“More than meets the eye” is the focus of Broadway Augmented- a new and temporary art exhibit that runs along Sacramento’s Broadway.

Broadway Augmented uses virtual technology- which has primarily been used in the past to help architects to visualize projects before construction starts- to display several different artists’ works on existing structures like buildings and billboards.

The virtual technology utilizes the “Broadway Augmented” application for smartphones and tablets- which is available for free on both the Apple and Android marketplaces.

The works are only able to be seen through the application, and many of them incorporate and interact with the existing landscape on Broadway.

One work by artist Rachel Clarke is located on a grassy space next to the 16th Street Dimple Records. The work, titled “Tower”, is invisible to anyone without the “Broadway Augmented” application.

When the application is in use and pointed at the empty grass area, a virtual piece is projected onto the user’s screen- “Tower” is a 3D animated scene in which intertwining vinyl and CD-spewing phonographs are surrounded by abstract lines.

The entire piece is also presented upon a giant vinyl disc and rotates around.

“This is incredible,” said Sacramento State student Valerie Jenks about “Tower”. “This is so amazingly cool. I love how you wouldn’t even know this was here if you were just walking by.”

Another piece, titled “Knot Naught Not” by artist Michael Rees, presents the viewer with a virtual gun pointed at a sculpture. The viewer can then tap on their device to shoot the gun and sculpt the sculpture.

“The viewer is engaged in an act of creation no matter how they interact with the program,” Rees said. “The sculpture reprograms games and gaming to creative ends while providing entertainment in a public sculpture context.”

Locations of the exhibit’s 16 different works can be found painted on the ground around Broadway, through the application itself or through the website: broadwayaugmented.net

Visitors can also pick up a brochure with information about each work at the exhibit’s headquarters, located at 2421 17th Street. The headquarters will also be holding the “Broadway Re-Imagined” show for the duration of the street-wide exhibit.

The project was produced through a collaboration between the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Sac State and the Greater Broadway Partnership – the business association for the Broadway neighborhood.

“I’m blown away,” said Meredith Collins, a Sacramento native who admits that she does not often find herself on Broadway. “I would have never expected something so unique and strange as this, and I’m just really glad I was able to experience it.”

Collins’ description of “strange” was echoed by several others during the afternoon, in particular by people who did not know that the exhibit was going on.

“I just saw a bunch of people with their phones up looking at nothing,” said Michael Lopez, a Sacramento native who had been on his way to lunch when he encountered some of the exhibit-goers. “It was pretty weird to see.”

While visitors can see all 16 locations on their own, guided tours are available. Tour attendees are encouraged to RSVP on the Broadway Augmented website because spaces are limited and tours are capped at 12 people.

The installations are located between Ninth and 21st streets along Broadway, and will be available through Oct. 13.