Local students get hands-on experience being creative

By Juliette Coulter

SPARK! Dallas, the innovative educational facility fostering creativity in youth, has partnered with arts and entertainment company Meow Wolf for a second year to host SPARK! PRISMATIC: Fantastical Realms Art Pop-up Experience featuring six area high school artists’ creations. Themed Fantastical Realms to stretch imaginations into fantasy lands, the colorful exhibition is an immersive experience showcasing the students’ creativity through an area imagined, designed and built in a single color and theme. The community is invited to see the PRISMATIC Art Pop-up Experience May 31 to September 7 at SPARK!, located at Southside on Lamar (1409 Botham Jean Blvd., Suite #004, Dallas, TX 75215). 

Meg Bittner, executive director of SPARK!, said: “As SPARK! Dallas celebrates its 10th anniversary, we are committed to showcasing the most creative programs, and that includes PRISMATIC: Fantastical Realms. These talented students will create an immersive art experience for all to see — from young children to adults — so don’t miss its limited showing.”

Daniel Bornhorst, lead exhibition technical engineer at Meow Wolf, said: “Meow Wolf’s expertise lies in seamlessly fusing traditional art with state-of-the-art technology to craft immersive experiences. From intricate sound processing and lighting techniques to captivating scent design, we blend the visual, tactile, aural and olfactory elements to create something wholly unique. Bringing this expertise to our work with the students has been incredibly rewarding. Watching them explore new creative realms and seeing my team mentor the next generation of immersive artists has been a highlight of this collaboration.”

SPARK! Dallas received 26 submissions. The following four public high schools and two private schools were selected to participate based on their creativity, design elements and proposal submission:   

• Emmett J. Conrad High School (Dallas ISD) — Alice & The Wonderland (red) 

• Greenhill School – Atlantis (white)

• Hillcrest High School (Dallas ISD) — Ethereal Sky (pink) 

• Parish Episcopal School — Underwater Origami Forest (blue) 

• Richardson High School (RISD) — Purple Quartz Cavern (purple)

• Williams High School (Plano ISD) — Whispers Along the Hollow (green) 

The winning students are mentored by Meow Wolf team members and receive behind-the-scenes tours at Meow Wolf Grapevine as well as funding for materials to help build these immersive rooms. Christy Howell, exhibition manager at Meow Wolf Grapevine, added: “Mentoring SPARK! students again this year has been an incredible experience. PRISMATIC gives these young creators a platform to unleash their imagination and innovation. This partnership truly highlights the intersection of art, technology and engineering, offering students hands-on experience with immersive design concepts that can shape their creative futures.” 

Visit sparkdallas.org.