Why everyone needs to see Black (W)hole, UCSC’S free art exhibit
It’s an extra-sensory experience you don’t want to miss
You can hear the audio track as you walk up the stairs to the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery near the koi pond in Porter College at UCSC. But it’s not until you slip behind the black curtains that you can really hear, see, and feel what Black (W)hole provides for visitors.
Designed by the Einstein Collective, a group of artists and scientists, the Black (W)hole art exhibit at UCSC immerses visitors in projections of Einstein equations, among other pieces. It forces them to question the existence of black holes on the white walls, paired with audio that matches the circular ground projection of a swirling black hole.
Art, astrophysics, data visualization and sonification all work together to create the captivating exhibit, but understanding the science between black holes is not necessary to appreciate the exhibit.
The center of the room is dominated by the moving projection of a black hole, Transmutations, filmed by Cindy Stillwell using paintings of Sara Mast. It draws visitors into Black (W)hole. Colors change and pulsate around the deep black center, and the music matches the motion of the hole, pulling in and blocking out any distraction visitors may feel.
Guests may take off their shoes or put on shoe covers if they wish to stand underneath the projection, heightening the sense of feeling absorbed and drawn to the black hole, which is especially cool if you attend the exhibit alone.
Kylah Staley, 18, Politics, said of the projection, “It made me feel focused. When I was in there I felt focused on that one thing.”
While the immersive and stimulating film is the main star of the exhibit, there are also paintings on display that link back to the Einstein Collective.
Black (W)hole is not just an art exhibit, it is an immersive film experience that uses the collaboration of science and art to create a sense of wonder and a perspective on the vast scale of space for each individual who visits the piece.
“It made me feel like – in that little room – there was a portal to another space within myself. It brought me away from the world around me,” said Mia Cantu, 18, Theater Arts.
Open until November 23, Black (W)hole is free and open to the public. It is open from 12-5 PM from Tuesday-Saturday and open from 12-8PM on Wednesdays.