Psychedelic Wonderland in the Desert
Before heading to Phoenix, I asked a friend in the area what he recommended to see and do. He suggested the ‘Electric Desert’ art installation at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I love gardens and have always been fascinated by the majestic Saguaro cactus that punctuate the barren landscape of the Southwest. Though I was a bit skeptical about how enjoyable a light show in the desert would be. Though he heartedly recommended it, so I decided to check it out.
We visited during midday around Thanksgiving, the sun was brilliant, and the temperature was a perfect 75 degrees. Upon entering the garden gates, there is a Dale Chihuly sculpture, and following admission, the gardens meanders into numerous paths to explore. We decided to purchase our tickets for Electric Desert while buying our day-passes, which was a good idea, because when we returned after dusk, a sign flanked the entry way announcing that tickets were SOLD OUT.
We returned for the show after dark. Besides being incredibly cold – despite a sweater and down vest, it was an amazing experience. I was first struck by the otherworldly music that accompanies the exhibits. The installation is divided into zones – so that the garden is illuminated in different colors and patterns with accompanying music. The overall effect was mesmerizing. The designers incorporated the magnificent scale of the landscape by using the mountainside in a strobe display.
The experience was designed for the Desert Botanical Gardens by the Klip Collective, an experiential video shop that uses virtual reality, projection mapping, storytelling and soundscapes to create captivating, immersive sensory experiences around the world. The exhibit extends through – May 12, 2019 – DON’T MISS IT!