Service Description

Sunday, June 28 1:00pm-3:30pm Age 16-Adults Frederiksted, St. Croix 1:00pm Guided Exhibition Tour with Question & Answer Session in English & Español 1:45pm Painting with Nature. Exploring Soil Diversity The Exhibition: Our Soil, Beyond Materiality This isn't a typical art show. Our Soil, Beyond Materiality merges scientific research with creative expression to reveal how soil health connects to human health, community resilience, and Caribbean identity. Participants will have a guided tour of the newly opened exhibition with Zoelie Rivera-Ocasio and Alexandra Santos. Inspired by the themes explored in the current exhibition, participants will investigate the remarkable diversity of soils and discover how characteristics such as color, texture, and structure help scientists classify them. Through hands-on experimentation, teens and adults will explore concepts related to chemistry, physics, and ecology while extracting natural pigments from soils. Participants will then transform these earth-derived materials into unique watercolor paintings, connecting scientific inquiry with creative expression and deepening their appreciation for the vital role soils play in our ecosystems. Zoelie Rivera-Ocasio Executive Director, Educator, and Founder of Caribbean Soil Museum is a researcher in soil science and biogeochemistry, with an emphasis on teaching and learning. She has 10 years of experience in education, which has enabled her to combine scientific knowledge with innovative pedagogical strategies. She is the founder and director of Arte-Suelo-Ser, where she establishes collaborative networks with key agencies and institutions to strengthen conservation efforts throughout the Caribbean region. She is passionate about life, its complexity, and appreciating the details. Alexandra Santos Ocasio Curator and Artist-Educator with more than a decade dedicated to the development of art through diverse approaches. Her artistic practice spans multiple mediums and has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions in Puerto Rico, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Croatia. At ASUSER, she collaborates in the development of creative sessions and educational workshops with artistic approaches. What inspires her most is working with brilliant and talented individuals who seek creative solutions through art and education. Her passion for art drives her to innovate and connect in every project.