Modesto-raised artist raises a mirror, lots of them, to viewers

Come with Matt Elson and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination. Take a look and you’ll see into his imagination.

Modesto-raised artist Elson brings his exhibit “The Infinity Boxes” to downtown Turlock’s Carnegie Arts Center starting Sunday, July 31. The interactive, 3-D, mirrored sculptural display encourages visitors to, quite literally, stick their heads inside to enjoy the fanciful, fractured kaleidoscopic results.

Elson has a deep history with Modesto. The 1976 Downey High grad’s father, Dick Elson, owned Happy House in the McHenry Village shopping center for more than 20 years, and his mother, Kay Elson, was the former longtime president of MoBand. His cousin Cynthia Coughlin is the executive director of Central West Ballet.

After leaving Modesto, Matt Elson went to college in New York and earned a degree in computer graphics. He went on to have a successful career in the then-new field of computer animation, working for DreamWorks and Disney before leaving the field about a dozen years ago.

That’s when the hands-on fine art world instead of digital art universe beckoned again. And then, about four years ago, the now Los Angeles-based artist came upon the idea of his infinity boxes. The concept was what he called “experiments in perception.”

The idea is simple: an elaborately decorated and lighted box with mirrors inside that allows people to interact with one another and one another’s images.

“Main thing is they are experiential art. You can look at the photographs all day long, but the actual experience of them is distinct – social and playful,” he said. “They are meant to engage you with the other people you are with. So they’re not like paintings on the wall, which you can look at and have the experience. These objects are not fully active until there’s another person there with you.”

Elson has built about 14 unique models of the infinity boxes. They’ve been displayed in museums in London and San Francisco and taken to the interactive art and music festival Burning Man. The Carnegie exhibit will be their first stop in the Central Valley, and Elson’s first major exhibit here since his school days in Modesto.

Some eight boxes will be part of the Carnegie exhibit, all which encourage the visitors to interact and get playful with the experience. Elson said people even come in costume sometimes.

A special opening reception with the artist will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Carnegie. The Kaleidoscope Open House will feature 1970s-inspired food, drinks and music and a preview of the exhibit. The open house also is part of the Carnegie’s ongoing centennial anniversary celebration this year. Admission is $10 general, free for Carnegie members.

The regular exhibit will be open to the public from Sunday, July 31, to Sunday, Aug. 21. The gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays. Admission is $10 general, $5 students and seniors and free for children under 12 and Carnegie members.

“Bring somebody you love. They’re best when shared. Or bring someone you hate, even better,” Elson said.

Elsewhere around the Scene:

The newly moved Exclamation Festival is bringing rapper T-Pain to headline this year.

The annual event, which had been held for 16 years in downtown Modesto, moves to the fairgrounds in Stockton after event organizer Chris Ricci and the city got in a prolonged battle about its permit.

T-Pain is known for hits including “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper)” and “Bartender.” Many of his singles feature his signature auto-tune sound, and he even launched a successful iPhone app allowing people to simulate the effect, called “I Am T-Pain.”

Other headliners at the Saturday, Aug. 20, event will be thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, hip-hop stars Sage the Gemini, Iamsu! and Honey C and reggae act The Expendables. There will be close to 20 stages of music and entertainment and 140 acts spread out over the festival grounds.

Tickets are on sale now for $20 general, $30 express in advance. At the gate the price is $30 general, $40 express. More information at www.xfest209.com.

This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Modesto-raised artist raises a mirror, lots of them, to viewers."