Hopscotch is an immersive art experience spanning 20,000 square feet. Discover the top exhibits within the space and what to expect during your visit.
After debuting as an Austin pop-up in 2019, Hopscotch has been fascinating San Antonio residents and visitors since October 2020. The immersive art experience spans 20,000 square feet of mind-bending, vibrant works from artists, sound engineers, visual effects experts, and other creatives. Hopscotch is one of those rare spots that’s inviting for everyone. It’s a charming date night activity, a blast for large groups, and a perfect way to spend some solo time, simply getting lost in everything around you.
As soon as you step into Hopscotch, you’re greeted by whimsy. Massive murals and neon lighting adorn the wall, chic furniture encourages you to take a seat, and a disco rabbit welcomes you before heading downstairs into the exhibits.
Don’t climb down that rabbit hole just yet, though. The Hopscotch bar has some of the more creative cocktails and mocktails around. Try the Adult Capri-Suns, the Northern Lights (with a bonus bursting bubble of boba on top), or the Ziggy Stardust, where a portion of proceeds go to the San Antonio Street Art Initiative.
Once you’re ready to roll, walk down those stairs and into one of the most unique things to do in San Antonio. Here are six can’t-miss exhibits.
1. “Happiness” by Andy Arkley
Is it a bit of a “duh” observation that an exhibit called “Happiness” makes me the happiest? Perhaps, but sometimes things simply have accurate names. Seattle artist Andy Arkley sums up the work nicely: “‘Happiness’ is a combination of things that make me happy: flowers, music, cats, clouds, rainbows, colors, simple shapes, and making others feel good.”
That would be charming enough on its own, but Arkley understands the power of collaboration. In the middle of the room is a collection of buttons. Each one triggers something to light up on the wall along with a sound. If you’re good at keeping a beat, you can create a delightful song as all these happiness-inducing things illuminate the walls. And you may just get a bonus, as I did, of a family with a small child walking into the room as you’re lying down, with the child absolutely loving every second of the jam. And that’s peak happiness.
2. “Secrets” by Wide Awake Creative
“Secrets” is a two-parter, and it’s where I consistently spend the most time when I visit Hopscotch. As the exhibit explains, there’s a psychology behind secrets. Holding one “can feel like holding your breath underwater. It’s not until we exhale and let go that we realize the weight of what we’ve been carrying.” And this experience invites you to share a secret about anything, “as long as it is true.” Soundproof phone booths allow you to drop your secret without judgment.
Once you’ve done that, head to one of the phones on the wall. Pick up the receiver, and you’ll hear the recordings of people who have previously left their secrets. People take the assignment to heart, so you may hear some heavy stuff on the other side of the call. But the shortest phone only plays secrets that are from children (and thus G-rated), and they are wonderful.
You’ll hear things like a child say how she loves her family “soooooo much” and they have no idea, or listen to an elementary school boy explain how his class delivered flowers to their teacher but didn’t tell her they were from them, leading to a moment of joyful surprise. These secrets are so wholesome! Don’t worry if you leave something a little more burdensome, though. The secrets playing from the phones are from a month earlier, so you’re not at risk of someone you’re with hearing the secret you just shared.
3. “Unknown Atmospheres” by Seth Nehil and Parallel Studio
“Unknown Atmospheres” is a joint production between Seth Nehil, who designed the 8.2 channel audio soundscape, and Parallel Studio, which programmed the 7,000 individual LED bulbs in the immersive matrix. Over five minutes, you’ll see six different scenes of light and sound shows covering the room. Different colors, hard cuts, and rhythmic pulsing of the senses are all magnified by the massive mirror at the end of the room, which reflects everything in reverse and creates a wild effect of enormity.
I especially like “Unknown Atmospheres” because you can participate in multiple ways. The coolest is to walk with a friend inside the strings of bulbs, seeing each other get illuminated by the dancing lights. But maybe you’re tired and want a little break! In that case, grab a seat at the bench at the entrance of the room. The display is still quite dazzling from afar.
4. “VJ Yourself” by playmodes
At some point, you’ve likely heard someone suggest the mindset of “dance like nobody’s watching.” It’s sound advice, particularly if you’re acutely aware of how your limbs flail about while getting your groove on. At Hopscotch, you can dance like nobody’s watching…except for many clones of you.
