Step Into a Comic Strip Gone Haywire with ‘Rainbow Vomit’ (Q&A)

by Kathryn Yu
Kathryn Yu
•
June 11, 2019
•
5 min read

Dallas’ Rainbow Vomit allows participants to step into a wild and wacky world where a comic-strip has “gone haywire.” After a successful initial launch in January, Rainbow Vomit has welcomed over 10,000 visitors into their colorful world. Now this family-friendly, whimsical immersive art exhibit is reopening for the summer, bigger than ever, thanks to its dedicated team of “Vomiteers.” The installations now include 6000 LEDs, 100 lbs. of cotton, 25 lbs. of glitter, 5 miles of ribbon, as well as a brand new “dark mode” tentatively set to debut in late June.

We spoke to ‘Vomiteer’ Rob Andrews aka ‘Rainbow Rob’ to learn more about what they have in store.

No Proscenium (NP): Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background in the immersive arts?

Rainbow Rob (RR): To be honest, pretty much everyone involved in this project has no previous experience in immersive art, this is our first rodeo!

That being said we are creative people with a strong entrepreneurial side and a penchant for creative problem solving, so building an exhibit of this nature fit in well with our various skills in building businesses, design, art, construction, engineering, and user experience design.

NP: What, in a nutshell, is this project about?

RR: Rainbow Vomit is an immersive art exhibit designed to be both a great place to take photos and an experience that brings out everyone’s inner child. We also aim to provide a space that offers not only great photo-taking opportunities but an experience that will hopefully get people to put down their phones and be present in the moment.

NP: Why did you create this experience? And what inspired you to name it Rainbow Vomit?

RR: My partner and lead curator Deanna Theis was approached by a friend of hers from Kansas city, Jason Mendez, with the concept of creating a Selfie Studio in Dallas back in May of 2018. After a lot creative brainstorming, artistic inspiration and agonizing over the name, Deanna was working on a particular design when I commented on how it looked like “rainbow vomit.” This was our lightbulb moment that helped solidify the concept of what now is an interactive art exhibit, and the name Rainbow Vomit was born as a mish-mash of art styles all wrapped around a central theme of love and acceptance of individuality.

NP: How do you approach designing an immersive art experience that both kids and adults can enjoy?

RR: We drew lots of inspiration from things that appeal to both adults and kids such as comic books, fantasy, and crazy colors in order to find a happy medium that everyone can enjoy. By making a place where adults feel like a kid again and a kid can feel right at home we think we have achieved that.

NP: Can you see all of Rainbow Vomit in one visit? Do people come back more than once?

Get Kathryn Yu’s stories in your inbox

Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

SubscribeSubscribe

RR: You can see everything in one hour, although not everyone does! We do offer an extended tour package with an extra half hour for the serious photography enthusiasts as well. Everyone experiences Rainbow Vomit differently!

NP: How is the audience able to interact with the exhibit? And how are you designing around audience agency, consent, and safety?

RR: Interaction is a very important part of our exhibit, so we make it so just about everything can be touched and played with. We have lots of props for visitors to use, textures they can touch, and lights they can use to help craft the perfect photograph. Sound and light also plays a big part of the exhibit, we have original music and lighting design that immerses guests in the experience.

We are also currently adding in an interactive element when it comes to the LED lights in the space, in a soon to debut “night mode” version of Rainbow Vomit that will allow visitors to control the lights to the beat of the music.

Safety is a big priority for us, so we do everything we can do make sure the exhibit is safe and fun for all who attend. We have guests sign a waiver so they’ll think twice before doing something that would endanger themselves or others, as well as acknowledging that this is a place to take photos at so that everyone is aware of their surroundings.

NP: Why is Dallas a good place to have an interactive art exhibit like Rainbow Vomit?

RR: Dallas Fort Worth is the 4th largest metroplex in the country, and is full of culture. It boasts a wide array of museums and entertainment venues, so we felt that it would be accepting what we’re doing at Rainbow Vomit. Plus there are a lot of visitors to the city looking for unique things to do, and since we offer a very different experience than most museums we feel ours makes for a good stop for out-of-towners as well as locals.

NP: Who is the ideal attendee for this experience?

RR: Most anyone can enjoy Rainbow Vomit, but it’s particularly suited for those with a passion for the arts and photography. But really it can be for anyone looking to have a fun time out with the family, a unique date night, or a good time out with friends. There’s many ways to experience Rainbow Vomit!

NP: What do you hope participants take away from Rainbow Vomit? How many have already toured the exhibit?

RR: We have had over 10,000 people tour the exhibit so far since we opened on January 18th! We hope visitors will be left with a sense of awe and wonder after their experience, and while here will not only gather some fun keepsakes in photos but also allow themselves chances to put down their cameras and be present amongst the art. The exhibit has a relaxing vibe, and it is nice when people take some time to soak that up.