Discovery Green, a 12-acre park in downtown Houston, has debuted its winter art installation, ATLAS, by internationally recognized artist Jen Lewin.
Jen Lewin at Discovery Green
Unveiled last month, the installation draws its name from the Atlas moth and consists of 24 hand-crafted and hand-painted glowing moths. The pieces are suspended from trees along the Brown Promenade, an oak tree-lined limestone path on the south side of the park.
In a press release, Ms. Lewin explained, “I began creating interactive moths in the late 1990s, and it’s an honor and a thrill to bring this new work to life here at Discovery Green. Moths have always captivated me, drawn to light in much the same way I am. This installation connects us with nature, highlighting 24 precious and vulnerable species as we meander through the treescape of Discovery Green.”
Kathryn Lott, President of the Discovery Green Conservancy, added, “Moths are known to play a vital role in the ecosystem, as they are among the leading pollinators for plants and trees, and in many ways, serve as a metaphor for Discovery Green’s place in Houston. Discovery Green has established a reputation as both a leading public art venue and an incubator for budding local artists.”
Jen Lewin, “ATLAS,” 2024
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Ms. Lewin is an artist-engineer who specializes in large-scale public installations. She holds a BA in Architecture and Computer Aided Design from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Master of Professional Studies in Interactive Design from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Ms. Lewin has recently completed installations in Doral, Florida, Santa Clara, California, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Earlier this year she was selected to create the central Burning Man Pavilion and effigy.
Ms. Lewin’s installation ATLAS also served as a learning opportunity for Discovery Green’s inaugural Art Lab fellows, Karen Navarro and Gerardo Rosales. Throughout the project, Ms. Lewin mentored the artists on all aspects of creating a large-scale public artwork.
ATLAS will be on view through February 16, 2025. Throughout the run of the installation, Discovery Green will host an array of programs. See details of the programs below, via descriptions provided by Discovery Green.
Children’s Moth Workshop
Saturday, January 4; 1 – 4 p.m.
The Magic of Metamorphosis — Houston Museum of Natural Science. Get up close and personal with moths to learn about the various stages of their life cycle and miraculous transformation!
The Moth Storytelling – A Very Special Event
Tuesday, January 7; 6:30 – 9:45 p.m.
The Moth celebrates the commonality and diversity of human experience through the art and craft of true personal storytelling. Listen to true stories, or share your own, at this open-mic storytelling competition in partnership with The Moth Storytelling.
Please note: This is a ticketed event. Tickets are $15 for general admission; $100 VIP tickets include food and beverage from The Grove.
Mothra v. Godzilla
Saturday, January 18; 7 – 9 p.m.
In this 1964 movie, Japan comes under attack when Godzilla battles the genetically engineered moth called Mothra. (NR, 88 minutes)
The Moth Project Live – Houston Debut
Saturday, February 15; 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Two acclaimed classical musicians invite you on a parallel journey of moths and humans. Their performance of live music from Bach to Joni Mitchell to KISS reflects the diversity of the moth species and explores common themes — migration, seduction, death, transformation, hope. Through photography, video, and dynamic motion graphics, moths appear larger than life. Weaving science, mythology, and personal stories, The Moth Project explores the multiple ways we connect to our ecosystem.
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