Just peeking into “VJ Yourself” by the audiovisual research studio playmodes looks unassuming. However, once you step inside, and specifically step in front of the projector against one wall, you’ll see the exhibit immediately pop to life. Suddenly, several images of whatever’s standing in front of the screen appear on the wall, with each movement building to a kaleidoscope effect. You don’t have to dance in this exhibit, but it really does lend itself to cutting a rug or two. After all, very few of us get a chance to look this magical while we’re shaking our stuff.
5. “Laser Graffiti” by Todd Moyer
When I was growing up, I loved playing the game “Jet Set Radio” on Sega Dreamcast. The premise was simple: Roller skate around cities in Japan and express your creativity via spray-painting graffiti on the walls. One level takes place on a spinning vinyl record atop of skyscrapers, which remains one of the coolest environments in video game history.
Todd Moyer’s “Laser Graffiti” brings that nostalgia to life, and I don’t even have to worry about falling down on skates. Grab hold of a controller spray can and decorate the walls with digital ink. Perhaps you’re a true artiste and can create the equivalent of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” in spray paint. Or perhaps you’re like me and exhaust your drawing skills at Pac-Man. That doesn’t matter; the point is you have full unfiltered control to let loose, and that’s a dream. Don’t leave the room before turning toward the back wall, which lets you knock a bunch of bricks over in a very satisfying digital destruction.
6. “Infinity Boxes” by Matt Elson
If you do not like seeing potentially endless reflections of yourself, you might want to steer clear of Matt Elson’s “Infinity Boxes.” Otherwise, this is a delightful little romp to kick off your Hopscotch adventure. Stick your head inside a box and marvel at a vibrant, carousel-like interior with several mirrors creating a mesmerizing mirage.
Ideally, you’ll have a friend who can pop their head in the other side of the box—or you become pals with a friendly stranger—and you can admire each other’s lovely visages. You’ll also get some great photos like the one below, which you can use as a quirky gift for your friends. Just imagine a framed picture of you and your multiple heads hanging up on walls across the land. Now that’s art!
Other exhibits you’ll find
None of Hopscotch San Antonio’s 15 exhibits are bad, though your enjoyment of them may vary depending on your age and energy level. For instance, there’s a ball pit at the beginning and a trampoline at the end, the latter of which also features some cool computer artwork that “draws” on the wall alongside your jumps. Childhood me would love both of these. Adult me is more concerned with the aches and pains that follow such activities.
There’s also a mirror maze that ends in the “Rainbow Cave,” which is a cool concept. Basia Goszczynska, an artist based in Brooklyn, contributed the walk-in installation. As the name suggests, it’s a “cave” consisting of salvaged fishing nets hoisting up about 40,000 post-industrial waste plastic bags. LED lighting, immersive sound, and mirrors are used to great effect to create an expansive environment. However, it’s not really as interactive as the exhibits above, so it only gets an honorable mention here.
Need-to-know info about Hopscotch
Hopscotch is as delightful an experience solo as it is with a large group. Here’s everything to know about planning your visit:
Location: 711 Navarro St., Suite 100, San Antonio
Price: Tickets are available through timed entry. They’re $24 for adults; $20 for seniors, military, teachers, and healthcare workers; $15 for children (4-15), and free for children three years and under. Annual memberships are $100 for adults and $50 for children. You can also splurge on an $80 “Artfully Yours” package that grants two tickets, two curated drinks, and a sweet and salty treat. Purchase all tickets online ahead of your visit.
Duration: Hopscotch allows you to go at your own pace, so this can vary based on how much you linger at certain experiences. Give yourself about an hour to an hour-and-a-half to enjoy everything.
Parking: Street parking is available, and Hopscotch offers a validated rate for parking tickets from the nearby Travis Park Plaza Garage.
Accessibility: Hopscotch is ADA-compliant, and spaces are generally large enough to navigate via wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or mobility scooters. Some of the exhibits incorporate surround sound or strobe lighting effects, which could affect people with light or noise sensitivities.
