Travel to space and back at the new Blume Studios
September 25, 2024
Space Explorers: THE INFINITE debuts in the Iron District as an immersive VR experience which takes guests aboard the International Space Station.
By Sharon Smith
This is different for Charlotte. Yes, even out of this world. The first sign that Blumenthal Arts has created something special inside the new Blume Studios hits you before even walking in the door at Stage 1.
Moon Man, a towering upcycled space walk sculpture by Katlyn “Kat” Cornelius stationed outside the entrance, is the biggest clue. This converted 30,000-square-foot warehouse, previously home to Charlotte Pipe and Foundry for 100 years, is now a venue for the arts, starting with Space Explorers: THE INFINITE. It’s a virtual reality tour through the International Space Station, where you “meet” astronauts and soak in 360-degree views of outer space with Earth almost always in view.
Former NASA astronaut Joan Higginbotham, who lives in Charlotte, is THE INFINITE’s honorary local ambassador. “And let me tell you, I was absolutely blown away,” Higginbotham told the crowd during opening week in September, saying it conjured up memories of working on the ISS and looking back at Earth. “It was breathtaking then, and it is breathtaking now.”
The tour, which runs 35 to 45 minutes, starts with each guest putting on a VR headset while listening to instructions on how to navigate this new frontier in the next room. While it took me a minute to adjust to having my eyes and ears covered, visual cues made it easy to keep moving. Full disclosure, I stepped slowly and cautiously at first until I got my bearings.
Everyone wearing a headset appears as a glittery avatar to help avoid missteps and bumping into others. You’re bound to hear an occasional good-natured “excuse me” or “sorry!” as your group walks through. Within a few steps, golden orbs pop up along the tour. When a guest reaches out to “touch” an orb, a brief 360-degree video is activated. Clips show a range of real-life experiences aboard the ISS — from astronauts working to stellar views of Earth. In all, the exhibit has 200 videos, but each guest watches just a few dozen during a tour, based on which orbs they touch, inside or outside the ISS. Each visit could provide a different experience.
Blumenthal Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard says teaming up with Charlotte Pipe to open Blume Studios and bring THE INFINITE to Charlotte gives the organization an opportunity to branch off in new directions and spark fresh creativity. “We had been looking for a place to create this kind of center for a number of years, and we can look back and say it was worth the wait to come here,” Gabbard said. He’s right. Blume Studios is nothing like Charlotte has ever had. It’s a creative lab with curated experiences, shows and classes — and plenty of parking. This artsy anchor for the emerging mixed-use Iron District is already delivering as a destination attraction. Tickets for THE INFINITE are selling fast online.
While it’s a temporary exhibit, Higginbotham says The INFINITE also has staying power beyond one’s initial reaction to the tour. “It is about inspiring every young person to realize that no dream is too big. I stand here as living proof of that,” she said. “I want every child in Charlotte to know the sky is no longer the limit. Through perseverance, hard work, and yes, more hard work, their dream can also come true.”
There’s more here than just the VR experience. Front and center inside the warehouse space, Gaia, the massive rotating replica of Earth that’s been featured during the past two Charlotte International Arts Festivals, hangs from the ceiling. There’s a space-themed bar and cafe, and a gift shop with celestial-inspired fare ranging from funky artwork by local artists to NASA t-shirts, plus a couple of interactive installations. Oh, and we are over the moon about Blume Studios having plenty of free parking. SP
If you go: Space Explorers: The INFINITE runs through Nov. 10. 904 Post Street. Ticket prices vary, starting at $44.95 for adults and $29.95 for children. There is an 8+ age restriction.
Featured image: Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, courtesy Blumenthal Arts
