ENID, OK - Leonardo’s Children’s Museum is excited to announce the upcoming arrival of “Seed Reef,” a captivating immersive art installation, opening on Saturday, October 19th, 2024. This exhibit offers an interactive exploration of climate change's impact on ocean ecosystems, created by artists Emma Difani and Malcolm Zachariah in collaboration with Factory Obscura.
Since 2008, Leonardo’s has proudly been a part of The Oklahoma Museum Network (OMN), a statewide collaboration of five museums funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. However, with OMN’s dissolution in 2024 due to the depletion of funds for new exhibits, Leonardo’s is embracing fresh opportunities. “We’re thrilled to explore new forms of temporary exhibits in our rotating exhibit space, and 'Seed Reef' is the perfect way to start,” said Charlet Ringwald, Executive Director of Leonardo’s. “This mesmerizing installation allows us to bring art, science, and environmental education together in a way that’s impactful to children and adults.”
Transforming paper into a vibrant, underwater world “Seed Reef” invites visitors to embark on a journey through a simulated coral reef, beginning with a vibrant, thriving underwater world and progressing to a bleached, desolate landscape—representing the effects of rising ocean temperatures and pollution. The exhibit incorporates the ancient Japanese art of kirigami, using intricately cut paper alongside immersive lighting and shadow effects to transport viewers into an underwater realm. In addition, visitors are encouraged to create their own paper corals, symbolizing the restoration of damaged ecosystems and personal contributions to environmental healing.
Emma Difani, a visual artist from Albuquerque now based in Oklahoma City, and Malcolm Zachariah, a biochemist and artist from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, bring together their passions for art and science to highlight the interconnectedness of environmental issues, even in landlocked Oklahoma. The installation was previously featured at Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape space in Oklahoma City and City Arts in Ponca City.
The exhibit will be on display at Leonardo’s through April 2025, thanks to the generous support of the Enid Arts Council and Park Avenue Thrift. In addition to the exhibit, a special “Meet the Artists” event will be held later in the exhibit’s run, offering an opportunity for children and adults to interact with the creators behind this thought-provoking installation.
About Leonardo’s Children’s Museum
Leonardo’s Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization that has been serving the Enid Community for more than 30 years with the mission of enriching and inspiring children of all ages with fun learning opportunities. Located at 200 E. Maple in Downtown Enid with regular business hours of 10am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information on “Seed Reef” and upcoming events, please visit www.leonardos.org or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
