Thanks to a technology grant the Memorial Union Gallery now has an extremely interactive way to experience art through virtual reality.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to walk inside a painting? While it might seem like a scene out of “Mary Poppins,” it is now a possibility here at NDSU. A new virtual reality exhibit in the Memorial Union Gallery has been installed, which enables participants to further experience and understand art in an innovative way.

“How this works is we have a piece about a certain issue or a show about a certain issue, such as the social justice exhibit we will be having in two shows; how do people understand two dimensional work and the social justice issue that deals with that work? Well, we can offer them some sort of experience to go along with it … Hopefully one piece can inform the other piece,” gallery coordinator Anthony Faris explained.

Faris wanted to make it clear that this gallery is not at all about video games. Instead, it is an interactive space to foster understanding and thought. The small space allows for two different simulations at a time, with seating around monitors at each. This enables friends or fellow gallery visitors to view what the other person who is in the simulation is seeing in real time. “Hopefully (the monitors) will help inform storytelling, communication back and forth, sharing and empathy because you are seeing what someone else is seeing,” Faris added.

The exhibits are available during gallery hours and will be switched out monthly, so there will always be something new to explore. Faris highly encourages experiencing this exciting addition, as it is one of the few in the state.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.