Artists can learn the essential elements of what makes a successful public art installation through Discovery Green’s inaugural Art Lab Program. Art Lab seeks to enable artists to produce outdoor art installations by providing them with guidance and practical expertise.
The first fellows of Art Lab are two artists from the Houston region, Karen Navarro and Gerardo Rosales.
Discovery Green’s creative director, Susanne Theis, stated that the program’s creation was essential since they wish to give Houston-based artists a platform to display their abilities.
“We found that Houston doesn’t really have a robust community of artists working in this kind of art; this kind of interactive work is rare,” Theis stated. “So, what we wanted to do was create an opportunity to offer the chance to experience creating this kind of work to Houston artists by pairing them with a lead artist.”
Jen Lewin, a renowned artist who developed ATLAS, a current art project along the promenade at Discovery Green that features 24 handcrafted luminous moths that are risking extinction across the United States, will be able to teach the two fellows selected from 60 applications.
In order to learn about the administrative aspects of doing public art, the two men went to Lewin’s workshop in New York.
Metalab and the Weingarten Art Group serve as additional art mentors during this program. Every week, the mentors and participants get together to refine concepts for a future proposal.
In order to highlight the value of representation, race, and her own experience as a migrant, Navarro usually employs sculpture, photography, and collages. “This program has pushed me,” she stated.
“Once I drain myself completely and put everything I have into my work and I am being extremely honest with the work, all of those opportunities and long-term opportunities will come,” Navarro stated.
Presenting a proposal to Discovery Green is what Navarro and Rosales are working on right now.
“The artist selected will be awarded a budget and amount of $80,000,” stated Theis. “In that 80,000 they will need to create and install the artwork.”
Starting in September 2024, the Art Lab program ends in January 2025. In March 2025, the proposal’s winner will be informed.
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