Behind the Scenes of Illusions: Near and Far

We are just a week from opening the new exhibition in the Kohl’s Art Generation Gallery, Illusions: Near and Far! Have you ever wondered how an artist makes a work of art seem “real”? We tell all the tricks of the trade—you’ll get to see just how an artist makes us think we are looking into space when we’re really not. Better yet, you get to make your own magic!

This past week, I went into the gallery and was shocked at what a mess it seemed. As in any construction project, after all the careful work of planning, it actually looks awful before it comes together. Right now, it’s starting to come together into the final gallery you’ll see next week.

On Wednesday, the staff from Sign-O-Rama finished putting the opening illusion on the title wall and floor. There is a giant vine growing out of the floor. An artist from Madison, Michael Russick, created the illusion. We were crossing our fingers that it would work in the space—that if you stood on it, it would seem as if you were climbing the vine or teetering over open space. It worked!

Illusions: Near and Far opens Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. You can snap a photo climbing the vine like we did—and that’s only the beginning: wait until you see what’s inside!

—Brigid Globensky, Barbara Brown Lee Sr. Director of Education and Public Programs