In the world of portals and augmented reality, you will find that a very fun and wholly interactive digital playground has opened up right here in the middle of Manhattan. ZeroSpace is the name of a 25,000 ft2 showcase of immersive art installations that you don’t want to miss.
Pretty much every hour of every day we live in our “normal” reality, but take a moment and step into a series of new-media environments crafted to deliver you to enjoyable “alternate” realities. You can find ZeroSpace at 136 West 33rd Street near Penn Station.
The venue is actually engaged in delivering two distinct experiences: a digital playground of interactive art during the day and a mysterious participatory theater show by night. We visited the experience during the day and it was a real blast.
Here’s a rundown of the installations (but with my own names for them):
- Projected Digital Sandbox (“Interactive Sandbox” by Electric Playhouse)
- Infinity Laser Room (“The Day We Left Field” by Tundra)
- Mandala Pendant (“The Birth of the Universe” by Hybycozo)
- Marbled Floor (“Interactive Floor” by Joshua Davis)
- Bean Bag Chill Room (“Parastella” by Christopher Schardt)
- Groovy Mirrors (“Interactive Mirrors” by Zach Lieberman)
- BarcaLounger Geodome Tour (“Geodesic Dome Shows” by various artists)
- Wall of Patterns and Light (“Noumenon” by Can Buyukberber)
The website has short descriptions of each of these interactive experiences, and reading them won’t ruin the enjoyment of seeing them in person. Suffice it to say that they are very well done. I’ve seen light projections and musically-inspired media artworks before, but ZeroSpace is definitely taking it to a new level. Take your time and linger in each space, soak it up and wait for the experience to settle in like a dog finding the perfect spot to sit on their bed or blanket, adjusting a few times to get properly nestled.
One of my favorites was what I call the Infinity Laser Room, where the ceiling has been carefully adorned with moss and sticks set in an array of patterns that are struck by laser beams emanating from the sides of the room. They slowly scan upwards and downwards in a synchronized fashion with ambient music. You sit on an artificial grass carpet and the reflective walls mirror the visuals in all directions, giving the impression that you’re beneath some kind of digital kelp forest that is both static and alive.
I think the kids most enjoyed Bean Bag Chill Room. Maybe it was just the time of day that we went, but at one point they had the whole space to themselves and started creating arrangements of bean bags that they could leap into, taking photos and videos and slow-motion videos of each other. We were not in a rush to go anywhere, so I’m sure we spent a good portion of our almost 2 hours in that installation alone.
You will definitely want to take advantage of the coat check and leave your things behind, bags and backpacks, jackets and packages. Just you and your digital camera to capture some of the dazzling displays of your kids being inspired by the sights and soundscapes of this digital playground.
All of the installations are walk-up or walk-in with the single exception being the Dome for which you might need to wait in line for a few minutes and be admitted in groups as there are only a limited number of BarcaLounger chairs inside.
Opening hours are:
Museum
Saturday: 11am - 4:30pm
Sunday: 3 - 7pm
Show
Wed-Sat: 6-10pm
Sunday: 11am - 1:30pm
The schedule changes often according to the FAQ, so please check the calendar for the most up-to-date times!
- General Admission - $35 adults, $25 children (ages 3-12), $25 students
- Group and Party Discounts - groups of 10 or more receive 20% off the adult ticket price
Ingrid Wilkes is a mother of two children aged 11 and 7 who has worked in the sports and fitness industry since 1990. She has lived and worked in Southeast Asia, Europe and the US and enjoys trying new trends and exploring healthy alternatives to mainstream eating habits. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a master’s degree in sports management and has taught spinning for several years as a way to balance her interest in marketing and communications.
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