Love Motel for Insects: Art, Science, and Arthropods

​​Artist, biologist, and environmental educator Brandon Ballengée joins us virtually from his studio at Atelier de la Nature, a STEAM education center and nature reserve in Arnaudville, Louisiana, for a conversation with Marc Taylor, HRM’s Senior Manager of Planetarium and Science Programs. Following the conversation, Taylor leads an in-person tour of Exquisite Creatures, connecting specimens on view with the insect diversity and ecological themes at the heart of Ballengée’s Love Motel for Insects project.

Ballengée’s practice brings together art and scientific research to explore environmental issues such as species decline and habitat change. His ongoing Love Motel for Insects project uses ultraviolet light to attract nocturnal arthropods, revealing species that often go unnoticed and inviting the public to experience insect biodiversity firsthand while considering broader questions of ecology and conservation.

Support provided by Art Bridges.