‘Bubble Planet’ Pop-Up Exhibit Opens at Oakland’s Kaiser Center

OAKLAND, Calif. — A pop-up exhibit opened this weekend at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center on Lake Merritt. It’s the center’s first major event since the non-profit HJK Center for the Arts formed in January, to revitalize the historic building. “The Bubble Planet: Immersive Experience” spans 30,000 square feet and features 10 themed rooms filled with bubbles, balls, balloons and water. Among the most popular attractions is a giant ball pit, roughly the size of a 25-yard lap pool. “We want people to think about how much fun they had playing with bubbles as a kid. It’s a blast. We want kids from ages four to 104 to come in and be inspired,” said John Zaller, executive producer of the exhibit. The Bubble Planet exhibit is the debut attraction hosted by the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, a nonprofit formed earlier this year with the mission of revitalizing the historic structure on the southern edge of Lake Merritt. “We want to transform this wonderful structure into something new,” said Jon Loos, chief operating officer of the HJK Center for the Arts. “Oakland’s a place to visit, Oakland’s a place to bring your family. Oakland’s a place to spend some time.” The immersive experience has previously toured cities including Denver and Tempe, Arizona, where producers say it drew tens of thousands of visitors. Bubble Planet opened this weekend and is expected to run for several months. Ticket prices range from $20 for children on weekdays to $37 for adults during peak weekend hours.