Meow Meow: Music in the Multiverse

I have a LOT to say about my recent round of performing at Meow Wolf, mostly that my fellow performers are incredible loving, earnest, adventurous, talented and wise artists that I’m lucky to be with.

I want it loudly known that, not only do I deeply enjoy myself while I’m performing, it’s also been a huge source of growth, and I think it is the purest form of outreach I can consider for my art form.

I’ve introduced literally THOUSANDS of children to the flute and its gorgeous magic. On their terms. In a stimulating environment where they can choose when or how much to engage. I’ve also reminded their parents, if they have once played or performed, how much they enjoyed doing it. And I give older visitors something to hang on to in what can be overwhelming surroundings.

Performing in this aspect has removed the pretense, the barriers, the obstacles encountered in seeing me and my colleagues onstage at a concert hall. Most people I encounter can only hang on to about 90 seconds before they lose their attention span – but for Meow Wolf, I think that’s a lot, and it also leaves room for curiosity further down the road. (Also, traditional concerts are too long! Give me an hour without intermission!) Outreach is a long game – when I’m considering the survival of my art form.

Shaping this space of performance is one of the best uses of my education, training, and experience. As a social worker, I’m all about accessibility, interaction, collaboration. As a flutist, I want to push the mix of energy between “audience” and “performer” vibrantly. As an artist I want to feel something. Performing in this way brings it all together for me.