New Orleans Nonprofits, Ogden Museum of Southern Art & Pontchartrain Conservancy, Partner to Offer STEAM Virtual Tour Focused on Art and Nature “The Art of Walter Anderson: Marshland Flora and Fauna”

NEW ORLEANS – Ogden Museum of Southern Art and Pontchartrain Conservancy have partnered to offer students in grades 4-12 the two-part STEAM virtual tour, “The Art of Walter Anderson: Marshland Flora and Fauna.” 

Part 1 (Ogden Museum): Students explore Walter Anderson’s watercolor works illustrating animals and plants. Anderson is a Southern artist who spent many hours observing, sketching and painting the natural world. Students create their own sketchbook and practice drawing skills, investigating various motifs.

Part 2 (Pontchartrain Conservancy): Science educators lead a live streamed trip to the marsh, allowing students to draw plants and animals from direct observation and create their own field guide. Issues of coastal land loss and the importance of ecosystems are discussed.

“Our goal is always to be good neighbors and collaborate with other local nonprofits making a difference in the lives of our students and in our community,” says Ellen Balkin, Director of Education, Ogden Museum. “We are so excited to partner with Pontchartrain Conservancy on this virtual tour that incorporates the disciplines of art and science and offers a unique set of learning experiences for students.”

“Environmental stewardship is central to Pontchartrain Conservancy’s mission,” says Kimberly Cooke, Education Coordinator, Pontchartrain Conservancy. “This program has given us a valuable opportunity to foster that stewardship by partnering with an exceptional organization which promotes Southern artists like Walter Anderson. Anderson’s art has inspired interest in coastal treasures that are threatened by the environmental crisis of coastal land loss here in Louisiana.” 

STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as the basis for guiding student inquiry, dialogue and developing critical thinking. STEAM fields of study all involve creative processes and none uses just one method for inquiry and investigation. Incorporating STEAM disciplines into a curriculum results in students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration and work through the creative process – all important 21st century skills.

Educators can register for The Art of Walter Anderson: Marshland Flora and Fauna” by contacting education@ogdenmuseum.org. More information about virtual tour offerings can be found at www.ogdenmuseum.org.

For additional information, please contact Melissa Kenyon, Director of Marketing for Ogden Museum, at mkenyon@ogdenmuseum.org.  

About Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Located in the vibrant Warehouse Arts District of downtown New Orleans, Louisiana since 1999, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art welcomes visitors to experience and learn about the artists and art movements of the American South. It is home to a collection of more than four thousand works, making it the largest and most comprehensive repository dedicated to Southern art in the nation, with particular strength in the genres of Self-Taught art, Regionalism, photography and contemporary art. The Museum is further recognized for its original exhibitions, public events and educational programs, which examine the development of visual art alongside Southern traditions of music, literature and local craft. Museum admission is free on Thursdays for Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. The Museum is located at 925 Camp Street, New Orleans Louisiana 70130. For more information, visit www.ogdenmuseum.org.

About Pontchartrain Conservancy

Pontchartrain Conservancy’s mission is to drive environmental sustainability and stewardship through scientific research, education, and advocacy. The Pontchartrain Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization consisting of a 14-member board of directors representing Basin parishes and regulatory agencies. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin is a 10,000 square mile watershed encompassing 16 Louisiana parishes. The land use of the region is both rural and urban and is the most densely populated region in Louisiana, including metro New Orleans and the state capital, Baton Rouge. It is one of the largest estuarine systems in the Gulf of Mexico containing over 22 essential habitats. The Basin’s topography ranges from rolling woodlands in the north to coastal marshes in the south, with the 630 square mile Lake Pontchartrain as its centerpiece.