Preview: Trap House at Think Tank Gallery in DTLA

Scott Hove “Smash”

Art and horror have long been bedfellows—just look at Henry Fuseli’s famous Nightmare to see a very literal interpretation of that idea. But for the month of October, Think Tank Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles, has made the connection as visceral and interactive as possible by constructing an installation that is part horror-themed art show, part escape room. Entitled “Trap House,” the exhibit contains a wide swathe of work which includes such local favorites Scott Hove, Ave Rose, taxidermy artist Cat Coan, and even a carryover with some of the artists in LACMA’s Guillermo del Toro show, such as Mike Hill. Also featured is work from Dick Smith, the designer of the Exorcist. Overall, this show will have a broad appeal to horror and science fiction fans.

But the unique element here is the escape room, which takes up about half the gallery’s floor space. Designed by Adam Milisevic from Universal Studios Japan, six person groups are invited to make their way through a dark world left in the wake of a degenerate rock star. The half hour timed experience requires participants to solve puzzles and pass through the locked doors of a series of rooms. Unlike normal escape rooms, this one includes elements that are interactive with the outside world. An intercom, for instance, permits those within to speak with patrons in the gallery, and ask for assistance with materials that might be located on the other side of the wall.

Horror themed shows in October are nothing new; this show happens to be a very good one, but the inclusion of the escape room provides an element which once again sets Think Tank apart from the rest of the Arts District galleries.

Details: Trap House at Think Tank Gallery
939 S. Maple St., Downtown LA
Opening: October 8, 7 pm
Show dates: October 8 to 31
Open Wednesday through Monday, 3 pm to 11 pm weekdays, noon to midnight weekends
Cost: art show is free; escape room requires a reservation and ticket purchase at traphouse.la

Photos courtesy of Think Tank gallery.

Blake Neubert “Wink”

Kristen Liu Wong

Catherine Coan “Father Nature”

Lee Joyner “Key of Cthulhu”

Luke Pelletier “Skelton Dartboard”

Mike Hill “Frankenstein Monster”

Nathan Alexis-Brown “Burdens of Success”

Phil America “Think Tank Flags”

Ralph Steadman, sculpture 01

Scott Hove “Smash” (Detail)

Stan Dark Art “Demons”