As life gets busier and busier with adult responsibilities – paying bills, working, and all the stress of a busy life - it can be hard to find time to take a break and relax. However, in the FOMO Factory, one has no choice but to let loose, forget about “adult cooties”- a term coined by the Factory - and become a kid again, even just temporarily.
Stepping through the holographic-tiled doors of the exhibit, we were immediately transported into another world full of whimsiness and wonder. On my right, there was a pastel-colored locker room with color-coordinated school supplies attached to the wall. On our left, there was a room with a giant, scented birthday cake in the center, bright balloons and confetti scattered across the floor, and cupcakes stuck to purple, turquoise and yellow panels on the wall. Each of the rooms brought up different waves of nostalgia for summer camp, birthday parties and high school days.
The FOMO Factory is an immersive pop-up art exhibit that opened June 7 in the Galleria. It’s open to all ages and consists of 17 rooms, each meant to connect visitors to a different childhood memory such as going to prom, building a sandcastle at the beach, playing on a seesaw in a playground or conducting science experiments in a lab. When speaking with the exhibit’s creator, Rachel Youens, she revealed that one of her big inspirations for the Factory was a grownup summer camp she started going to a couple years ago.
“It was fun to just play like a kid. No one had ever granted me that permission, so I wanted to grant other adults that permission. You can be ridiculous, you don’t always have to be serious or look beautiful.”
Seeing adults climbing into a ball pit with their kids or posing in chairs assembled from stuffed animals clearly showed that Rachel’s mission was being accomplished and that The FOMO Factory is a space for everyone, no matter what age or stage in life.
“I’m a big kid at heart. It’s not always fun being an adult, but coming to work, I have a big smile on my face,” says Sabrina Suski, a FOMO Factory employee, who starts off her workday by playing in the ball pit and swinging in the Rose Room. The FOMO Factory exudes joy and cheerfulness and will grant you the permission to leave adulthood behind.
“It’s a great place to get in touch with your inner kid, or your actual one,” says Alison Wong, a Buzz resident, as she watches her children, 7-year-old Julia McElroy and 9-year-old Gray McElroy see-saw.
The FOMO Factory is open to visitors every day except Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sundays. It’s located on the third floor of The Galleria through June 22. Admission is for kids under the age of 3, $18 for kids and $23 for adults. See more information here.
