It’s no secret if you’ve been paying attention to my work here on SoBros Network in recent weeks that I’ve been running myself a little ragged lately. We just wrapped up our coverage of the 2022 NFL Draft, and I’m about to get married here in a couple of weeks, so I’ve been scrambling to get content written or refreshed for that week so I can take some time off to enjoy with family and friends. I’ve been bordering on “burnt out” for a while now. That changed, if at least for only a couple of hours, last Sunday night, when we ventured out towards the Belle Meade part of town to check out the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit.
It was a busy day – the fiancé and I had been out to TPAC earlier in the afternoon to see Come From Away, which was phenomenal in its own right. Then, I went home and mowed the yard before we made it out. We had to squeeze it in that Sunday because the event had been pushed back so many times, and they just kept telling us “okay, this date, for real this time.” I’m pretty sure we bought our tickets in the 1990s. Nonetheless, I found it to be quite worth the wait.
I was sober when we walked into the exhibit, and I deeply regret it. This exhibit feels like the type of thing that drugs and alcohol were invented specifically for. Whatever it takes to open up your mind’s eye, y’know? Of course, I’m not advocating for driving while impaired, and I’m certainly not advocating for you to try and sneak in some type of controlled substance to the exhibit. I am merely pointing out that it probably would’ve put my brain in another dimension, which is what I needed.
The visuals were indeed immersive. Too many people were standing back away from the screens. I shooketh my head. Talk about missing the assignment. I walked my happy ass up to the screen, so close that the exhibit took up my entire periphery. THAT is some immersive ass shit. THAT is what it was all about to me. And, THAT is when I started to feel the stress of everyday life melt away. It was so cool to see Van Gogh’s life’s work presented in such a unique way, and it gave me a new appreciation for his art. It wasn’t just bright colors and special effects – it felt like a moving picture of a man’s life. Very cool.
My lone critiques of the event were the price point and the lack of historical information included in the exhibit. It was $130 for Aura and I to get in. You can certainly understand and appreciate how much work it had to have taken to make this thing happen at the scale at which you witness it. I only mention it because it would make for a rather pricy date night if you and yours decided to pair it with a trip out for dinner. And, though we got a glimpse into Van Gogh’s life heading into the exhibit, I would’ve liked a little more detail. I’m a history buff – sue me. All in all, this is something that you don’t get to experience too often around these parts. It’s certainly an experience you’d want to take in as an outside-the-box summertime activity.
The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is running through early September. Get your tickets here.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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