“Rooted”:  Immigration, Migration and Greenspaces
HCJM + Witness Series Collaboration

“Rooted”:  Immigration, Migration and Greenspaces installation

HCJM + Witness Series Collaboration

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The Houston Climate Justice Museum and the Witness Series invite you to POST HTX for the opening of an installation featuring artists from Part One of the Witness Series, “Rooted”: Immigration, Migration and Greenspaces. Reflecting on identity, place-making and belonging within a world of ecological crisis, artists Amenta B., April M. Frazier, Bennie Flores Ansell, Ibraim Nascimento, Kristi Rangel, and Rev. Vanessa Monroe will have work installed as part of the Museum’s ongoing exhibit Climate Migrations at POST HTX.

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The Witness Series 2024 is a four part project that explores the many profound experiences that communities of color have in the land of Southeast Texas. The Witness Series is organized by artist and curator Kristi Rangel in partnership with artists from the Native American, African American, Latinx, Pacific Islander, and Asian communities. In the words of Kristi Rangel: “In a world in ecological crisis, we must recognize the importance of collective knowledge and worldviews. Art-centered place making offers a holistic approach to understanding and addressing this crisis.” 

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The installation at the Museum includes April M. Frazier’s documentation of her Texan lineage that stretches from the late 1800s through to the present day. This forms part of her larger genealogical visual project to trace her family’s enslaved migration from Africa to Jamaica and on to several areas in the United States. Ibrahim Nascimento’s series Alignment explores the migration story of an Afro-Brazilian, immigrant artist struggling to find belonging in the United States. Ibrahim explores the emotional work of migration: feeling suffocated and contorted, forced to re-shape himself in order to be seen and understood in this country.

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The collaboration is the latest addition to the Museum’s ongoing exhibit Climate Migrations: Travel, Displacement, Home which explores the intersection of migration and the climate crisis in both human and more than human worlds. The opening will be preceded by a panel discussion with the artists on February 17th, 9:00-11:30 am, at Journey HTX.

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Houston Climate Justice Museum + Witness Series Collaboration

“Rooted”:  Immigration, Migration and Greenspaces installation

Opening reception Sunday, February 18, 2024 

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

POST HTX, X-Atrium (map)

Exhibit Hours: Wed - Sun  11:oo am - 6:00 pm

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Witness Series: Part 1--"Rooted": Immigration, Migration and Green Spaces

Saturday, February 17, 2024

9:00 AM  11:30 AM 

Journey HTX

3219 Almeda-Genoa Road, Houston, TX 77047 (map)

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Free and open to the public.

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About Part One of the Witness Series, “Rooted”: Immigration, Migration and Greenspaces

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Climate change and global warming are affecting all of us. But, like many other challenges in society, it’s hurting communities of color the most.  Environmental crises are triggering more internal and international migration and displacement.  This event will begin with a BIPOC artists panel about identity, place-making and belonging.  This rich dialogue will provide the space to imagine different possible futures, highlight how art allows us to see the world in new ways, and encourage us all to come together to create climate solutions.  Following the panel, attendees will be invited to take part in a Community "Counter-Cartography" Generative Poetry Workshop by Spoken Word Artist-Activist & Owner of Lualo Studio LLC, Jenah Maravilla.  They will participate in guided meditation, create body maps and accompanying prose to illustrate the community's relationship between self and "home.”  The Houston Audubon will connect bird migration with human migration and showcasing the wonder of bird migration. Their event table will highlight the importance of the Houston region and our sanctuaries as stop-over habitat for migratory birds.

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About the Witness Series

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The Witness Series was created by Jaime González, a Houston-based conservationist and storyteller, and Kristi Rangel, Houston-based multi-disciplinary artist and education advocate. It is their shared belief that environmental equity is a basic human right. Every Witness experience is designed to bring communities together through the power of nature and provide historically under-served communities with greater access to nature-based opportunities. Attendees become co-authors, editors and observers as they take part in these participatory public art experiences centered around green spaces and environmental equity.

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Witness Series 2024 experiences are made possible through the Community Artists’ Collective with generous funding from the Jacob & Terese Foundation. This year’s events are done in collaboration withBayou City Waterkeeper, Blaffer Art Museum,  Chinese Community Center- Houston, Community Artists’ Collective, East End Management District, Grackle and Grackle Literary ServicesHarris County Precinct One, Houston Audubon, Houston Botanic Garden, Houston Climate Justice Museum,  Houston Health Department, Houston Parks & Recreation DepartmentHouston Public Library (HPL), Journey HTX, Latino Outdoors Houston, Lualo Studio LLC,  National Wildlife Refuge System, and Nature Heritage Society- Houston.