put viewers in the midst of the art, often# through computer-generated lights and sounds.

Special correspondent Cat Wise recently# visited an immersive arts space in Portland.

It's part of our arts and culture series, Canvas.

CAT WISE: In one room, colorful# graffiti painted virtually on walls,## in another, 7,000 LED lights precisely# choreographed to an otherworldly soundtrack.

These are some of the high-tech experiences,# along with technology-free installations,## that are part of Hopscotch, an immersive# gallery space in Portland that opened in June.

NICOLE JENSEN, Co-Founder, Hopscotch: We# are an experience that is driven by art.

CAT WISE: Nicole Jensen.

is# the co-founder of Hopscotch,## which has another location in San# Antonio, Texas, that opene NICOLE JENSEN: We just felt like, as# consumers, it's hard to find permanent## immersive art experiences or just large-scale# art experiences that weren't a While you might see an interactive art piece# at a traditional gallery or in an airport or## in a city park, you might not see it# next to 14 other similar types of art.

CAT WISE: In Portland those 14 commissioned# installations, which come from a mix of local,## national and international artists,# are displayed in a former hardware## store that Jensen and her team transformed into# a sleek, modern space, where play is encouraged.

So tell me about this room.

NICOLE JENSE Russia.

We support them.

They# believe in making art, not war CAT WISE: Jensen and I created some art together.

NICOLE JENSEN: It tracks your movements.

CAT WISE: This interactive in So, we are basically becoming# part of the art, is that right?

NICOLE JENSEN: Yes.

Basically, you are a# particle of li Obviously, the ability to work with people# internationally and remotely is be lot of these types of things.

It# just opens up a whole new world.

CAT WISE: While fun is a focus, there are more# serious aspects to some of the ar In Rainbow Cave, New York artist Barbara# Syrenka uses 86,000 upcycled plastic bags## to highlight the number used around# the world about every five seconds.

GAZE is a collaboration with# the Human Rights Campaign.

NICOLE JENSEN: We take their message and bring it## to life throug CAT WISE: A national nonprofit which advocates for## LGBTQ+ rights.

Jensen is on the# organizations board of governors.

NICOLE JENSEN: It just was really# important for me, as a queer person,## to -- when you're a business owner, you know,## you can create the spaces you want to be i CAT WISE: In other rooms, visitors# are transported to different realms.

SETH NEHIL, Sound Designer and Electric Musician:# This is Unknown Atmospheres.

It was crea collaboration with Parallel Studio.

We were# look CAT WISE: Seth Nehil is a Portland sound# designer and electric musician who worked## on two of the installations.

He spent six# months composing this five-minute soundtrack.

SETH NEHIL: Sound can really act in an# unconscious level and affect people's## mood or their perception of other senses in a way# that they're not necessarily thinking about it.

CAT WISE: While numerous studies have found# connections between the arts and human well-being,## more research is now under way looking at the# specific impacts of immersive art experiences.

One study last year by researchers# at the University of Pennsylvania## found higher levels of immersion were# associated with heightened emotions,## such as happiness, awe and feeling relaxed.# That mini-vacation for the heart and mind## may be some of the factors leading to# the surge of interest in immersive art.

Co-founder Jensen says Hopscotch tickets, which# are limited to about 1,000 a day and cost $24## for adults and $15 for children over the age of# 3, have sold out most days since they opened.

Are you trying to attract people who may not have## gone to a traditional art gall NICOLE JENSEN: Absolutely.

My favorite# guests are the ones that are drug here## by someone.

And they have been told through# society that they aren't ar e not interested in art, or maybe# they didn't feel comfortable, frankly,## is what I think it comes down to, in artistic# spaces.

An So it's about making people connect.

CAT WISE: On a recent afternoon,## those connections were being SURI JOHNSON, Visitor: I feel like# this is a bucket list for Portland.

CAT WISE: Suri Johnson and Ashley Stiles,## who learned about Hopscotch on# TikTok SURI JOHNSON: After each room, we're like,# OK.

It sparks conversation and emotions.

ASHLEY STILES, Visitor: We talked# about how art has the power to change## your perspective and how you view# something that may have an d this definitely leaves you feeling# something different after every room.

CAT WISE: While immersive# art has its share of critics,## including those who feel the entertainment# aspect the art, Portland artist Francisco# Morales doesn't see it that way.

FRANCISCO MORALES, Muralist: I think the line# between art and entertainment is oftentimes## blurred.

So, I don't necessarily see that# as like a po CAT WISE: Morales, whose mural depicts# predatory advertisements that target## Latin American communities, says he's not# bothered that some may miss his message.

FRANCISCO MORALES: As an artist, I would rather# folks engage with my art at whatever capacity,## whether it be with a critical lens or on# more of like a superficial, kind of like,## oh, it's aesthetically pleasing.# So, I think that there's validity## in both of those things and, like,# everything in between that spectrum.

CAT WISE: Hopscotch's Portland# lease goes until 2033,## and Jensen says they plan to change out# installations roughly every two years.

They are hoping to open two new locations,## including a waterfront property in South# Los An For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm# Cat Wise in Portland, Oregon.