Deadline to experience the free 200 Acres sound walk is June 30

UNIVERSITY PARK—As nature blossoms across the University Park campus and the Penn State Arboretum comes alive with color, now is the perfect time to unwind and connect with the world around you.

For the past two years, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, in association with UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television and the Mellon Foundation, has offered a unique immersive experience that blends nature, technology and mindfulness.

200 Acres, described as “a sound walk through memories of wildness,” was created by Marike Splint, a Dutch French-Tunisian theatre-maker based in Los Angeles. Splint specializes in creating work in public space that explores the relationship between people, places, and identity. 200 Acres, which refers to the tract of land that Penn State first occupied, is a sequel to Splint’s 32 Acres, a similar project highlighting a plot of green space in Los Angeles.

The experience will conclude on June 30, so don’t miss this final opportunity to see the extraordinary in the mundane and gain new perspectives on familiar places.

The self-guided sound walk begins on the plaza in front of Eisenhower Auditorium and continues through the Arboretum, where users will find the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens. The route invites participants on a meditative journey through the physical, cultural and geographical landscapes we inhabit.

The walk is available any time through June 30 and is free of charge. Participants can download the custom-built app online. Bring a mobile device and headphones, and begin the route. Using geotargeting technology, the app responds to each visitor's location and movement. As one takes moves along the path, the location and movements will conjure the narrated experience.

The full route, following the audio, takes about 60 minutes and covers approximately 1.25 miles across surfaces such as grass, pavement, gravel and natural soil. It is recommended for morning or late afternoons and sunset hours.

Designed for individual or small group experience, the immersive sound walk is ideal for those looking to take advantage of a peaceful day on campus, in need of some quiet, or to learn more about the local landscape.

Call 814-863-0255 or visit 200 Acres online to download the app and for more information.

The 200 Acres app is available for iPhone and Android smartphones. The website includes app information and download instructions. Accessible versions of the content are available upon request.

Acknowledgements

Very special thanks to the following partners and individuals: The Arboretum at Penn State, Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, Brandi Breslin, Sa’ida Bronner, Madeline Cantu, B. Stephen Carpenter II, Erin Coe, Molly Countermine, Travis Edwards, Christopher Fleeger, Rita Graef, Jenn Hooven, Nadine S. Houck, Cheri Jehu, Anthony Leach, Casey Sclar, Maura Shea, Roger Tharp and Ed Zueck.

200 Acres is part of “The Reflection Project,” funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Thank you to Penn State College of Arts and Architecture and University of California-Los Angeles School of Theatre, Film and Television.

For more information, visit the Center for the Performing Arts online, Facebook and Instagram.