That One Time I Almost Met George RR Martin

It was my first time in Santa Fe, NM. I was enamored with the Spanish architecture, the history, the cool, crisp air. It astounded me that so many artists and talents could congregate in one small space like Santa Fe. I was giddy. This was so much nicer than Roswell.

And then I saw the poster. George RR Martin was doing a book signing tomorrow with an author I'd never heard of at a theater I quickly realized was owned by the Game of Thrones man himself.

I told my wife I wanted to go. She didn't know either author and basically said "No." We fought, I lost. I never got to meet Martin...ever. My wife has since told me she regrets being so mean. I'm still a little sore about it four years later. But we're still together, so I guess we got over it.

1. The Jean Cocteau Cinema

The point is, George RR Martin owns a theater in our backyard. Not literally, of course, but Santa Fe might as well be our backyard. I'm a huge fan of places that promote indy cinema. Our local theater shows an indy film once a month. To me, that's not really enough.

I want a place like Jean Cocteau Cinema in my town. Some in Roswell will support it. Not all. But the fact Mr. Martin supports indy cinema makes me care about the guy more than I would normally.

If you live in Santa Fe, go support the Jean Cocteau Cinema. Not because Mr. Martin needs any more money. He doesn't. But because you'll show him that his investment in the arts is worth it to him. Go, see a film, write a review, support the arts.

Of course, being George Martin, he also supports some fun and weird art.

2. Meow Wolf

If you ever wondered what it was like to be Alice in Wonderland, go to Meow Wolf. It's something else Martin has his hands in creating. Of course, he didn't personally create the art. But he commissioned a bunch of artists to put together one of the weirdest art museums on the planet.

One of my favorite exhibits in the museum allows you to open an old 50's fridge and step through into another room. It's like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe came to America in the 50's.

Meow Wolf used to be a traveling exhibit until 2015 when Martin bought an old bowling alley in Santa Fe and repurposed it as his museum. The main exhibit is the House of Eternal Return which features the above mentioned fridge door.

Many of the exhibits are sci-fi inspired due to Martin's love of the genre. Some Meow Wolf exhibits were featured in Chicago at the Thomas Robertello Gallery. These included Nucleotide, a three month project built by 18 Meow Wolf members.

Many of the artists are part of a teaching collaborative named Chimera. Chimera has boosted the work of local students in the past. One such work was the Omega Mart, an art installation in the form of a grocery store stocked with ironic items you normally wouldn't find there.

George Supports the Arts and You Should Too

While I may not have the highest regard for George's writing skills, I am impressed by his support for the arts. Many people, especially business people, expect artists to work for "exposure." This frustrates artists to no end. While an artist does tend to great whether they are getting paid or not, they do need to eat. Support the arts in your community whether that be by attending theater events, buying local art, or going to a museum.