BY KAREN BOSSICK
When a group of young do-it-yourself artists in Santa Fe couldn’t find a door into the art world, they created a new portal.
They called it Meow Wolf and, with a little help from American novelist and fantasy screenwriter George R.R. Martin, they found unexpected success with their exhibit House of Eternal Return.
Martin, who wrote “A Song of Ice and Fire” which was adapted into the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones,” bought the artists a bowling alley. And it became a venue for penniless artists who felt as if they were on the outside of the art world looking in. It became a place to agitate art conventions and shake things up a little. A place to trade rules in order to zip tie trash to the wall.
“For us it was just this creative explosion,” said one.
The documentary “Meow Wolf: Origin Story” shows how this penniless art collective became a multimillion-dollar corporation. And the Sun Valley Museum of Art will screen it today—Thursday, June 18.
The documentary will be shown at 4:30 and 7 p.m. today at Ketchum’s Magic Lantern Cinemas.
“When I watched this film, I kept asking myself: Is this really real, or is the film just an art piece in itself and I’m being duped?” said Kristine Bretall, director of performing arts for SVMoA. “The project and subsequent immersive art experience feel like an indoor Disney World designed for adults and mixed with psychedelics. It has become a huge tourist draw in Santa Fe with plans to open locations in Las Vegas and Denver.”
What Bretall calls “a wonderful escapist lark that will transport you beyond the movie theater” is part of SVMoA’s BIG IDEA project “Free Play.”
“Meow Wolf” was originally slated to be screened in April but was postponed when public venues were closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Those who wish to attend today’s showing will be required to wear face masks in the theater. Seating will be adjusted to provide physical distancing.
Anyone who feels ill or lives with someone who is ill should stay home.
A limited number of tickets will be sold in advance at www.svmoa.org. Tickets are $10 for SVMoA members and $12 for nonmembers.