Back in Brookings, SD

So very pleased to be back for the week as Artist in Residence in Brookings at Children's Museum of South Dakota. I'll be spending the week developing our collaborative installation exhibit, "A STREAM to PONDer: Interconnected Life in South Dakota Habitats" as well as lead some fabric dyeing and native plant sculpture workshops for museum guests and begin the creative devising process with our installation performers. Though initially the exhibit was set to open June 1, delays in our process have led to some awesome discoveries within the research.  All of the research on what is included in the exhibit is based on children's questions and ideas about ponds and streams.  CMSD staff members Carrie Benson and Mike Mogard began the research process with two images of pond/stream habitats and led children through a process of questioning to assess what kinds of areas children wondered about.  Carrie then transcribed each questioning session with children and coded data corresponding to different questioning areas.  What's left over?  LOTS OF DATA.
      Most of this visit will be about disseminating data and making decisions based on most relevant habitat areas, according to the children.  What concepts are children's questions getting at?  How can we explore concepts in each exhibit area?  After seeing the updated space after about 6 weeks, I am excited to dig in.  More updates soon to come!