Photo by NobleImaging.com

What is generally known as a play-haven for children ages five to 13 was transformed into a spiritual campground and dance floor May 7 when The Manifestation Celebration came to Dallas.

When city dweller and crystal hippie alike climbed the stairs to the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science, they were greeted by an awe-inspiring array of music and art literally bouncing off the walls.

Pop. Swallow.

Lights dim, colorful lights a plenty, gazing up the pillars of the main hall. Music loud, soothing notes a plenty, reverberating through the lobby. People gather, feathers and flowing skirts a plenty, to dance among the museum exhibits.

Sparkle. Hoop. Line. Alex and Alison Grey are in the Omni theater leading a ritualistic sermon much like the one they lead at their church which worships art, only there’s swirling, moving, shifting images of Alex Grey’s artwork behind them. A face, three faces, an eye, a vagina. Some horns and the occasional smile. Wait there’s another face … or is it the manifestation of some cosmic being? It’s beautiful.

Water. Air. Earth. And Fire. Light — leaving the theater is like a trip to abnormality. Eskmo is on the main stage flipping beats, with more swirling colors and art pieces projected behind him. This is definitely a different type of museum than it is during the day.

We are in a fishbowl of art — it’s hanging from the second level without any hooks. The images sit there, lines crossing and fading, temporarily. Then the projection morphs into something new. I’m not sure what Iayon Noemind means yet, but the image is sooooo intriguing! It’s branding my eyes with the outline whatever it is. Snap photo to remember this moment.

To tell you the truth there are a lot of things I’m unsure of at this point. Where are the other stages? Why can’t I bring this beer past a certain point? How is it that every person I look at is smiling? Why am I so elated?! I hope everyone else is as happy as I am in this moment.

The colors scurry and the usual science and nature exhibits take shape. Although any Dallasite has seen the T-Rex structure before, it looks unfamiliar and people are digging in the excavation pit as though they are searching treasure. The workshops are filled to the brim. Moving on.

Back behind the body exhibits there comes a sound. There’s a w I Z a r d back there and his tunes are drawing me in. We are surrounded by hand chairs and it’s more dark than your average show. Than again, this isn’t your average show. There’s a chimpanzee and he is labeled No. 4. He dances like a fool, but he fits right in.

We are unified as fools.

There’s so much to do around this museum complex, I can’t decide. Perhaps some fresh air will help. Click, click, inhale, crackle, exhale. Cough, cough. I feel like I’m sitting inside someone’s mouth and they’ve got a muggy swamp of basil stuck between their teeth. That’s cool. I’m quite appreciative of the scenery.

What’s that sound? Music? Music! The Nadis Warriors just took the stage. Because of this set I am going to miss any chance I ever had to get some authentic crystal healing. The mineral room is just across the complex grounds and I could see for myself if that stuff actually works. Maybe I should just ask someone else later, I feel like dancing!

And I feel like dancing. And I feel like swinging my hair. And I feel like closing my eyes. Only to realize I feel like opening them to watch the magic swirl on the screen behind the band. Alex Grey’s artwork is so many things all at one time. I never know if I’m looking at a face or if I’m looking at the white space. AHH! He’s on stage painting right now! AHH! That painting looks like it wants to eat me.

The night is ending and Bluetech takes the stage. The downtempo beats are really helping me absorb back into the life that will be outside this museum. The music is so facilitative in fact that I’m ready for bed. I don’t want food, I don’t want water. I can’t even seem to muster up the energy to dance any longer. And as I lay down with someone else’s smooth skin against mine, my eyes close and all the colors and images burst back to life.

The visualizations from Saturday fade with the next morning’s sunrise, but they will forever be ingrained in my mind and my heart. My only hope is they will appear, bolder and even more beautiful, the following year.