Bubble and Shadow is an edible immersive installation by Bay Area–based artist Panpan Gao that guides visitors through sound, dim lighting, and taste edible bubbles. Inspired by a passage from the Diamond Sutra, the work foregrounds the fragile and sensory nature of perception, inviting visitors to become aware of their own inner state. 

Participants directly engage with edible bubbles made from starch, sugar, salt, and flavor oil (no common allergens), followed by a moment of quiet reflection. At the end, each participant contributes a single word that becomes part of a collective digital “subconscious bubble”, extending personal reflection into a shared experience.

Open to all Intersect Palm Springs ticket holders. The edible experience is offered in small guided sessions on the hour and RSVP is required for preparation and safety.

Every hour on the hour, attendees are invited to ring the REVERSE SIDE, by Paula Crown. The bell is struck from the outside with a wooden clapper. The sound is mesmerizing, rising, falling, and resonating in a hypnotic way. THE REVERSE SIDE embodies themes that resonate with history, especially the destruction of bells during World War II. Hitler removed 190,000 bells from towns across occupied territory, stripping them of their clappers and rendering communities silent. The bells were then melted down for armaments.

As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, Crown offers THE REVERSE SIDE as a metaphor for each voice in a democracy and the importance of never being silent.

Open to all ticket holders. This experience is offered on the hour and requires in-person sign-up.