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Interactive 3D Artwork Installed at National Geographic Visitor Center at Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon, AZ, USA (June 25, 2012) /PRWEB/ — A stunning new work of 3D interactive art is now on display for all visitors this summer at the National Geographic Visitor Center located here at the South Rim. World famous 3D artist Kurt Wenner has created and just revealed a visual mind and eye puzzle depicting a scene, Grand Canyon Illusion, that visitors from around the world are welcome to interact with, explore, photograph and share. This accessible, one-of-a-kind scene is made possible through the aegis of presenting sponsor, Nature Valley®.

“This one was to try to get a feeling of the vastness of the space,” said artist Kurt Wenner. “It’s a sunrise idea – the colors need to be at the surface of the illusion. The thousands of different colors make it so momentous.” He added that within a 15-foot span, he’s making a transition, a journey for the eye, one that is as smooth as possible — “you’re trying to reach to infinity.”

Visitors to the National Geographic Visitor Center are able to interact in the artwork at no charge. “We are delighted to have visitors from all around the world interacting in and learning from Kurt Wenner’s 3D Grand Canyon Illusion here in our courtyard,” said Janet Rosener, Director of the National Geographic Visitor Center. “Through the magic of Wenner’s fine art, we aim to give our visitors a higher level of understanding and appreciation for this special place and to help them get the most out of their vacation at the Grand Canyon.” Both the Kurt Wenner 3D artwork and the 34-minute Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets IMAX® film have the ability to seemingly transport visitors into the Grand Canyon where they descend to its twisting, fascinating depths.

Nature Valley® is the presenting sponsor of Kurt Wenner’s Grand Canyon 3D artwork. “We are proud to support this project, which provides an incredible interactive guest experience with one of the seven natural wonders of the world,” said Scott Baldwin, Nature Valley Associate Director. “Nature Valley believes deeply in inspiring people to enjoy nature, and we encourage visitors to experience this unique opportunity at the Grand Canyon.”

“In support of Nature Valley’s mission, they agreed to help us bring the amazing 3D art of Kurt Wenner to the Grand Canyon, to remind us of the treasure we are entrusted to preserve and protect for future generations,” said Robert S. Perkins, Chief Executive Officer of Destination Cinema, the National Geographic Visitor Center’s parent company.

A form of perspective known as anamorphism was used by the great European masters to give the illusion of soaring architecture and floating figures in ceiling frescoes. Through his large-scale drawings, Wenner is able to create a world where reality and fantasy are combined, creating compositions that appear to rise from, or fall into the ground. The art is complete when people interact with it, and when they see themselves in a photograph seemingly perched on an outcrop high above the Canyon floor. Wenner’s hyperbolic perspective artwork have inspired many communities, corporations, government buildings, hotels, museums, churches, private homes – and now the National Geographic Visitor Center at Grand Canyon – to commission his artwork worldwide. This is the first Kurt Wenner permanent 3D illusion composition to be exhibited in North America.

“Kurt first came to our attention through a National Geographic documentary, Masterpieces in Chalk, filmed in 1987,” said Perkins. “We would like to suggest that, when visitors come to experience the Grand Canyon, they should take the opportunity to see the artwork of Kurt Wenner, a man many consider a natural wonder of the art world.”

The National Geographic Visitor Center is located on highway 64, one mile south of the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. March 1 to October 31; 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. November 1 to February 28.

A DESTINATION CINEMA, INC. PRESENTATION
The National Geographic Visitor Center is a popular attraction and features the new Kurt Wenner 3D Interactive Artwork plus a spectacular IMAX® Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets Movie. This popular film brings to life the history, discovery and adventure that lie beyond the Grand Canyon’s rim on a giant six-story-high screen with 12,000 watts of digital surround sound. Visitors can also purchase park passes, visit with a park ranger, get free maps, book sightseeing tours, shop for unique gifts at the National Geographic Store and eat at the Explorer’s Café – all located within the National Geographic Visitor Center, your ultimate guide to the Grand Canyon! explorethecanyon.com | call: (928) 638-2468


Nature Valley created the granola bar category in 1975 and brings great taste to active consumers looking for wholesome snacks. Nature Valley offers eight great-tasting granola snacks: Crunchy Granola Bars, Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bars, Chewy Trail Mix Bars, Granola Thins, Protein Bars, Yogurt Granola Bars and Roasted Nut Crunch Bars. In addition to supporting the National Parks Conservation Association, Nature Valley is the Official Natural Granola Bar of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour, the United States Ski and Snowboarding Association, Nature Valley NASTAR, and Vail Resorts. In addition, Nature Valley is the title sponsor of the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and the Nature Valley Grand Prix. For more information: Facebook.com/NatureValley, Twitter.com/nature_valley.


Trail View
Kurt Wenner’s 3D mural supports the recently launched Nature Valley Trail View, an extension of Nature Valley’s successful “Preserve the Parks” initiative. Nature Valley Trail View is designed to provide an immersive, virtual experience with 360-degree, first-person trail perspectives, covering over 300 miles of trails in three of our nation’s most popular and iconic national parks: The Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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