Pop-Crazy Seattle

Let me begin by saying that this mini excursion is what all geeks dream of, and I firmly believe that each of us has a spark of geek in us, even the self-proclaimed dilettantes.

The EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum, standing in the shadow of the Space Needle, embodies all things geek, but also, all things cool.

This futuristic building, composed of five wrinkled curvilinear structures, clad in stainless steel and aluminum panels, and painted in bold colours, is one of those “love it or hate it” kind of things. It was the brainchild of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000, and he commissioned famed Canadian-born American architect Frank Gehry to design it.

True to its musical roots, the architecture mimics the energy and rebel attitude of rock music, as some picture a smashed guitar on the ground when they look at this building. The museum has since grown to embrace the cultures of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror movies in recent years. And so, from the eyes of a true sci-fi fan, the entire complex resembles a spaceship that has accidentally fallen from the sky. 

In its early years, it focused solely on music and concerts, with the Jimi Hendrix exhibition serving as its cornerstone feature. It has now evolved into a haven of pop culture, with permanent and rotating exhibits encompassing a wide range of subjects – rock and roll, science fiction, video games, cartoons, movies, fashion, fantasy, etc. You name it, they feature it.

Hence, they rebranded this in late 2016, a few months after our visit, as the MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture) to better reflect its commitment to pay tribute to the boundless and ever-changing expression of mainstream culture.

During our visit, the flagship exhibition was the “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds,” in honour of the show’s 50^th anniversary. No wonder, we spotted Darth Vader marching with some Storm Troopers on the sidewalk. Other galleries also featured interesting exhibits in other pop genres, so there was something for everyone – the hardcore "Trekkies," the sci-fi fans, the avid gamers, the fantasy enthusiasts, the music lovers, and even the macabre thrill-seekers.

If you find the building exterior bizarre, prepare to be awe-stricken by its interior. The 13,000 square meter museum houses several galleries with different themes. But the most astounding feature is the Sky Church, which includes a giant LCD screen, one of the largest indoor LED screens in the world. There is also a floor-to-ceiling guitar sculpture consisting of more than 500 musical instruments and 30 computers.

Inside is a veritable collection of pop culture treasures. The museum is in possession of the world's largest collection of artifacts, hand-written lyrics, personal instruments, and original photographs celebrating the music and history of Seattle musician Jimi Hendrix and the band Nirvana.

It also boasts of a throve of film memorabilia, from original props and costumes to annotated movie scripts, as well as miniature movie set models. It’s not surprising when you know that the museum’s advisory board includes big names such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, James Cameron, and Ray Bradbury.

My nieces were drawn to the “Fantasy: World of Myth and Wonder” exhibit, so we checked that out first. The gallery entrance was flanked by a dragon sleeping under a magical tree, which was only a sign of more fantastic things to come.

We were soon taken to the enchanted world of Narnia, the bewitching land of Oz, the battlefields from The Lord of the Rings universe, the medieval world of Princess Bride, and the wonders of Hogwarts Castle. Aside from the displays of props, costumes, and other movie paraphernalia, there were interactive installations that include world-building and map-making that inspire kids and kids-at-heart to let their imaginations go wild.

Next, we went to the “Indie Game Revolution” gallery, where I felt old. I am currently not an avid gamer, but in my younger years, I used to battle over the famed Super Mario Brothers game with my brother, who beat me 90% of the time. What I saw in that exhibit took me back several decades forward.

Today’s new breed of gamers has taken this activity up several notches. The displays feature the latest technological innovations in the world of gaming from more than 40 independent video game developers, designers, coders, composers, and critics.

Sponsored by Nintendo, the room was designed to make one feel like you are in an actual video game. There were stacks of glow-in-the-dark cubes that change colours and patterns with the piped-in rave music. More so, gamers had the time of their lives doing what they love to do in a dream-come-true virtual playground. There were large projectors, screens, audio booths, game stations with top-of-the-line keyboards, joysticks, headsets, and other gaming paraphernalia.

