail’s outdoor artwork to San Francisco’s museum focused on ice cream, there’s plenty to choose from. You’ll find mesmerizing street murals, sculptures made of twigs and mind-boggling light installations.
Scroll through the gallery above to learn more and see some of the stunning art.Â
And check out Burning Man photos from this year below:Â
Posted!
![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
1 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
2 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
3 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
4 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
5 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
6 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
7 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
8 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
9 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
10 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
11 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
12 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
13 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
14 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
15 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
16 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
17 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
18 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
19 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
20 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
21 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
22 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
23 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
24 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
25 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
26 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
27 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
28 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
29 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
30 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
31 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
32 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
33 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
34 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
35 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
36 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
37 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
38 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
39 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
40 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
41 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
42 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
43 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
44 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
45 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
46 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
47 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
48 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
49 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
50 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
51 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
52 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
53 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
54 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
55 of 56![Images of art cars lined up at the Black Rock City DMV. All art cars are required to check in with the DMV where they are inspected before cruising on the playa.]()
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The Stuart Project, San Diego: Free and open to the public year-round, visitors can roam through the Stuart Collection on the University of California, San Diego, campus in La Jolla. This delightful collection of public art includes more than a dozen pieces, including a 180-ton teddy bear made of granite and a Richard Fleischner’s Stonehenge-like “La Jolla Project.” They are spread throughout the campus, so it’s a fun treasure hunt.Â
Color Factory, New York: Color Factory is a 12,000-square-foot space containing 15 interactive color experiences, ranging from a blue ball pit to a custom-built conveyor belt, that carries rainbow macarons.Â
The New Children’s Museum, San Diego: Kids will appreciate Whammock!, an interactive, three-dimensional textile environment of colorful crocheted hexagons, open pockets and hanging pendulums at the San Diego museum, which also boasts labyrinths of exploration and an interactive room filled with 40+ mattresses and 160+ “pillow†tires for children (and grown-ups) to play.Â
Outdoor art, Vail, Colorado: Vail takes its outdoor art seriously. This explains why there are more than 45 masterpieces on display in Vail Valley. During hour-long Wednesday Art Walks, guests learn more about the artists, including some who create colorful street murals. Another favorite is a monumental Stickwork installation, created by environmental artist Patrick Doughery. With help from volunteers, they transformed a little corner of Ford Park into a magical world of wood big enough that people can walk through it.
Museum of Ice Cream, San Francisco: Museum-goers can jump into the Sprinkle Pool, ride the cookie carousel or experience the popular Rainbow Room. The experience started as a pop-up in several cities. It has become a permanent fixture in San Francisco and is returning with a permanent location to New York City this fall.Â
Wonderspaces, Arizona: You can check out Wonderspaces through the year in places like Philadelphia, San Diego and Arizona. It’s a touring exhibit where people can connect with art through virtual reality, sound installations and film. The Arizona location is open from mid-October to March.
Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle: This long-term exhibition opened at Seattle Center in 2012 and displays Dale Chihuly’s colorful glass art in eight galleries, the centerpiece Glasshouse and a lush garden.Â