Courtesy Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf — a mind-bending immersive art experience founded by a boundary-pushing collective of creative people — has, since its 2016 debut, become one of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s most popular attractions.
Now 150 artists and fabricators (about 38 from Texas and many from our neighborhoods), have lent their talents to North Texas’ iteration of Meow Wolf, Meow Wolf: The Real Unreal, set to open July 14 at Grapevine Mills.
Familiar names include East Dallas resident Brooke Chaney, aka MOM, co-owner of Trade Oak Cliff; East Dallas writer/musician Wanz Dover; Lakewood muralist Mariell Guzman; Brent Ozaeta, who’s leading a workshop this coming weekend at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center; Deep Ellum musical artist Kwinton Gray and many more (if you’re a collaborator from the neighborhood, please let me know by email). Several participating artists hail from the Tin District Studios near Bataan and Singleton, a spokesperson tells us, including Will Heron, Desiree Vaniecia, Ricardo Paniagua, Carmen Menza, Dan Lam and Zeke Williams.
“Our goal with curating collaborating artists is to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the artistic voices of Texas, with a focus on North Texas, home to our newest exhibit. To accomplish this, we intentionally invited a diverse array of nearly 40 hyper-talented Texas artists to freely create works about any topic of their desire,” said Han Santana-Sayles, director of artist collaboration.
The muralists, sculptors, photographers, undermallers and video game designers have created a truly unique installation that will immerse visitors in a captivating narrative, according to Meow Wolf CEO Jose Tolosa.
The Real Unreal’s story, conceived by science fiction author LaShawn Wanak, “begins with a blended family who has unknowingly unlocked portals to a different existence,” per promotional materials.
Visitors step into a 29,000-square-foot surreal psychedelic universe filled with secret passages, 30+ hidden rooms and mesmerizing aesthetics.
Santana-Sayles said she “hopes the guests will take the time to explore this cohort of artists along with the deeper meaning behind the work that they have created with us.”
Tolosa said The Real Unreal has been in the works for years and “marks a bold step forward in [Meow Wolf company’s] evolution of art and storytelling.
“As we pursue sustainable and thoughtful expansion,” he said,” we are beyond excited to bring our unique brand of wonder to new Meow Wolf participants.”
Meow Wolf: The Real Unreal also includes an event venue and cafe.
Among the food and drink vendors chosen for the attraction is Oak Cliff-based Peaberry Coffee, Melt ice cream, Lake Highlands-rooted Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters and other businesses from surrounding areas.
Opening day is July 14 at 10 a.m.. Tickets are available here.
