I had so many buttons to choose from-LL, *1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 6R, 5R, 2R, 1R and LLR. Once I pressed the lime green button, a red number two popped up in the corner of the big metal box I was trapped in. The metal box that I was in was moving up and I kind of felt light headed. I looked to my right and the doors were closed and then I looked to my left and the doors began to open as I saw a huge 10 foot wooden piece in front of my face. I stepped out of the elevator and was able to breathe again. The elevators at the Cincinnati Arts Center are very huge (like most elevators are), if you get light headed easily, please bring a friend. Â The whole purpose of the trip to the center was to experience as much as I could during their renovations. The only floors that were open were the second and the sixth floor. I wanted to get that full experience even though I had limitations. When you visit, you may be in the same situation so this will get you prepared. If you are into the Revolutionary War, then you will love the Revolutionary War-era submarine. It can be very scary looking, so if you have kids, please hold their hands, tight. You get a good look at it on the second floor of the center, right when you get off of the elevator. Itâs in your face and you have no other choice but to question what it is. If you arenât sure what it is, a video is shown on a flat screen TV to your right, which explains what it is exactly.
      The whole first part of the room is dedicated to Duke Riley, an American artist. Just walking around the room you get inspired by so many of his pieces, most of which were made of acrylic, ink, coffee and tea on paper. If youâre one of those coffee lovers and tend to spill it on paper, this section of the museum is for you. A lot of Duke Rileyâs art pieces on the wall are coffee stained with a pop of color like his painting called, âFrohawk Two Feathers: Christinaâ, it catches the eye and is very serious looking. Itâs serious because no one is smiling, but the colors give it life. Not to mention, this Contemporary Art Center doesnât have nude painting on the second floor. This is idea for anyone bringing kids.
      I liked how they had a place to sit. It can get tiring just looking at one wall of art pieces every 30 minutes. While you are sitting you can watch about a five minute video about called, âDuke Riley: Reclaiming the Lost Kingdom of Laird.â Itâs an interesting documentary that will keep your eyes on the screen for the entire time. It gives off a cozy vibe, where you can just sit and watch a five minute video, just like how some of you watch short YouTube videos at home. Beware, the headphones feel hot, which is so nasty because that means someone had them on their ears too long. Have you ever sat in a hot seat after someone? Well, it feels gross and thatâs how you would feel if you donât take a cleaning wipe to those black headphones. On that note, itâs best to bring hand sanitizer and some tissues.
      Expect the employees working there to be kind of pushy. I was asked, âDo you need any help?â several times in the two hours I was there. Itâs a very nice gesture and they are doing their jobs, but it can be a little annoying when you are in the zone and someone comes up and asks you if you need help. I heard a womanâs robotic voice from the other room and to my surprise it was a video playing. The video is by Anne Lindiberg and Saskia Olde and its called Placebo. The video screen is projected on the wall so itâs huge. Before walking in, you see it playing the video, and you can kind of get sucked into it. Therefore, you want to notice that right before you get to the video on the lower level, you may want to watch your step. I almost fell because I didnât notice the three large steps that lead you down to the creepy white bench that is directly in front of the screen. Watch your step. The video projected on the screen wasnât a regular video because it has no people in it. The entire time you see a white glob of paint move around the screen. It sounds boring, but itâs fascinating. It could occupy any kid you bring to there. The white glob and the voice of the narrator can make adults sleepy.
      âHey Maâam, you can take pictures,â said the employee. Anyone would be happy to hear that at a center with art. The great thing about Contemporary Art Center is that they donât care if you snap a shot with your camera or phone camera. Walking down the stairs to see the parallel art, I was shoved with a magazine. The first one I received was the Contemporary Arts Center Magazine. That magazine just tells you the upcoming events and what they have there now. I didnât even take three steps and I was handed a brochure of the current gallery I was in. The employee notices that she only gave me two handouts, so she decided to give me another brochure. Please take a contemporary arts museum magazine when you first enter the building at the information desk or else they will shove these things at you when you get upstairs. The whole second floor offers history of Duke Riley and his many paintings and pieces. It also offers a look at Anne Lindiberg and Saskia Oldeâs video/art as well. Everything on the second floor is just so beautiful, from the Duke Riley pieces to the placebo video.