The “Jimi Hendrix Exhibit," on the other hand, is simple and toned-down. It is a permanent display that chronicles the life and work of this music icon, who is a Seattle native. The gallery features some of Jimi Hendrix’s guitars, including the smashed fragments of the Fender Stratocasters that he sacrificed during his Saville Theatre, Monterey, and Albert Hall performances, and the Fender Stratocaster he used to play the "Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock, which was apparently purchased by the museum for $1.3 million dollars.

Also on display are his effect pedals, handwritten letters to his father, handwritten song lyrics, some costumes and accessories worn at concerts, and even the travel bag he used for his tours. My young nieces do not know who Jimi Hendrix is though, so we did not spend much time here.

We passed by the Sky Church, the heart of this building. Its 70-foot ceilings, state-of-the-art sound and lightning, giant screens, and spacious floor area makes it the ideal venue for concerts, film showings, and parties as it can hold up to 800 guests.

The name was inspired by the term used by Jimi Hendrix to describe a place where people of all ages and cultures could come to collectively celebrate musical experiences. At the time of our visit, scenes from Star Trek were being played on the screens and spaceships hanging from the ceilings appeared to be floating in space.

On the second floor, we found a fashion exhibit called “WOW: World of Wearable Art,” which, I thought appealed to the young girls. This is a traveling exhibit that originated from a New Zealand fashion competition and happened to be displayed at the EMP Museum at the time of our visit.

Apparently, the only steadfast rule for WOW fashion entries is, “Art must be worn.” It basically, takes art from your walls and transports them to the human form, some kind of fashion that crosses the boundaries of art. As you may have imagined, it features the most outrageous, avant-garde and stunning garments on equally expressive mannequins lined up on a make-believe runway, as if a real fashion show was going on.

We were truly “wowed,” for where else could you see garments that resemble paintings and sculptures in all shapes, colours, patterns, and textures – a Gothic cathedral dress, a suit of armour (created by a blacksmith and weapons maker for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy), a fish skeleton dress made entirely of cables, a 17^th-century ball gown made of mahogany wood, an ornately carved and embossed leather gown with feathers inspired by birds (and created by the costume designer of the movie, Avatar), a lobster-inspired gown complete with claws and tail, a car-fender mini-dress, among others. They were fabulous.

As for the “wearable” aspect, I think it is debatable. However, they are no different from the outfits you see on “regular fashion runways” designed by high-end couturiers. Most of them are not very practical to wear on the streets or even at events, unless it’s a fantasy movie premiere.

At this point, my husband and son arrived from their LEGO outing at the Pacific Science Centre. They were a bit disappointed with the exhibit, they said. I guess they expected a more contemporary display or something that they could better relate with, such as structures patterned after famous world landmarks or pop culture pieces. That explained why they were back earlier than expected. I told my boys that there were more interesting displays at the EMP for them and gave them a rundown of what we had seen so far.

Our boy was happy to reunite with his cousins, so we all marched to the next exhibit, the “Sound Lab” which featured a lot of interactive displays for the kids to play with. The room is set up as a jam studio, perfect for musicians and aspiring rock stars.

My nieces play the piano, and my son wants to learn how to play the drums, so they had the time of their lives because the gallery was strewn with all kinds of musical instruments that visitors can not just touch but also play. The kids did the rounds but had the most fun with the drums.

For beginners, there were learning pods where you can watch video tutorials and learn the basics of playing the instrument of your choice. For the more advanced music aficionados, there were 12 soundproof booths where you can record and mix your own songs. This was the busiest exhibit, but the kids were eager enough to patiently wait for their turn at every pod.

Across the room was an even cooler feature – a studio where your party can form a band, perform in front of virtual screaming fans, and collaboratively compose a song recorded for family and friends. The experience culminates in a recorded music video and a take-home CD of your new band’s “hit song.” We wanted to do this, but we couldn’t find our cousin-in-law. We decided to go back after we’d seen all the exhibits. We were saving the Star Trek one for last.

There was one other exhibit called, “Can’t Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film” but we all decided to skip that one. It would be too scary for the kids (and some of the adults…not me though…hahaha).

While my cousin went to look for her husband with her girls, I quickly took my boys to the exhibits I had previously seen. Then, we headed to the Star Trek exhibit where we were supposed to meet each other.