gymlacium
a three-story sculpture you can immerse yourself in by artist Manca Ahlin
welcome to gymlacium
Please note: Gymlacium is closed on October 18 + 19
Move across a bridge, up ladders, through tubes, over hills and into hammocks as you explore a landscape unlike any other. There are surprises to uncover on each level, through each design feature and from every vantage point in Gymlacium.
This unique installation by artist Manca Ahlin is located in an area affectionately called the Stacks in the former library that is now MuseumLab.
You must be 48″ tall for entry to Gymlacium.
explore
Reserve a spot to explore!
Sessions offered at:
12:15 pm, 1:15 pm, 2:15 pm and 3:15 pm
Tickets
- $5
- Free for members and mlabPASS holders
Spots are limited. Purchase tickets at the MuseumLab Admissions desk.
Children’s Museum or MuseumLab admission is required to explore Gymlacium.
rules & guidelines
Gymlacium is a unique space with some uneven surfaces, narrow passages and spaces that can only be accessed by crawling or climbing. The following rules will help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all:
- You must be 48” tall to enter.
Smaller visitors can visit the Knot Ramp and Bridge in the Garage — also created by Manca Ahlin - This space contains physical challenges similar to caving and rock climbing.
- Gymlacium is a shoes-off, socks-on experience —we have socks available if needed
- You must empty your pockets and remove all dangling, loose or looped jewelry, or hanging cords, before entering. This includes cell phones and keys. Belongings can be stored in lockers at the Gymlacium entrance.
- No running or rough play
please note
Gymlacium is made from hemp. Visitors with sensitivities to natural fibers may need to take extra precautions or opt not to enter the installation.
Visitors with limited mobility may wish to visit Gymlacium from the ground level. You can request this accommodation when reserving your spot. Other accommodations for visiting Gymlacium may be available through an advance request.
about the artist
Manca Ahlin wove Gymlacium using traditional bobbin lace techniques that she learned as a child in Slovenia.
“When an old space with an industrial cast iron structure, that used to be a library, collides with handmade bobbin lace, that used to be made as a benign little doily, you find a wondrous space that is a three-dimensional fiber labyrinth of numerous pieces, connected into a giant interactive network. From the initial elements (bridge, trees, ladders, hills, waves, hammocks), the structure constantly grew and with time (including a global pandemic lockdown) the pieces expanded organically, connecting into a neural network- like our brains or nature taking over abandoned sites.
Through these connections, every action will cause a reaction somewhere else and hopefully remind you that you are not alone in the world, so whatever you do, it will affect someone or something else.”
