Where Wonder Grows: New Immersive Art Installation Coming to Mount Trashmore Park

The Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department is launching a large-scale temporary public art installation, Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary by Australian creative team Skunk Control, at Mount Trashmore Park. A free community celebration will mark the opening, 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, with children’s activities and more.  

An Immersive Outdoor Art Experience 

Located near shelter 3 in the park’s southeast corner, Sanctuary transforms the landscape into an immersive environment of movement, color, light and sound. The large-scale outdoor experience features more than 4,000 individual elements, including 17-foot kinetic flowers, animated birds, over 1,300 butterflies and other imaginative forms inspired by the natural world. 

Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary will be on view Oct. 17-Dec. 16 during regular park hours. Special illuminated evening access will be offered until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (excluding Halloween), giving visitors the chance to experience the installation’s changing effects after dark. 

Created by Skunk Control — a collective of artists, scientists, engineers and designers — Sanctuary blends art, science and technology through kinetic sculpture, solar elements, optics and lighting.  

City Support for Public Art 

The installation is supported by the City of Virginia Beach’s arts and culture dedication, established in 2024 to expand arts experiences throughout the city. 

Learn more at VirginiaBeach.gov/Sanctuary. 

• Sanctuary
• Cultural Affairs