On March 8th, guests joined us for a Dimensions Variable event inspired by our spring exhibition Breathe(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice. They participated in a hands-on workshop led by exhibiting artist Brandon Ballengée, joined in on a beekeeping demonstration and honey tasting with the Houston Beekeepers Association, and viewed music videos featuring Alaskan sound artist Matthew Burtner, from his latest album Icefield.  

Exhibiting artist, biologist, and environmental educator Brandon Ballengée, whose works on view depict species impacted by oil spills, spoke about ecologies of the Gulf Coast and led a drawing workshop using his collection of preserved aquatic specimens.

Guests learned about beekeeping from Houston Beekeepers Association members Mike Simmons of Thrive Apiaries and Carlos Hernandez, founder of The Bee and Me. Mike and Carlos led a demonstration with live bees and offered a local honey tasting, inspired by the works of exhibiting artist and fourth-generation beekeeper, Garnett Puett.

If glaciers could speak, what would they tell us? Alaskan composer and Emmy-award-winning sound artist Matthew Burtner explores the sonic effects of the changing climate by playing instruments and recording natural sounds in arctic conditions. Two music videos from his innovative recent album Icefield were screened.