DISCOVERY GREEN® TAKES FLIGHT THIS WINTER WITH ATLAS, AN INTERACTIVE ART INSTALLATION FROM INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTIST, JEN LEWIN

Discovery Green, downtown Houston’s 12-acre urban oasis and epicenter for interactive public art, is proud to announce the debut of its signature winter art installation, ATLAS by internationally recognized artist, Jen Lewin. Debuting on Friday, November 15, ATLAS is a collection of 24 handcrafted and hand-painted ethereal glowing moths suspended from trees along the Brown Promenade. Just as moths are naturally drawn to light, visitors will be attracted and captivated by the glowing light and harmonious sounds from each moth’s body. As parkgoers move beneath the suspended moths, they can interact with and transform these elements, creating a dynamic and immersive experience.

“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,” said Kathryn Lott, President of Discovery Green Conservancy. “Discovery Green has established a reputation as both a leading public art venue and an incubator for budding local artists. We are deeply proud to present Jen Lewin’s ATLAS, and look forward to seeing Houstonians engage with this piece.”

ATLAS’ name draws inspiration from the Atlas moth (Attacus atlas), one of the largest and most striking moths in the world. Named after the Titan Atlas from Greek mythology, who was condemned to hold up the sky for eternity as punishment from Zeus, the Atlas moth is renowned for its impressive wingspan, vibrant colors, and intricate wing patterns. ATLAS’ name also reflects the responsibility society bears for conserving endangered species of moths, 24 of which are represented in the installation. By drawing attention to these delicate creatures, ATLAS encourages viewers to consider their role in preserving the natural world and the importance of global ecological awareness.

“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,” Lewin said. “This installation connects us with nature, highlighting 24 precious and vulnerable species as we meander through the treescape of Discovery Green.”

Lewin is an internationally acclaimed artist-engineer based in Brooklyn, New York. Lewin has honed her architectural background and a highly technical medium to fabricate large-scale, interactive, public sculptures that encourage community interaction and play. Uniting nature and technology, she thinks beyond traditional media to create multi-dimensional human experiences that bring vibrancy to public spaces.

Lewin – who recently was selected to create the 2024 central Burning Man Pavilion and effigy – is also the lead mentor for Discovery Green’s Art Lab, a new groundbreaking mentorship program designed to support underrepresented local artists with the skills and resources necessary to expand their practices into large-scale, interactive sculptural outdoor public works. For Karen Navarro and Gerardo Rosales, the inaugural Art Lab fellows, ATLAS serves as an opportunity to learn all aspects of the creation of a large-scale public art piece, from beginning to end. In addition to Lewin, Art Lab mentors include Weingarten Art Group, co-curators and co-administrators for Art Lab, and Metalab, a Houston-based architecture and design firm.

Throughout its 16-year history, Discovery Green has earned a reputation as a pioneer in the presentation of immersive, interactive and light-based art installations. In addition to Lewin’s ATLAS, Discovery Green has hosted more than 27 temporary exhibitions from internationally recognized artists, including Bruce Munro, Christopher Schardt, Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena.

ATLAS is part of Lewin’s Moth series, which originated with her first interactive moth creation in 1999. Open to the public and free of charge, ATLAS will be on display from 6 am to 11 pm starting November 15, 2024 through February 16, 2025.

Renderings available here (courtesy of Jen Lewin Studios).

Photo by Nicki Evans Photo