Before the semester started, the four of us took a trip to a local, contemporary art museum that focuses entirely on installations. The Mattress Factory presents room-sized environments in which visitors can walk around and explore. For example, one installation is an aperture in the existing architecture that opens the floor and cuts through a wall to expose a view into the neighboring yard. One room was transformed into a meditative space complete with a river and stepping stones. Throughout the building we found text on the wall that drew our attention to things we don’t normally look at, enticed us around a corner, and even mocked us. One room even integrated us into the art by reflecting our image across mirrors mounted on all the walls, the ceiling, and even the doors. That room opened into another, brightly lit room that was initially very disorienting because of the light and mirrors.

Although we had mixed opinions about the art itself, we agreed that they were doing some really interesting things with engaging people within the space. The installation that stood out the most simply involved a pen or a marker and some balloons. A small instructional plate asks you to release one of the balloons, and then replace its vacancy with another balloon. The only thing you have to write your wish onto the string of the balloon or onto the balloon itself. We felt the pleasure and surprise of picking through the balloons in the room to find what they had to say. Anisha grabbed one of the balloons and carried it outside to release it. Although the instructions were simple, the experience was powerful and inspired us to think about how people can say something through an anonymous message to an unknown person.