In 2019, Nancy and I visited the rolling hills of Paso Robles to attend Sensorio, an outdoor art exhibition using the power of the sun to create a colorful, immersive experience.
Since then, Sensorio introduced new exhibits and a live music stage. So in early May of 2025 we returned, joined this time by our wonderful friends Talli and Tim Robinson.
This is what it felt like - before and after the lights came on.
One of the new exhibits features light towers built with wine bottles - 17,000 of them - symbolic of Paso's dynamic wine business.
At this moment near sundown, we caught a teeny glimpse of the color and light that would appear as the sky continued to darken.
Another new exhibit: Intricate columns of light, their changing colors synched to a musical score.
The playful "Gone Fishing" exhibit, complete with hundreds of fishing poles, speaks to the benefits of just relaxing by a river.
Our final stop: "Dimensions," a collection of metal sculptures that project their designs out into the night.
Some sculptures were large enough to walk inside; others could be spun around by hand.
It was another magical Sensorio experience, strolling Paso's beautiful rolling hills at night amongst these colorful, evocative shapes.
© 2026 Mark Smith
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