Beyond Van Gogh Experience in Reno

   

    If you know me well, you know that I'm a huge fan of Vincent van Gogh. I have a replica of The Starry Night in my bedroom, and I specifically decided make a stop in Amsterdam so I could visit his official museum. This scene from Doctor Who with Vincent makes me ugly cry literally every time I watch it. So, when I learned that a special immersive Van Gogh experience was coming to Reno I knew I was getting tickets.

    This exhibit is split into three rooms. The first room is educational, detailing the highlights of Vincent's life and his relationship with his brother Theo. I'm glad they included the information to help people who are less familiar with Van Gogh appreciate his work. However, I was a disappointed that the exhibit did not mention Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's sister-in-law who is responsible for the success of his paintings after his death.

    The second room was referred to as the "waterfall room," which is a smaller room with projections on one wall. The projections are mostly random flurries of color that cascade down the wall and around the doorways, sometimes resolving into portraits of Van Gogh. I honestly didn't prefer it and skipped out after a couple of minutes.

    Finally, the last room is the heart of the exhibit. Projections cover large walls, columns, and the floor with Vincent's art. I really loved how it wasn't just a simple static presentation of his art on the walls either. Stars in The Starry Night swirl, water ripples in Starry Night Over the Rhône, portraits blink, and flowers bloom across branches in Almond Blossoms. The music was also fantastic and really added to the experience. You can check out the official Beyond Van Gogh playlist here.

    Overall, I would highly recommend visiting if you love art and would be interested in experiencing Van Gogh's artwork in a new way. Check out my reel for a preview of what you can see at the exhibit:

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A post shared by Haleigh Jividen | Reno, NV (@haleighjividen)

    Things to know before you Gogh:

    (no I will not be apologizing for that pun)

• Tickets start at $46.99 for adults and $23.99 for kids. Children four and under can visit for free. There are VIP packages available that include merchandise. 
• You cannot leave and enter again. Make sure you've used the restroom or gotten a drink before going in. No drinks or food are allowed inside.
• There is a bag policy. You bag must be clear and not exceed 12"x6"x12" OR a small clutch no bigger than 4.5"x6.5". Exceptions are made for diaper bags after an inspection.
• The whole experience took us about an hour and a half to go through. The first room is self-paced, so you might have some hold-up for people reading/taking pictures. The waterfall room is five minutes, and the last room is a 37-minute loop.
• While this is kid friendly, I could see very young kids easily getting bored. If your child does not enjoy art museums, they won't enjoy this.
• If you plan on taking photos make sure to wear white or other light colors so the projections show up on your outfit!
• There is a gift shop at the end, I purchased a cute hat with The Starry Night all over it.

    Beyond Van Gogh is in town until October 2nd, and you can purchase tickets here. Let me know if you decide to visit this exhibit for yourself! I'd love to hear what you thought.

♡ Haleigh