SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 29TH, 6:30PM @ POSThtx

LOST and NEW HORIZONS: Re-Imagining Houston’s New Ecologies

a conversation between naturalist, Jaime González and Henry G. Sanchez

CLIMATE MIGRATION TALK: FEB. 29, THURSDAY, 6:30pm – 7:45pm @ POST, 401 Franklin HTX 77201. As part of the Houston Climate Justice Museum’s “Climate Migrations”.

What happened to the Eden of the Texas Gulf Coast, before the European colonists appeared? Can we return to the “pristine” before 1492, and did it ever exist? Jaime and Henry talk about the new types of ecologies that have emerged Houston has been undergoing since the arrival of humans in the Ice Age. And they consider does what this means now in the age of globalization and rapid, cascading change. They will talk about how scientific, artistic, philosophical, environmental, conservationist, spiritual, moral, legal, local, and Indigenous voices need to converse with each other about what is necessary for a healthy biodiverse ecosystem amidst Houston’s urban sprawl.

Jaime González is an award-winning ecologist, environmental educator, communicator, and collaborative leader who has worked in the Houston and Texas conservation movement for 25 years. His work centers restoration and teaching about nature for climate resilience, human health and wellbeing, and wildlife support - particularly in disinvested communities. He is also passionate about connecting children into the wonders of nature and placemaking through restoration, storytelling, and photography. Jaime proudly serves as board chair for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the institution which sets the standards for high quality environmental education in the US and beyond.

DASER Wonder Workshops: Art and the Gulf Futures Jan. 11, 2024

I had the honor of presenting my bioart - social practice projects (The ENGLISH KILLS PROJECT and the BioArt Bayou-torium) to an international art salon. It was done in the form of a "provocation" where I ask the audience three questions to stimulate an interdisciplinary dialog about the purposes and impacts of the art-science intersection. To watch this talk go to DASER Wonder Workshops: Art and the Gulf Futures January 11, 2024.

This is a series is organized by Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences under DASER (the D.C. Art Science Evening Rendezvous). Wonder Workshops are organized under CPNAS’ DASER program that seeks to foster conversations and projects across disciplines.

My three main questions were:

DOES THE ART-SCIENCE PROJECT DO WHAT IT SAYS ITS DOING?

DOES THE ART-SCIENCE INTERSECTION WORK? DOES IT HAVE IMPACTS?  IS IT EFFECTIVE? WHAT ARE THE METRICS?

DOES IT ADDRESS ETHICAL CONCERNS FOR SCIENCE, NATURE, AND HUMANS?

Thank you to J.D. Talasek (Dir. for Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences), and artist Brandon Ballengeé, for making this salon happen and for my presentation to be possible. Thank you to all the artists and scientists who attended!

INTERVIEW WITH THE INN BETWEEN, NOV. 7, 2022 EP. #23:

What Is Art? A Conversation With Henry Sanchez & Heather L. Johnson

Heather and I had the pleasure of staying at the Inn Between, a AirBnB, 5 cabin compound situated in the Texas Hill country across the street from Gardner State Park. We had the honor of being hosted and interviewed by Leah and Jake Guererro, the proprietors of the Inn Between. Heather and I became the 23rd interview they have completed with guest to the cabins.

Click on the image and icons below to watch or listen to the interview.

For the YouTube video click the link or the image above.

“Artists Henry G. Sanchez and Heather Johnson are joining us on today’s episode of The Inn Between. Leah and Henry went to grad school together and are having a mini reunion. Today’s episode challenges views on art and will force you to think about art in a whole new way. Henry’s art focuses on social justice and environmental concerns blended together and based in the East End of Houston. He also has a studio on the Bayou that dovetails off of a nonprofit that is building biking trails through the Bayou. Beyond only bike trails, Henry is pushing stewardship of the Bayou through art and natural sciences. Utilizing art in activism is a balance of the artist meeting activists where they are while also having the activists meet the artist where they are. Heather is best known for art project involving traveling alone on her motorcycle and creating an art project about wearing vulnerability on her sleeve. She took all the experiences she felt and allowed herself space to express that through multiple medias. Through all her trips, she gave away 47 pieces of artwork away. After COVID dampened travel plans, Heather has turned to the contrast of human comfort and land conservation and points out the contradictions in humanity vs. nature.” - Leah and Jake Guererro.

For more booking at the Inn Between click the link or the icon below.

NAU School of Arts Visiting Lecture Series, Nov. 21, 2022

As part of the SoA Visiting Lecture Series on November 21, 2021 North Arizona University at the Performing and Fine Arts Building (37A) Room 316  (in-person) I presented a lecture to the class of my great friend Prof. Jaewook Lee. Please click on the image banner below for the Vimeo link to watch the lecture.