Take a look inside Van Gogh immersive art show in West Sacramento before opening day

Walking through the immersive Van Gogh exhibition in West Sacramento might leave you feeling like a kid again — looking at the world in a new light.

“Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” offers a glimpse into the Dutch post-impressionist artist’s life and work. It surrounds you — the music relaxing, almost meditative — and connects you to Vincent through 21st-century digital media.

The immersive art show, one of two visiting the Sacramento area this year, is set to open Thursday and run until October. Exhibition Hub Entertainment is hosting the educational and interactive exhibit in an old gym on the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and 15th Street.

Exhibition Hub Entertainment created an interactive educational experience by merging the traditional gallery experience with new digital aspects. The exhibit, which was postponed last week, is at 31 15th St.

West Sacramento will be one of the first three cities to host the newest version of the projection sequence. This version was “stitched together” to highlight Van Gogh’s life and work through movement and sound. It’s been running in other city’s since 2018, and is meant to be an individualized experience — socially distanced so the audience can “appreciate the breadth of the work.”

“It takes the immersion to another level. We are seeing the world through his eyes,” said John Zaller, executive producer at Exhibition Hub for shows in the United States.

The Bee toured the exhibit Tuesday morning alongside other local media. It was reminiscent of a childhood field trip to the art museum and aquarium combined — the viewer immersed in a sea of blue and yellow brushstrokes. The facility — like a blackbox theater — felt cold enough to give you goosebumps. Here’s what you can expect inside:

Vincent van Gogh’s story

The first section features tribute images projected on large sculptures.

The bust of Van Gogh’s head could almost fit in on Mount Rushmore. It is Van Gogh’s figure, with circulating projections of his famous self portraits, housed in a black box that traps the periphery. Across from the room, an iconic vase showcases a similar exhibit, with flowers projected across it.

In this area, visitors will find information about the artist’s life, and replicas of his paintings along with a silent, subtitled documentary.

A place to take a selfie

Many parts of the exhibit are social media friendly, created with selfies in mind. Here you’ll find the sunflower hallway, Van Gogh’s bedroom, the deconstructed “Courtesan,” and a sunflower mirror room.

Immersive experience

Zaller refers to the 35-minute immersive experience as the “crown jewel.” Van Gogh’s lifetime of work is edited together to tell the story of his mental health struggles and how he drew beauty from the world around him.

When you’re in the room, there are beach chairs and rugs to sit on and the projections stretch across the walls onto the floors.

Ashley Tapia, general manager of Exhibition Hub, said she suggests sitting at different points in the room to experience it fully.

Exhibition Hub is looking for a yoga instructor to host a class in the immersive room. They are open to hosting private events as well, Tapia said.

Enter the drawing room

Become part of the traveling show by coloring or free drawing in Van Gogh’s style. You can take your art home, pin it to the wall, or scan it in to be featured in this portion of the show “forever,” the organizers said.

Be Van Gogh through virtual reality

You will also have the chance to take a walk in Van Gogh’s shoes while listening to a narration of letters Vincent wrote to his brother through a 360 virtual reality headset. When you turn your head, you are able to look around the virtual world. The animation brings you into a vacation-like landscape, complete with mountain and forest scenery.

“We really outdid ourselves by featuring virtual reality at the end,” Zaller said.

If you ever wonder how someone can get so wrapped up in video games, this exhibit will make it make sense.

This feature is open to VIP ticket holders and costs an additional $5 for general admission.

The logistics: Tickets and parking

Tickets

General admission and VIP tickets are on sale for children and adults. Senior, student, military, and group discounts available. Van Gogh ticket prices for adults range from $34.90 to $54.50.

Tickets are sold in half hour slots to maintain 25% capacity of the building. Attendees usually stay anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, with the occasional “enamored” stragglers, Zaller said.

You can purchase tickets online through Fever. However, customers have repeatedly complained about the ticketing company, citing difficulty communicating on ahead of the show’s original opening day and ticket refunds.

Zaller previously told The Bee he is aware of the issues consumers have, but added that “in every instance where there’s been any kind of concern by a guest, Fever has addressed that very quickly. And Fever has an excellent track record for addressing guests’ concerns.”

The Better Business Bureau reached out to request Fever to voluntarily cooperate and address the complaint patterns last year. The company responded to the bureau, detailing steps they are taking or will take to remedy the issues, including increasing support team employees and changing policies for scheduled events.

As of March 2022, BBB still noted persistent issues with customer service.

Parking

The unshaded parking lot fits roughly 20 cars or fewer, with a sharp turn off 15th Street.

Zaller said plans are being made with the city to utilize public parking areas.

He said valet parking options are in the works. The city is planning to add more JUMP bikes and electric scooters for visitors to travel from the public parking lot a half mile away.

The city is working with the exhibit, also, to promote West Sacramento.

Mayor Martha Guerrero previously told The Bee “We are providing information to highlight venues for Van Gogh Immersive Exhibit participants to dine and enjoy additional opportunities in the city.”

The employees are in need of parking too, and the company is currently looking across the street at unused lots, said employee Randy Campos.

This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 5:00 AM.