Two schoolmates, one an artist and the other a projectionist and composer, collaborated on a project for the first time and the result was “absolutely incredible.”

The Johnson Center for the Arts hosted a reception Thursday night for Jamey Grimes’ WASH exhibition. When the sun went down, the Johnson Center was transformed into … well, that depended on who was engulfed by the massive 3D installation.

For Mack Gibson, chairman of the Troy Pike Cultural Arts Center board of directors, the installation was like being under the ocean waters with waves crashing above him.

Vicki Pritchett, center director, had the feeling that she was navigating among a coral reef. Others felt as though they were among clouds or inside a video game.

But whatever the sensation, one thing was for certain; the artist’s reception was an amazing event.

Grimes and his longtime friend Rick Snow combined their talents to add lights and sound to Grimes’ swirling, dream-like wonderland of corrugated plastic that dominates the entire gallery space.

“For one night only, they incorporated projection mapping onto the installation,” Pritchett said. “It was an amazing experiment combining physical and digital art. Those who attended the artist’s reception were treated to a rare event and had a unique artistic experience.”

For Snow, it was a unique opportunity to match light and sound with art.

The music that he chose to write had an organic sound, because as the lights were added to the installation, it seemed to have life.

“It does seem to come alive,” Gibson said. “The lights give it movement. It’s amazing.”

Pritchett said she had never experience anything like “this” before.

“The projections and ambient sounds have an incredibly cool, creepy factor that put you inside of the art,” she said.

Snow said that he was excited to collaborate with his friend and to have such a great gallery space in which to work.

Grimes said, too, that the gallery space was perfect for the premier collaborative event.

“The lights and sound change it all, Grimes said. “They make it all new to me.

“Something that I have done for years is new and that’s exciting.’

Grimes said he and Snow are already thinking about and planning more collaborative ventures.

“It works,” he said.