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A whole new dimension: Meow Wolf unveils its Skyworm hot air balloon
For two years, Jeff Hantman would stare at his computer screen.
As he would intricately place colors together, he let his mind wander.
Hantman, a graphic designer at Meow Wolf, was tasked with creating the Santa Fe-based arts company’s first hot air balloon.
On Thursday, Hantman, along with other Meow Wolf staff, unveiled Skyworm, which will make its debut at the 2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
“It’s surreal,” Hantman said as the balloon inflated. “I looked at the 2D version for so long, that it’s finally here.”
Hantman worked with Chadney Everett, who was creative director on the project, on a design that would shift perspective and give viewers an optical illusion — in typical Meow Wolf fashion.
“As the designer of Skyworm, I’ve had the incredible privilege of collaborating with a group of artists who share a passion for pushing the boundaries of creativity,” Hantman said. “We can’t wait to share this creation with the world. To me, Skyworm captures the essence of Meow Wolf’s immersive and otherworldly experience.”
Skyworm was produced in collaboration with New Mexico-based hot air balloon ride company, Rainbow Ryders.
Scott Appelman of Rainbow Ryders said the collaboration is by far the most creative and elaborate project that the company has assisted with.
“We’ve been working on this for the last five or six years,” Appelman said. “We’ve had a lot of people involved in it. It’s been interesting. We’ve been under an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) for over a year now, and it’s been very difficult.”
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A whole new dimension: Meow Wolf unveils its Skyworm hot air balloon
Appelman said the balloon itself is built by Kubicek Balloons out of the Czech Republic.
“It’s a very unique and revolutionary process,” he said. “Every single one of the panels was printed and then it was sewn together. So it’s quite a bit of work. The balloon is 90,000 cubic feet and is over 80 foot tall and 50 foot wide at the equator. It is powered by two burners that are about 12 million BTUs each.”
Kate Daley, Meow Wolf director of sales and marketing, said Skyworm is one of 75 balloons that will participate in a special balloon glow on Saturday, Oct. 14, during the annular solar eclipse.
