Otherworld, Ohio’s immersive art experience, has released the launch date for its new mixed-reality venue in Philadelphia. The new site will open to the public on Friday 4 August, following in the footsteps of the enormous success of the original Otherworld venue in Columbus, Ohio.
The new location, which was designed and built by Otherworld and will be operated by partner Thirteenth Floor, features over 55 unique rooms/installations and new storylines with enhanced production and interactivity.
A unique immersive experience
Guests will enjoy a unique immersive experience that brings together art and technology. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the self-guided, out-of-this-world Otherworld Philadelphia experience. Guests are encouraged to explore and engage with the interactive exhibit at their own pace, while the immersive environment puts them at the centre of a cinematic experience.
With iridescent creatures and primordial monsters, crawlable tubes and endless stretches of light, as well as captivating art with depth and an engaging narrative, each room is completely different from the others.
Otherworld is the creation of over 100 artists, modellers, animators, creative technologists, fabricators and more, providing an unparalleled enthralling experience for consumers in Philadelphia.
The theming of the art is all-encompassing, according to Hollie Hermes, art director/textiles lead: “There is something for everyone here. The way you move through the building tells a story larger than the story in each individual exhibit. I really can’t imagine trying to take in the whole experience in one trip!”
A natural evolution of Otherworld
Talking about the evolution of Otherworld from its Ohio origins, Leland Drexler-Russell, VP of production, says
“For me, Otherworld is about taking grand ideas that have never been built and discovering how to actually bring them to life. We want to create experiences where the technology is so seamless that guests cannot figure out how it works, we want to create magic. Otherworld Columbus was our testing grounds. Over the last 4 years, we experimented with hundreds of novel techniques and technologies to really hone our craft.
“Otherworld Philadelphia is the culmination of those lessons. Everything in Philadelphia is on a whole new scale; more artists, more technology, and larger scenes. Thanks to the talents of hundreds of artists and technicians, we have created a project that is truly epic.”
Drexler-Russell adds that the team can’t wait to open the doors of Otherworld’s new location to the world.
Embracing the spirit of Philadelphia
In addition to the 100-strong Otherworld team, the company also partnered with a number of local creatives in order to bring its vision for Otherworld Philadelphia to life, as Allyson Mae, production manager/artist coordinator, explains:
“In addition to the many other locals who we worked with on this project, we teamed up with some Philadelphia artists and collectives; Adam Crawford, Big Howl, David Guinn, Justin Geller, Mz.Icar, Sea of Doom, Sue Moerder, and V.U.R.T Collective, to collaborate on spaces of their own design.
“These artists have been working with us for over a year to bring flavors of Philly that many already know and love. I’m so excited for the public to find themselves lost in this maze of fantasy art, mystery, and familiarity.”
When it comes to the choice of location, Ira Tecson, props/scenic lead, says: “Philly seems to be super supportive of artists and has an amazing visual culture everywhere you look.”
As for advice for anyone visiting this new attraction who has never experienced immersive art before, Tecson adds: “Don’t be afraid to touch things… Don’t be afraid to ask the Experience Monitors if there’s a specific interaction or puzzle that you might be missing.
“We have an added layer to our experience where there are puzzles that reveal parts of a larger narrative and also some references to the Columbus location. If you’re into that, it’s another way to be immersed. I feel like we pushed ourselves with techniques and streamlined some of our processes so I’m excited about our team always improving.”
Jordan Renda, CEO and founder of Otherworld, concludes:
“After an incredible journey, collaborating with hundreds of artists and fabricators, we are excited to open the doors to an all-new Otherworld. The Philadelphia iteration is a natural evolution for Otherworld, with larger-scale spaces, higher production value, and one of the most intricate art-tech integrations in the nation. We can’t wait for everyone to experience it.”
Otherworld celebrated its fourth anniversary in May, and during this time has achieved significant milestones and confirmed its position as a leader in the immersive art industry. The venue in Columbus first opened to visitors on 24 May 2019, after a two-year project to transform an abandoned sports authority venue.
Top image credit R’lyeh Imaging
