What's the most common thing said at a neighborhood party, the kind of party that comes complete with front yard games and activities for kids?
"Happy birthday" and "where's the bathroom?" are two frequently spoken things, we'll bet. But probably third on that list is some grown-up's plaintive wish that an entrepreneur would invent a bounce house for adults.
That dream is about to become a reality, but with a sophisticated, esoteric twist: A massive "inflatable walk-through sculpture" is set to unfurl in Grand Park for five days. And nope, you cannot bounce inside of it nor should you not -- and there are no plastic balls to toss about -- but you can blithely and meditiatively wander through it, soaking in the hues, music, and experential flavor of Exxopolis.
Architects of Air, a creative team based in England, are the visionaries behind the pop-up mini-city and our own Music Center? A partner in the whimsical event.
For five days -- Sept. 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 -- visitors will explore the hue-saturated inflatable while taking in interesting, free-flowing spaces, tunnels, a cupola, and ten stained glass windows. Music, performance, and activities will dot Exxopolis, meaning you could enter a new space and find dancers, violinists, or some combination of the two.
And while we called it, a little cheekily, a bounce house for grown-ups without the bounce or balls, all ages are welcome at the Grand Park installation.
Now, the best part and the challenge: Exxopolis is free, and while a set number of advance tickets were booked, walk-ups are welcome and will be accommodated when there is room. (The inflatable can only hold a set number of people at any one time.) This means you'll need to arrive early each day, when walk-up/stand-by tickets are available -- that starts at 10 a.m. -- and then you might wait. But you won't have to shell out any cash to enjoy what is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience.
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"One-of-a-kind" anything is overused these days, yes, but when is the last time you strolled a color-rich inflatable sculpture filled with light, music, and fantastical spaces? If recently, we'll rescind our "one-of-a-kind" label, but we're fairly certain this will be a delightful first for most visitors.
Happy hue-ing, Angelenos.
