Art Meets Technology at This New Space in the Gaslamp Quarter
From animated projections and infinity rooms to NFTs, immersive art experiences are having a moment. And thanks to pop-up-turned-permanent gallery concept WNDR Museum, San Diego now has its own white-hot destination to see cutting-edge work. More than just made-for-Instagram momentsāalthough there are plenty of thoseāover two dozen interactive exhibits have filled the historic Brokerās Building on Market St. Creative Director David Allen says San Diegoās vibrant art community made the city a perfect fit for WNDR Museumās second brick-and-mortar location. Here, he dishes on the installations and artists (including several famous names) visitors can expect to see in the new space.
āFor āAurora Vortex,ā we hired a photographer to shoot the northern lights in Alaska, so people can experience seeing it in real-time. We also recorded 10 of the worldās best poets reciting short pieces of verse, including the current Poet Laureate,ā shares Allen.
āFrom audio to visual, there are so many moments of hidden beauty to discover; no two visits here will be the same.ā
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An accomplished artist best known for his post-mastectomy tattoo work, Allen brought his unique flair to WNDR Museum. He added personal touches to several exhibits crafted by the museumās in-house collective, WNDR Museum Studios. One standout contribution? A curated series of stunning projected digital art.
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With access to a private collection that includes three mirrored infinity rooms by acclaimed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (each sadly too big for WNDR MuseumĀ San Diegoās 19th-century Gaslamp Quarter home), Allen installed a $2.5 million mural by American pop artist Keith Haring and flew German graffiti artist DAIM in from Hamburg to paint a custom mural for the opening exhibition. An award-winning 360-degree visual multimedia piece by Leigh Sachwitz titled āInsideoutā made its North American debutāan evocative and mercurial display of light and sound that captures a moment from the artistās childhood in Scotland.
Designed to disrupt and reimagine the traditional art gallery, WNDR Museum offers a fresh take. According to Allen, it doesnāt tell people how things are or what to think. Instead, it invites them to be fully present. Guests can get hands-on by flipping a switch, dancing across the motion-sensor LED āLight Floor,ā or going analog with āThe Wisdom Project.ā Theyāre encouraged to āwrite something down they know for sureā and reflect. Ultimately, the experience is about coming to their own conclusionsāno instructions required.
āWeāve created a very open and inclusive environment at WNDR Museum because we want art to be accessible to everyone,ā he says.
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But itās not all reality-altering installations at WNDR MuseumĀ San Diego. Inside the 14,000-square-foot space, located at the busy corner of Market and Fourth Ave, thereās plenty to explore. A cafĆ© and bar offer a place to unwind, while the gift shop features coffee-table books and unique artist merch. Youāll find skateboards by DAIM and plushies by Atlanta-based artist Oseanworld. Beyond the cool finds, community events, visiting artist talks, and engaging panels are already in the works. Plus, a curriculum with Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dreās USC Academy is in development. Itās designed to provide special programming and STEAM education for underrepresented youth.
Founded in 2018, WNDR Museum was recently voted one of the countryās top-five immersive art experiences by USA Today readers. Ryan Kunkel, president of WNDR MuseumĀ Global, says his team built something really special in Chicago and is excited to bring the concept to California. āWe pride ourselves on creating compelling experiences for people that evoke a range of emotions. San Diegoās Gaslamp District is such a dynamic community, and weāre thrilled to become a part of it. We feel our unique blend of art and technology is the perfect fit for the neighborhood.ā
WNDR San Diego
422 Market St
San Diego, CA 92101
@wndrmuseum
Keri Bridgwater is a freelance writer covering travel and lifestyle. Her work has been featured in Fodorās Travel, Marie Claire, Matador Network and InsideHook, among other outlets and publications.
