Meow Wolf: Origin Story

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin plays a significant role in the last section of filmmakers Jilann Spitzmiller and Morgan Capps’s homespun documentary about a Santa Fe, NM-based art collective that has grown from modest beginnings in 2008 to what its current director dreams could become a billion-dollar brand. Initially, a small band of struggling artists pooled their meager resources to rent not just a common living space but also a warehouse where they could exhibit their individual pieces (an amusing, rapid-fire reminiscence montage from some of the founders recalls how they picked their name). But as the group grew and moved into collective work, a modicum of organization and leadership was needed, especially in regards to fundraising. As various members admit, this evolution resulted in some serious disagreements, but also made possible large-scaled collaborative exhibits that emphasized interactivity and an immersive atmosphere. Meow Wolf culminates with the creation of the collective’s first permanent installation—House of Eternal Return—aided by a donation from Martin that allowed the group to lease and renovate a bowling alley as a signature facility. Success has led to exhibit tours in other cities and plans to expand the operation to satellite complexes. Combining archival material, newly-shot segments, and excerpts from numerous interviews with member artists (as well as Martin), the documentary provides a somewhat rambling view of what was originally a group of rebellious outsiders who appear to be transforming into a more mainstream operation. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)