Inspired by the dynamic, yet often-overlooked waters who animate our city, Mother Bayou is a collaborative exhibition with Margaux Crump that wonders what might be possible when we collectively reimagine Houston's bayou ecologies as sacred, fertile community spaces. 

The works—as well as the processes behind them—are rooted in principles of deep ecology. We used ritual as a technology to invite spirits of place and water to collaborate with us throughout our creative process. The exhibition itself features photographic images, sculptures, and direct material collaborations made with the myriad beings—both real and imagined—who reside in Houston’s bayous.

The public presentation of this work would not have been possible without Piper Faust Public Art and the Ion District, who hosted this exhibition. We are also grateful to City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Houston Arts Alliance for partially funding this project and the accompanying community programming with Molly Koehn and Laura Maesaka. Lastly, our deepest gratitude to Mother Bayou herself for being such a gracious and constructive collaborator. 

Exhibition Programming

Complementing the exhibition, Margaux and I also organized satellite community programming that provide opportunities for participants to cultivate deeper, more intimate relationships with Houston's bayou ecology.

Bayou-side Sound Bowl Meditation with Laura Maesaka

Through this immersive sound journey, Laura guided participants to playfully explore how attention, emotion, and presence can gently reshape the way we relate to the waters who animate our city. The experience was generously hosted by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, who worked with us to identify an ideal site on their grounds to support the sound bowl meditation just steps from the Buffalo Bayou waters. 

Bayou Plant Walk & Basket-Weaving Workshop with Molly Koehn

Following a guided walk along the bayou to learn about foraging regional plants suitable for cordage and basketry, Molly led a hands-on workshop where participants learned how to weave a basket of their own using locally-harvested plants.

Many thanks to Piper Faust Public Art and The Ion District for hosting this exhibition. Mother Bayou is also made possible thanks to partial funding from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Thanks to Margaux Crump for always being such a genuine and generative collaborator. I also want to thank Laura Maesaka & Molly Koehn for brining your own perspective and practices to enrich Mother Bayou. Thanks as well to the Buffalo Bayou Partnership for hosting and cross-promoting our sound bowl meditation. Lastly, thanks to the bayou itself for churning and carries the waters who—despite the odds—nurture and animate our city.