If you’re looking for something different and relaxed to do in San Diego, you’re in the right place. We all know the typical attractions that we have: the beach, the zoo, breweries, Little Italy–the list goes on. Now we have a new one to look forward to: WNDR San Diego.
What Is It?
The San Diego WNDR Museum is a collection of interaction, multi-media art housed in the San Diego Gaslamp District. It’s quirky, innovative, and meant for fun pictures. Right when you walk in, you stand in front of a mirror that reflects your fortune back at you. After that, you can explore the exhibit in any way you desire. Choice and freedom are at the thematic center, and that really is reflected in the focus pieces. From street art to food art to movement-focused paintings, you get to interact with everything. If you want to learn more about some of the featured exhibits, you can read about the Light Floor, Quantum Mirror, and INSIDEOUT here.
Who Should Go?
Honestly, I would recommend this exhibit to anybody. The whole point of it is to show that art is for everyone and that everyone can be an artist. Because it’s so interactive, it really does cater to every audience, too. While I was there, I saw families with children, couples of various ages, and people enjoying it by themselves. The average age was within the 18-30 age range, and I can see why. With references to NFTs, AI art, and videogame art, the interests are targeted more toward our demographic. With this in mind, I would suggest it as a perfect outing for college students or 20 somethings, whether you and your friends want to see something new or you want an exciting first date.
Given the location and the vibes, I would say that it’s perfect for SDSU students. It’s fun, it’s trendy, it’s interactive, and it’s easily accessible by the trolley. There are tons of nearby restaurants and bars to explore (for those of drinking age), so it’s easy to make a night out of it. Plus, you always need an excuse to get off campus. This is the perfect one.
How Much Does It Cost?
Tickets for adults start at $32. From what I saw when playing around with booking dates and times, this price holds true for weekdays during the day. In the evening and on the weekends, tickets were $38. It’s less for kids ($22) and kids 0-2 are free. If you want to look at dates and costs, you can find them on the website here.
However, you should also factor in the cost of parking. Because it’s in Gaslamp, it will be a miracle to find street parking anywhere. If you don’t feel like Ubering or taking the trolley, there’s an ACE parking garage about a block away. It’s not preferable, but it’s close enough where you don’t have to worry about walking far or waiting for public transport. In that parking garage, it’s $2 every 15 minutes.
Why Should You Go?
If you’ve read anything else on this website, you can tell that we love culture–books, art, exploring cities, you name it. Most of all, we love places that capture a time and place, a mood, or better yet, both (see these LA bookstores that do a great job of doing that). As I walked through this exhibit, I got the sense that they were doing this–and succeeding. Everything here is centered on everyone being an artist, or the idea that art takes many forms. With digital art, installments where you can distort famous artworks, and opportunities for you to make and display your own AI generated work, it all works. For me, this was amazing, since it bridged traditional and radical art, fused old and new, and challenged the idea of what could be considered art.
What impressed me most was how everything seemed to gel together rather coherently. Even though there was a wide variety of pieces, they all had a common thread. Even the seemingly random fortune teller machine tucked away in the bottom corner of the WNDR San Diego connected to this focus on curiosity and exploration.
It connects to our world in a tangible way.
The installations also focused on the world around us–increasingly digital, with increasing opportunities, but also with a decreased depth at points. We’re spread so thin and glued to our devices, whether we want to be or not. This is especially true for people our age; whether it’s for personal reasons or work, we have to be on so often. WNDR San Diego offers a chance to reflect and retreat. By looking through the infinity mirror, sitting inside a shed as lasers and lights create insane weather patterns around you, and staring up at a mock night sky, you have a chance to center yourself. Despite all of the colors and curiosities and interaction, there was a sense of calmness throughout the exhibit. For me, this was a beautiful way to facilitate connection in a genuinely approachable, interactive, and accessible manner.
A Final Word
Even if you just want to see some cool art, WNDR San Diego is worth checking out. It’s a 45-90 minutes of your life well spent, and it’s definitely something to talk about. Have you been there? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. For a more in depth look at the museum, check out @dreaming_upwards on Instagram.
