There are two words that best describe Denver’s new Meow Wolf exhibit: sensory overload. From a hall of mirrors to self-playing instruments to an extraterrestrial rainforest, the Mile High City’s newest interactive art exhibition is sure to keep your head spinning from the second you enter its psychedelic world to the moment you leave.
Meow Wolf is a New Mexico-based arts and entertainment company known for its extremely popular immersive and transportive art exhibits. The company’s first permanent exhibition opened in Santa Fe, N.M., in 2016, followed by a Las Vegas establishment earlier this year. Denver’s permanent location, called Convergence Station, opened Sept. 17.
As an interactive art exhibit, Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station is rather hard to explain. Imagine hidden rooms to explore, walls camouflaged by galleries of masks and faces, otherworldly creatures hanging from the ceiling, all presented through the lens of a “quantum travel” themed narrative. The unique textures and ethereal lighting are limitless, with every room leading to a sensory surprise.
After four years of construction and installation, Convergence Station is located in a 90,000-square-foot building off of Interstate 25, with four stories to display the work of 110 Colorado artists and more than 90 others from around the country.
The Denver exhibit’s impressive ticket sales speak to Meow Wolf’s celebrity: 35,000 tickets were sold within the first 24 hours. Prices are $45 for general admission; $40 for children, military and seniors; and $35 for Colorado residents. Unfortunately for out-of-state students, you can only receive the state resident price if your billing address is in Colorado—not just your shipping address.
With such a hefty price tag, is Convergence Station worth it? There is no denying that the exhibition makes for a fun and interesting night out—especially for date night, as the museum-like activity allows you to get to know one another while falling back on the art itself when the conversation runs dry.
Yet, there were many parts of the exhibit that were confusing. For example, upon entering the building, it is unclear where to go in order to start the experience. One might easily get stuck waiting in a line meant for purchasing additional features, thinking it is the line to the exhibit.
Furthermore, there were several seemingly interactive installations that were, in fact, not interactive at all—telephones that would not call, despite phone numbers being displayed nearby; screens that would not change when prompted. It is possible that features such as these were unlocked by purchasing the add-ons, but the fact that this was unclear demonstrates poor communication.
Perhaps the most confusing of all was the underlying storyline of the exhibit. Was the art meant to speak for itself or was there some discernible narrative in the hecticness of all the colorful rooms?
As it turns out, the four floors of installations are indeed linked through a backstory—a tale of dirty politicians, the disappearance of four women, a life-altering cosmic event called “the Convergence” and the collecting and trading of memories. Yet, this backstory was not easily found on Meow Wolf’s website, and while the art can be enjoyed and appreciated without it, knowing the narrative ahead of time would certainly add to the experience.
A notable point to keep in mind before entering the world of Convergence Station yourself is that limited parking is available at the Meow Wolf building. However, there is a $5 lot just a short walk away. Public transit also makes the exhibition easily accessible from DU, as taking the light rail six stops to the Empower Field at Mile High Station will drop you off five minutes from the exhibit—three minutes if you walk briskly.
While the tickets are sold by timeslot, the times are rather arbitrary, as nobody monitors how long you stay in the exhibit—which will likely be around two hours—meaning the rooms do get overcrowded. You also have to pass through security upon entering, including a metal detector. Fear not though, ladies, because the pepper spray on your lanyard should not pose a barrier to entry. Facemasks are also required at all times, and unlike many places during the pandemic, the Meow Wolf security guards actually enforce the rule.
While Convergence Station proved a fun—albeit wacky—night out, this expensive exhibition might leave you questioning whether Meow Wolf lives up to the hype. The exhibit’s slogan, “Arrive as you. Leave transformed” feels a little too dramatic for what the experience offers.