      The sixth floor offers great entertainment. Itâs interesting because you would think you arenât able to touch anything, but you can because floor six is called the unmuseum. When you get off of the elevator prepare to be amaze because there is a sign to the left and it says, Unmuseum. The topography looks like a maze. To the right of the elevator, I walked towards that section and was so happy to see the light blue wall. That wall is dedicated to an area called, the Sky Village. On this wall you can build wooden houses on top of each other. This would be great if you plan on bringing your kids. In my case, I was a big kid and decided to build a few houses in the sky. Then, right next to the sky village, there is a place where people can draw. They have supplies like Michaels. They have tools from glue, scissors, pencils, crayons, yarn, ribbon and water colors. They also have a first aid kit in case someone gets hurt. Peeping around the corner, I saw a bathroom. Itâs the first one Iâve seen in the whole building. I drew a picture of a duck that looked like it was drawn by a grade school kid. I was very proud of it, but knew I had to get a move on. I was so happy I was able to feel like a piano player without the piano. They had a button where it sounds like you are hitting a piano key and once you hit that button, a colored square lit up. It was so cool and I felt very musically inspired. Looking at the music sheet of paper titled, âMary Had a Little Lamb.â I was surprised that the center offers this paper to guest so they can play that song on the lit up squares. Any age group would enjoy pressing those buttons to make some noise.
      Purple carpet and school desks with chairs, I felt like I was in a classroom. This room is called âAbove and Below.â Try to walk into this part and you will feel very light headed. The floor was extremely slanted and small. You will feel like you are in Alice and Wonderland when you walk around the small tables and chairs. Hereâs some word of advice, donât walk through this part if you just had lunch, you will throw up for sure. Itâs pretty fun, but it can turn your world upside down. So, I managed to not throw up when I walked off of the slanted floor and onto leveled ground.
      âBaby I was born this way.â That was the Lady Gaga tune in my head when I sat in this teardrop shaped chair. It is called, âThe Wobbleâ by Lizzie DuQuette and Lisa Tompkins.  Itâs a white chair that rotates in a circle. I sat in it and felt like I could sleep in there. It was very comfortable and I felt like I was a Lady Gaga at the Video Music Awards when she was being transported to the stage in an egg. Anyone is welcomed to sit in this chair. Kids will love it and adults will love it as well. Just make sure you donât get inside when it wobbles around because it can be unsafe to get in considering the fact that itâs moving. Hoping into an egg is like getting into a car that moves at five miles per hour. The blue sign to the left was titled, âCome Follow Meâ and it was in front of a black room. As I was sprinting to the room, I felt a little scared. My heart jumped as I saw a horse statue with demonic eyes. I walked through a big brown tree bark and it was a video of the story of shark girl. This part of the museum is very scary. Please hold on to your significant otherâs hand and hold it tight. If you have kids, keep them with you because they can easily disappear from the dark room. If youâre by yourself, walk as fast as you can through the room because it can be scary if you are by yourself. The weird and extremely loud music doesnât help. Itâs just like walking into someoneâs twisted nightmare. As I walked to the elevator to the first floor to get my coat, I noticed how cold it was on the sixth floor. Please bring a jacket or a hood when you enter that floor because itâs a bit chilly up there. I took the elevator down to the first floor where my book bag and coat were. The receptionist told me to come back when the renovations are over. You can get there by bus, car, or walking. The bus you take would be the 33 which takes you down to government square which is located on 5th and Walnut in downtown Cincinnati. The Southbank Shuttle/Tank also takes you to the CAC. It serves the downtown and Northern Kentucky area. The Contemporary Art Museum is closed during Thanksgiving, New Yearâs Day and Christmas. They are also closed on Tuesdays. The hours of operation are Mondays 10-9, Wednesday-Sunday 10-6pm. Admission fee is free if they are renovating. If they arenât itâs around 15 dollars per person to get in.  Itâs located at 44 E. 6thStreet (the corner of 6thand Walnut Streets) in downtown Cincinnati. The tips for getting there would be listed on the website, click here. Their number is (513) 345-4800.
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