Out of the Swamp in the Ground and Into the Swamp in the Sky

Cowboixs and Cowgrrrls, saddle up for another sneaky little peek at the next rest stop in our journey: Houston, Texas!

May 21, 2024

An artist working in a tin paint chamber with three golden machines

Everything he touches turns to #FFD700.

Title: Piano Harp & Metalophone Consoles

Artist Credits:

Ben Wright is the lead creative sound designer and composer for the two projects. Eric Heep designed and built the musical software that makes the magic happen. Sue Slagle programmed the interactive touch panels that guests will use to play the instruments. And Spencer Olsen is the Creative Director for the anchor space.

Piano Harp

Benjamin Ortega - Senior CAD Designer
Casey Warr - Designer Fabricator
Charles Tuttle - Senior Exhibitions Creative Engineer
Danny Sharp - Senior Tech Fabricator
Emilio Pincheira - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist
Erica Krueger - Tech Fabricator
Ilya Tinker - Designer Fabricator
Joseph Hecker - Senior Tech Fabricator
Kevin Sennott - Senior Tech Fabricator
Kristen Keilman (she/they) - Exhibitions Creative Engineer
Lance Mcgoldrick - Senior Artist
Matthew Erdmann - CAD Designer
Monica Garcia - Tech Fabricator
Sam Taccetta - Principal Designer Fabricator
Zach Sawan - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist (pictured)
Zeve Cohen - CAD Designer
Hector Favela - Logistics Fabricator

Metalophone

Casey Warr - Designer Fabricator
Cha Maul - Principal Designer Fabricator
Danny Sharp - Senior Tech Fabricator
Elana Schwartz - Artist
Emilio Pincheira - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist
Erica Krueger - Tech Fabricator
Ilya Tinker - Designer Fabricator
Joseph Hecker - Senior Tech Fabricator
Kevin Sennott - Senior Tech Fabricator
Kristen Keilman (she/they) - Exhibitions Creative Engineer
Lance Mcgoldrick - Senior Artist
Matthew Erdmann - CAD Designer
Monica Garcia - Tech Fabricator
Zach Sawan - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist
Zeve Cohen - CAD Designer

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Two taxidermy alligator heads sit on a plaque with an engraving that reads “RIP Al Crockenspiel” — A heavy loss for the two-headed dapper gator community.

Title: Al Crockenspeil

Artist Credits: Cole Wilson

Photo Credit: Photo by Shayla Blatchford

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Texas is getting connected...for *freeeeee!*

Title: Eloc’s Phone Booth

Artist Credits:

Chris Hilson - Principal Artist

Cole Wilson - Lead Artist

David Cudney - Principal Artist

Emilio Pincheira - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist

Ilya Tinker - Designer Fabricator

Joseph Hecker - Senior Tech Fabricator

Justin Crouch - Senior Designer Fabricator

Karen Lembke - Senior Sewing & Fabrics Specialist

Kevin Swartz - Designer Fabricator

Lydia Gonzales - Associate Tech Fabricator

Maxwell Cohn - Senior Designer Fabricator

Steven Berardelli - CAD Designer

Zach Sawan - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist

Photo Credit: Photo by Shayla Blatchford

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An old pair of roller skates, a cornet, a child’s tricycle, a circus drum, and a euphonium sit on a wooden table — Forgotten hobbies of yesteryear.

Title: Don’t Let Go

Artist Credits:

Lance Mcgoldrick - Lead Artist

Sam Taccetta - Principal Designer Fabricator

Steven Berardelli - CAD Designer

Photo Credit: Photo by Shayla Blatchford

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Take the eternal plunge into a sea of wish(bon)es

Title: Wish it Was

Artist Credits:

Benjamin Ortega - Senior CAD Designer

Charlotte Thurman - Principal Artist

Justin Crouch - Senior Designer Fabricator

Zach Sawan - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist

Photo Credit: Photo by Shayla Blatchford

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A fake campfire being created on a table — Imagine the campfire stories waiting to be told here.

Title: Lost and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Artist Credits:

Cat Mills-Flegal - Senior Artist

Cha Maul - Principal Designer Fabricator

Cheraya Esters - Designer Fabricator

Chris Hilson - Principal Artist

Emilio Pincheira - Senior Paint & Pigment Specialist

Karen Lembke - Senior Sewing & Fabrics Specialist

Nick Toll - Senior Artist

Steven Berardelli - CAD Designer

Photo Credit: Photo by Shayla Blatchford

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