TAKE ROOT 2022
University of Houston Gerald D. Hines Architecture Building
Thursday, August 25 @ 6:30pm
Friday, August 26 @ 6:30pm
Saturday, August 27 @ 7:30pm
Free Event
PDC Works is funded by Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts. and New Music USA’s New Music Organizational Development Fund.
“All our wisdom is stored in the trees.” - Santosh Kalwar
PDC Works presents Take Root, a view underneath the forest floor through live music and dance. This free program features original music by Rob Smith, choreography by PDC Works director, Sophia Torres, performances by local musicians and dancers, and a root sculpture by set designer Keith Epperson that will hang above the performance space in the main lobby of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. The audience is encouraged take advantage of this unique venue by walking around the lobby during the performance to experience the program from a variety of vantage points.
Protecting, nurturing, and advocating for greenspaces is in mankind’s best interest. Take Root, through its investigation into the understory world of trees, reveals the living network through which trees communicate, collaborate, share resources, and alert one another. Audience members are invited to delve further into the subject of trees via pre-show talks with local environmental and conservation leaders on Thursday and Friday at 6pm.
Performing live are guest musicians Nina Bledsoe-Knight (viola), Roberto de Guzman (clarinet) and Bing Wei (cello) alongside PDC Works dancers - Lindsay Cortner, Keeley Dunnam, Melissa Juneau, Mia Pham, Tory Pierce, and Arielle Tesia Rojas.
Houston Parks Board
Trent Rondot, Conservation and Maintenance Director & Marissa G. Llosa, Conservation Manager are our guest speakers Thursday, August 25th at 6PM.
Trent Rondot: For nearly 35 years, Trent has been responsible for planning and development of parks and recreation facilities. This has involved comprehensive park master planning, landscape architecture, environmental design, architecture, GIS, project and construction management, parkland acquisition, and community partnerships. In his current role as the Conservation and Maintenance Director for the non-profit Houston Parks Board, Trent oversees day-to-day and long-term stewardship of the Bayou Greenways system, which includes 100 miles of trails and 2,800 acres of greenspace. He has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Bachelor of Science - Environmental Design from Ball State University.
Marissa G. Llosa is the Conservation Manager for the Houston Parks Board. Her focus is the conservation of our natural resources within the boundaries of the Bayou Greenway system, and other areas owned/maintained by Houston Parks Board. She previously worked as a field biologist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for 19 years completing wetland restoration around Galveston Bay. Marissa created and continues to lead the Wetland Restoration Team-a crew of Master Naturalist volunteers- on prairie wetland restoration at Sheldon Lake State Park. Marissa graduated from Brown University with a B.S. in Aquatic Biology and a B.A. in English Literature. Marissa is also completing her Master’s of Science within the Ecosystem Sciences and Management department of Texas A&M University.
Senior Naturalist, Patti Bonnin is our guest speaker Friday, August 26th at 6PM.
Patti Bonnin is a Senior Naturalist at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center specializing in early childhood and family environmental education. She is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas and is a certified EC-6 teacher. Patti blends her skills from the classroom with a decade of experience in non-formal nature education to inspire a passion for the natural world in people of all ages. Currently she is developing environmental outreach programs for underprivileged preschoolers bringing nature to those who need it most. Patti is also a strong advocate for accessibility in the outdoors and works to design programs that welcome people with all abilities.
