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Otherworld

Otherworld can be found at 5819 Chantry Drive, Columbus 43232. It is open from Thursday to Sunday each week. Opening hours are 11 am to 8 pm on Thursday and Sunday and from 11 am to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.

Covid restrictions have been relaxed so that face coverings are not compulsory but are recommended.

Introduction

Otherworld is an innovative art installation situated in Columbus, Ohio. Covering 32,000 square feet there are 47 rooms housing artwork and exhibits that promise a totally immersive experience for the visitor. The exhibits blur the traditional boundaries between sculpture, art, and digital installations.

The whole experience is on a large scale and promotes mixed realities through rooms and playgrounds, passages and halls. A visit to Otherworld will be a transport of delight into another realm.

What can I expect to find at Otherworld?

Otherworld is a fantasy labyrinth that takes the visitor on a journey through an amazing world of sounds, visions, and experiences. The blurred lines between what is real and what is generated digitally has allowed the creators of this attraction to startle, confuse and amaze in equal measure.

Technology is evolving constantly and the team has used the latest innovations to present an attraction that is probably the first of its kind in the world.

The team is led by the founder of Otherworld, Jordan Renda. He has recruited team members who are leaders in their particular fields. Included amongst them are painters, muralists, puppeteers and animators, sculptors, lighting experts, sound engineers, 3D modelers, textile and fashion artists, glass artists and metal fabricators – and that is only a few of the many! All these skills have been harnessed and directed to create Jordan Renda’s vision.

Otherworld draws heavily from science fiction and fantasy. Both are surreal worlds and Otherworld has brought them together to allow visitors the opportunity to explore and to interact with the artwork itself. A visit to Otherworld is designed to be an adventure and has been described as bringing together a haunted house vibe, with elements of a video game, the vastness of a movie set and the sheer strangeness of Alice in Wonderland.

All this is created by using tactile flooring and walls, sounds that both calm and confuse, and projected lighting that adds to the strangeness of the venue. At the heart of the experience is a 20-foot tall tree and an enticing cave.

Leave any preconceived ideas you may have about the art behind when you enter Otherworld. You will be challenged by what you will see and every exhibit will give you pause for thought. Indeed, the creators of Otherworld are hoping that what you see will set you thinking about art and its place in society. Art has always been dynamic and Otherworld is taking art way beyond the traditional boundaries.

Many of the exhibits have interactive control panels alongside and you are actively encouraged to use them and become involved in what you are seeing. Don’t be shy when faced with a control panel – just go for it! You might surprise yourself with the result!

Eateries near Otherworld

Visiting Otherworld meant you were willing to try something quite new. If you are open to trying new food, then here are some vegan eateries in Columbus that will give you a chance to try plant-based dishes.

Village Taco at 1297 Parsons Avenue offers not just tacos but corndogs, burritos, and burgers all plant-based and delicious.

Seitan’s Realm offers sandwiches with curly fries and much more. Find them at 3496 High Street, Columbus.

Other restaurants in the vicinity include:

Waffle House is less than half a mile away at 2621 Brice Road. A diner with great reviews.

Bowsers at 2936 Brice Road offers a traditional American cuisine menu. It has earned rave reviews.

Asian Star China Buffet is at 2770 Brice Road and offers great Chinese food, with Asian and American items on the menu too.

Cajun Louisianna Seafood Restaurant offers a wide range of seafood dishes. Find it at 2760 Brice Road.

For coffee, Starbucks is at 2650 Brice Road. This particular Starbucks has earned great reviews.

As you can these last five eateries are to be found on Brice Road which is just a short walk from Otherworld.

Conclusion

Otherworld is great when you are looking for something different for yourself and for your kids. It will certainly give you plenty to think about and the memories will last forever.


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