While I may choose words as my medium, I still love a good art gallery. Seeing Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musee de l’Orangerie for the first time made me cry (and the second time…and the third time….). Turns out his Haystacks have the same effect.
I’ll happily spend all day wandering the halls of the Louvre or the Art Institute of Chicago. But I understand that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. During my last trip to Paris, one night at dinner I sat next to a lovely family from Australia. I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but…when the parents asked the kids what they wanted to do the next day, one of the children loudly announced to the entire restaurant that she didn’t want to look at any more pictures of naked people!
Thankfully, art comes in all shapes and sizes! If a traditional gallery isn’t for you, no problem! There are lots of great options to explore. And for a distinctly un-gallery-like experience, check out these 3+ permanent interactive art installations in the United States.
City Museum (St. Louis, MO)
Part industrial salvage operation, part M. C. Escher dream…and all art! City Museum in St. Louis, MO, is an incredible playground for all ages. Climb, crawl, and slither your way through a maze of incredible sculptures and worlds…all made from salvaged materials. And don’t miss the 10 story spiral slide! (For more tips on how to have a great time at City Museum, check out this blog post.)
Meow Wolf (Santa Fe, NM; Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV)
The original Meow Wolf art installation, House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, NM, has proved so popular that they’re expanding to two other cities! The House of Eternal Return is a wild trip through alternate dimensions that encourage exploration and experimentation. A portal in the refrigerator…a slide in the dryer…nothing is what it seems. And under it all…a mystery that needs solved.
Factory Obscura (Oklahoma City, OK)
Inspired by the endless customization of the mix tape, Factory Obscura has opened their first permanent installation, Mixed Tape, in Oklahoma City. This installation offers a variety of rooms to explore and interact with as well as providing more incredible Instagram worthy backdrops than you can count! Don’t miss the custom designed video game stations!
