Arcadia Earth, the next-generation art exhibition and extended reality experience, has opened its new location on the Las Vegas strip. Reimagining the way we address the most pressing environmental issues of our time, the 15,000 square foot Las Vegas location expands on the concept that began in New York, providing visitors a powerful and intimately personal exploration of the plight of our planet through immersive physical installations and the futuristic lens of augmented and virtual reality.
Founded and designed by experiential artist Valentino Vettori, Arcadia Earth Las Vegas is the world’s first multi-channel platform to shine a light on ecological issues threatening our very existence. The fifteen major exhibits in Las Vegas transport visitors to the heart of global challenges such as melting ice caps, plastic waste, overfishing, loss of biodiversity and more. The exhibits, however, do not guide guests into a tunnel of guilt. Instead, they inspire individual empowerment through beauty, education, and actionable suggestions.
In the room highlighting water scarcity, for example, a voice-over reminds Nevadans how precious water is to their state. As of 2021, over 40% of Nevada is in “exceptional” drought — the highest possible drought intensity. Guests are not left hopeless, though. They learn that Las Vegas has already reduced its consumption. The city used 23 billion fewer gallons of water in 2020 than in 2002 despite experiencing a population increase of more than 780,000 residents in the intervening decades. Visitors learn that every action counts. Posted QR codes share simple steps they can take to conserve with each exhibit following the same model: educating, enlightening, and empowering visitors. Some rooms link to the Arcadia Earth marketplace, offering a comprehensive assortment of reusable items to help diminish their environmental footprint.
Beauty and wonder are the foundation of Arcadia Earth Las Vegas, whether taking the form of sculptures, sensory experiences, AR or VR. In developing the concept, Vettori, a veteran experiential artist, invited leading environmental artists to create installations using upcycled materials and reusable elements. In Las Vegas, visitors are guided through a coral reef diorama illuminated by interactive AR, a playground of fishing nets, an immersive LED aquarium looking out toward jellyfish and reefs, projections on mist and a glass forest, among other delights. Arcadia Earth’s VR room features Wild Immersion content, giving visitors intimate encounters with wildlife in their natural habitats. And the Rainbow Cave is a colorful composite of 60,000 recycled plastic bags — a fraction of what we use globally every second.
Location and Tickets
Arcadia Earth’s expansive Las Vegas experience is located at 3785 S Las Vegas Blvd, Suite #102.
Tickets are available for purchase starting at $33 at https://www.arcadia-earth.com/las-vegas, with 10% off for Nevada residents. A tree will be planted for every ticket sold and proceeds will go to support Arcadia’s educational and charity partner, Oceanic Global, which raises awareness about the effects of human consumption on aquatic ecosystems.
environment
By Chadd Scott
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