The Architects-of-Air are back with a new creation: MIRAZOZO.  When you step inside the inflatable colored chambers of red, green and blue, you instantly leave the cares of the outside world behind. MIRAZOZO is similar to AMOCOCO (that I also blogged about last year) but this structure seemed slightly more angular and has these amazing ceilings that you can just stare at forever.

While we were waiting to enter, an unusual sight caught our eye. These two ladies and one gentleman were clad all in white from head-to-toe and wore white makeup and carried white accessories. They resembled apparitions as they glided across the parking lot. Several children were trying to get a reaction out of them, but their faces remained void of all emotion.

While inside MIRAZOZO I caught sight of the “man in white” (I later learned they are part of the Atmospheric Theater Performance group Transfix). He and his two friends were holding small lights and as they moved through the various rooms the colors from the walls washed over them and they became part of the exhibit.

After our 20-minute session was up, we left the soothing cocoon of soft colors and sound to the excitement of the Mesa Festival of Creativity. The sidewalks surrounding the Mesa Arts Center came alive with musicians, visual attractions, hands-on activities and performers.

The first work of art we come upon was the Snakemobile. Michael Levine transformed a golf cart chassis into a rolling rattlesnake head. The vehicle looked more apt to roll into a Burning Man event than to drive  the streets of Mesa!

The Community LEGO Build was just getting started, so we saw the base of what will eventually become a 10-foot tall saguaro cactus. There were also amazing portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein – all made from LEGOs!

One of our favorite exhibits had to be the Interactive Cactus Grove. You could gain a different perspective on desert flora by “playing ” the pipe organ or giving a giggling barrel cactus a hug!

There are also $5 sampler workshops being held daily from 2-3pm for learning everything from belly dancing to glass mosaic tile making. There is truly something for any interest.

The Mesa Festival of Creativity runs daily noon-9pm through Sunday, March 18th. You can also visit the Arizona Museum for Youth or the Arizona Museum of Natural History which are both close by. Bring a picnic (and your creativity) and make a day of it!

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