Meet Meow Wolf Denver’s Friendly Neighborhood Monster Maker!
By Elise Trivers
Published Issue 125, May 2024
Kate Major is the brilliant mind behind the otherworldly characters that roam Convergence and bring a memorable layer to the world-building within Meow Wolf Denver’s walls. A traveler might get business advice from Sleevie Nicks, pay rent to Gil Umbo, have a dance-off with Fluffy, or ring in Acana with an Eemian. We’ve heard over and over again that these moments are treasured by our travelers, so we sat down with Kate to learn more about her creative process, sustainability practices, and why she feels so lucky to do what she does.
THE KATE MAJOR WAY
“I just made it up,” Kate responded to being asked about a certain costuming technique. And that’s exactly in line with what we know about Kate. Though she certainly has the extensive resume and technical skills to accomplish any creative endeavor, where she really shines at Meow Wolf is her experimental approach that’s entwined with curiosity, out-of-the-box thinking, and a “roll up your sleeves and get dirty” attitude.
Kate is the ultimate collaborator, working with various teams like Narrative, Ops, Events, Marketing, Exhibits, and Retail. She has a unique sparkle that she brings to every conversation, lighting up when she speaks about what she’s working on or dreaming up next. Her enthusiasm is endearingly punctuated by the fiercest fingernails, gesturing with conversation-stopper fangs — we’ve seen actual mini bones on them! Any chance to work with Kate on a project is a chance to see a true maker at work, her human form bursting with wild ideas and creative energy.
Because Kate is creating brand new creatures birthed from the lore of Convergence Station, her work goes far beyond their textile attire. She’s crafting Mollusko heads cradled by tentacles, rat kings made entirely out of tails, and bulbous-headed aliens with tactile-compelling bodies. These beings are sculpted and molded into life with techniques that rarely involve sewing. One of Kate’s favorite materials to work with is liquid latex:
“It’s a really interesting material because it’s like what rubber Halloween masks are made of, and once it dries, it’s super durable. So I really like to sculpt things out of tinfoil or paper or whatever, and then cover them with latex to get weird shapes — which is very not a costuming thing to do.”
“I always have a plan but you really have to get your hands dirty, or at least I do, before I know how it’s going to play out. Because liquid latex, once it dries and it gets on a fiber, it’s in there. There’s nothing that’s going to get it out. No amount of soap and water, no amount of washing and drying. I’ve covered myself and some of my favorite pieces of clothing with liquid latex.”
She also shared about Fosshape, a material that looks like felt and can be sewed like felt, but then hardens up once heat is applied to it. You can see both Fosshape and liquid latex in use next time you have a close-up encounter with Gil Umbo outside of The Gyre.
TRASH TO TREASURE
Kate frequently incorporates more consumer-familiar materials into her work as part of her sustainability values. While this practice originally stemmed from being a “super broke artist,” it’s now central to her inspiration process and material sourcing.
“I love our sustainability practices and I try really hard to incorporate them in everything I do. Not only because it’s sustainable, but because there’s so much inspiration in seeing a pile of sleeves and being like, ‘That could be something.’”
Every scrap of fabric or piece of packaging has a chance at a second life with her, a chance to bring a bit of magic into the world in a way that’s refreshing and delightful. She lovingly stores these snippets until they can make their debut, which these days, is often at a Meow Wolf Makers event.
MEOW WOLF MAKERS
This new workshop series was dreamt up in Denver as a way to connect people with their inner artist, giving them both guidance and free rein to create in an intimate, communal setting. Past workshops have crafted shoe charms, wings, masks, holiday garlands, foam wigs, and even an open craft evening where participants could create with whatever inspiration struck them. Kate shared that 90 percent of the materials provided at these workshops as supplies are trash or scrap materials from Meow Wolf exhibits, diverting hundreds of pounds of waste from landfills.
At these workshops, while participants are encouraged to go big and think outside of the box with their creations, Kate is never far away to offer positive feedback or troubleshoot something tricky with you. She’s attentive and encouraging, creating a safe space for artistic expression that transforms scraps into something truly special.
Future Meow Wolf Makers include: plastic petals, mutant plushies, wearable fashion, slime, and sock puppets. Keep an eye on the Meow Wolf Denver events page or sign up for their events newsletter to get the latest Meow Wolf Makers updates.
TRASHION SHOW
In addition to launching a new makers series, Kate Major was the mastermind behind Meow Wolf’s inaugural onsite fashion show: Absolute Rubbish. She put out a call to local designers to submit their concepts for runway looks made from repurposed trash and recycled materials: the show was a dazzling success, with 20 pieces of sustainable couture (shown here and here) strutting down a runway that was more party than proper. The vibes were vivacious and the energy was sparkling; the audience adorned in their own vibrant fits.
Kate brought her runway vision back to life on April 30th with Absolute Rubbish: Bloom, a spring edition inspired by themes of rebirth and rejuvenation with 22 participating designers.
EARLY DAYS AS A CREATOR
Kate’s earliest creations also came out of “repurposed materials,” like her family’s bedding.
“To my mom’s chagrin, I would cut up bed sheets and make outfits. I started sewing very early — my grandma and my mom taught me because I wanted to make my own clothes. I also really liked to make stuffed animals when I was little. When I figured out that you could do that, it was over.
We had this dresser in the kitchen that had all the craft supplies in it and that’s where I hung out. I was crafting with pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks and glitter and paint and clay and Play-Doh and all that stuff.”
These days, Kate’s crafting zone has expanded from just a kitchen dresser, but still has cozy touches that feel homey to her. Citing her aforementioned clothes-ruining materials, she shared that she often works in pajamas, rather than wearing anything nicer in her home studio. Her creative practice also includes lighting a lavender candle, preparing some tea, and putting lo-fi tunes on her headphones.
It’s a dream to now have Kate Major creating for Meow Wolf and luckily for us, she feels the same way.
“Working for Meow Wolf has become so important to me and my art practice. I’ve always been doing art on some level, but I think since I started working here, I’ve really come into my own as to what my art is. I feel like there is a huge amount of freedom to express that, because Meow Wolf exists. I feel so supported and like all ideas are valid, and that’s such an important thing.”
Follow Kate’s work & see highlights of April’s Absolute Rubbish: Bloom show on her Instagram & on Meow Wolf Denver’s social channels: Facebook | Instagram | Events Page.
Experience Kate’s monsters and more at Meow Wolf Denver Convergence Station.
Get tickets to Meow Wolf’s other locations: House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, NM | Omega Mart in Las Vegas, NV | The Real Unreal in Grapevine, TX | and Coming Soon … Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA!
This feature was produced in partnership with Meow Wolf.
About Elise Trivers:
Soft leo. Chronically online. Book nerd. Plant daddy. Arts ally. Not a morning person.
Elise is a social media manager and digital marketer with 8+ years of experience. She completed degrees in international affairs and news-editorial journalism at CU Boulder and has since worked for brands including Meow Wolf, VISIT DENVER, Denver Zoo, and Colorado Public Radio, with agency time at Blake Communications. She is passionate about brand storytelling and working with organizations who make a positive impact on their communities.
Elise’s day-to-day work is currently spent as a liaison to the Converged Worlds and as an unofficial Earther Relations Officer for QDOT. Find her on Instagram and her social media work at Convergence Station.
Check out Elise’s last Birdy contribution, Meow Wolf Artists In The Colorado Wilderness, or head to our Explore section to see Meow Wolf’s monthly pieces.