From Dream to Reality: The Journey and Team Behind BVO
Every ambitious project has an origin story. Ours began years ago as a big dream in the mind of Memphis artist and technologist Christopher Reyes, the creator of the Baron Von Opperbean universe.
Creative Visionary, Christopher Reyes
Early Experiments & First Successes
Every ambitious project has an origin story. Ours began years ago as a big dream in the mind of Memphis artist and technologist Christopher Reyes, the creator of the Baron Von Opperbean universe. Chris’s journey in immersive art started back in 2016, he built an experimental 360° underwater-themed installation called Fish that unexpectedly delighted audiences and made him realize the power of these experiences.
Fast-forward to 2020, and he unveiled Baron’s Quadrant 360, a temporary pop-up that was effectively a “pilot episode” for the BVO concept. Hosted at Off The Wall Arts, that early prototype featured murals, props, puzzles and story elements which sold out its entire 2-month run, drawing over 4,000 visitors. It even earned a local Innovation Award for its creativity. The enthusiastic response was proof: Memphis was ready for something bigger.
The Avengers of Imagination
Building on that momentum, Chris rallied a team of like-minded visionaries to take Baron Von Opperbean to the next level.
Co-founders Kathryn Hicks, Marvin Stockwell, Reuben Brunson and others joined, each bringing unique expertise – from extended reality technology to community advocacy and game design. It’s a rare blend of talents: our “world-builders” include artists who can fabricate elaborate sets, technologists who can program interactive media, writers crafting lore, and even museum and theater veterans who know about engaging audiences.
We call it an “Avengers of Imagination” assembled right here in Memphis.
This collaborative spirit has been crucial: transforming 33,000 sq. ft. of museum space into a multiverse adventure is a complex puzzle, and it takes input from all disciplines to solve.
Challenges, Breakthroughs, and Building in Real Time
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Renovating an old building, inventing new interactive systems, and doing it during turbulent times (the project kicked off amidst the pandemic recovery) required perseverance.
But the team’s passion never waned.
We’ve spent countless hours in planning meetings, creative brainstorming sessions, and yes, physically building and prototyping. If you peeked into our workshop, you’d see something like Santa’s workshop – except the toys are full-scale spaceship consoles, time-traveling steamboats, and robotic artifacts!
Through it all, one thing has fueled us: the belief in our vision and the support from our community.
“We’ve been building our local creative network for years through various projects, building trust in our community… this is by far our largest ask, but our community has been instrumental in providing money, materials, and volunteers.”
In short, we’re literally building this together with Memphis.
Where the Dream Meets Reality
Now, as we inch closer to opening, we reflect on how far we’ve come.
What was once an “alternate world” sketched out in Chris’s notebook is now on the cusp of reality – you can walk into the space and see towering sets and interactive devices coming to life.
Our team’s journey is a testament to the power of creative persistence. We hope it inspires others with big dreams: start small, iterate, bring others along, and never lose sight of the magic that got you started.
We’re immensely grateful to every team member, volunteer, and supporter who’s been part of this ride.
What’s Next
In the coming months, we’ll be spotlighting some of these amazing individuals and their contributions, so you can get to know the faces behind the fantasy. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes stories about our team and the making-of process.
And if you’re building something visionary yourself, we’re here to cheer you on too. Memphis thrives when we all dare to dream.
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