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Portals to a Whimsical World

Immersive Art in Downtown Middletown Promises a Sensory Experience

Artistic inspiration can do so much for our minds: it takes us out of the everyday and makes us see how the world can change before our very eyes. Just up the road in Middletown, a 5,000-square-foot immersive art installation called Portopia is coming alive. 

“When we thought of Portopia, we wanted the artists to pursue the unexpected,” says Mary Huttlinger, executive director of the Middletown Visitors Bureau. “We focused on making it interactive but also letting the artists take the space and the materials and make their own unique take.”

Visitors will experience dimensional art, moving beyond just the visual sense to experience sound, light, touch and even scent! Fourteen artists have been hard at work building this temporary exhibit at the historic Torchlight Pass building, creating an experience that has to be seen to be believed. The artists incorporated recycled materials as well as various artistic media, from sculpture to paint to textured fabric and technological components.

Immersive art is more than canvases on walls—everywhere you look are details to examine and you’ll be amazed at all you can explore. Watch for videos, clues that open locked portals and even an artsy scavenger hunt. Your inner child will be delighted by the new sensory experiences of Portopia. 

When you finish your timed-ticket experience, you’ll exit the exhibit into downtown Middletown, where you can enjoy dining, shopping or a night out with friends. 

Experience the unexpected and enter the imagination of local artists at Portopia, showing from September 11 to December 19. The exhibit will be open Thursdays through Sundays for timed periods to keep total occupancy low at any given time. Purchase tickets online. Portopia.org

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