Those who venture far enough into downtown Charlottesville might just fall down the rabbit hole. Tucked away in IX Art Park lies a portal to another dimension where lush foliage, whimsical creatures and mysterious doorways are waiting to be discovered. This is The Looking Glass, Virginia’s first immersive art museum.
Established in 2019 by IX Arts Foundation — a nonprofit arts foundation that operates IX Art Park in Charlottesville — The Looking Glass is a permanent exhibit that takes visitors on a psychedelic journey through an enchanted forest. As an immersive space, it offers a multi-sensory experience with soothing soundscapes and ethereal lighting to fully absorb guests in the art. It also features interactive elements, like suspended chairs and functional doors, that encourage exploration and curiosity.
Kathryn Wingate, director of curation at IX Art Park, said that the founders of The Looking Glass were inspired by Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, N.M. — a museum part of a national brand of interactive art installations…