Last weekend, on a day in October when the high was 87 degrees, a friend and I beelined for the new ARTECHOUSE “Spirit of Autumn” exhibit. ARTECHOUSE is Washington D.C’s first interactive digital art gallery. Inside the air was crisp, in contrast to the rising heat outside.
The first exhibit room was large, with projections of trees and falling leaves on the walls. The leaves projected were designed in another room by a past visitor. In keeping with the interactive theme, certain movements such as clapping made lightning or rain strike the wall.
Next, we ventured into a hallway off to the side where projections of more-realistic leaves mimicked our movements; when we kicked at the ground they scattered, when we moved forward they followed.
We sat down in a room with benches, tables, and (you guessed it) leaves to make our own art to add to the installation. While we were decorating we spoke to fellow visitors. Mariana M. called the exhibit “magical.” The exhibit’s audience is all ages – many brought their young children to enjoy it with them.
Last, but not least, we ventured into the room you’ve likely seen on Instagram, Autumn Dance. Visitors were encouraged to dance around the room, the more they moved the more the projected colors swirled around them.
The exhibit was a great change of pace from D.C’s hottest October in ten years. ARTECHOUSE’s “Spirit of Autumn” is open until November 5th.
All photos belong to Jason Brandon.