Posted by Juliet Whitsett on Nov 4th 2026
Really Small Museum Presents: Cristell Vargas
Welcome to The Really Small Museum at Austin Nature & Science Center |Bienvenidos al Museo Pequeñito
NOVEMBER EXHIBITION | EXPOSICIÓN DE NOVIEMBRE (On the Pond Trail: North | Austin Nature & Science Center)
Cristell Vargas |
Pollinator Disco Party, 2026 | Fiesta Disco de los Polinizadores, 2026
Mixed media | Medias mixtas
Instagram@cristellsmarket | Facebook: @cristellsmarket | www.cristellsmarket.studio
MEET & GREET with THE ARTIST | CONOZCA AL ARTISTA: Nov 8 : 12-2 pm at the installation (2389 Stratford Drive, Austin TX 78746 the show will be up during operating hours the entire month of November)
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LISTEN TO | ESCHUCHA A: The Artist Talk About Their Installation:
Use Soundcloud link below or HAZ CLICK HERE to listen to the description
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Welcome to Pollinator Disco Party, a miniature celebration inspired by the garden at Austin's Mosaic Workshop, where quiet lunch breaks spent watching native bees and butterflies sparked this installation. Their graceful movement from flower to flower transformed an ordinary garden into nature's own dance floor. Inside, you'll discover handcrafted pollinators based on species found within 100 miles of Austin, including the remarkable Leafcutter Bee (Megachile spp.), a gentle native bee known for cutting perfect circles from leaves to build nests for her young. The tiny disco comes alive with shimmering disco balls, oversized native wildflowers, colorful lighting, and a miniature recreation of the Mosaic Workshop garden, complete with mosaic pathways inspired by the place where this idea was born. Although playful and whimsical, Pollinator Disco Party celebrates the vital role native pollinators play in supporting healthy ecosystems, gardens, and food production. I hope this installation encourages visitors of all ages to slow down, observe the extraordinary beauty of these often-overlooked creatures, and leave inspired to protect the habitats that allow them to thrive.
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Bienvenidos a Fiesta Disco de los Polinizadores, una celebración en miniatura inspirada en el jardín del Mosaic Workshop de Austin, donde tranquilos almuerzos observando abejas y mariposas nativas dieron origen a esta instalación. Sus movimientos entre las flores transformaban un jardín cotidiano en la pista de baile de la naturaleza. En el interior descubrirán pequeños polinizadores hechos a mano, inspirados en especies que habitan dentro de un radio de 100 millas de Austin, incluida la extraordinaria abeja cortadora de hojas (Megachile spp.), una abeja nativa conocida por cortar círculos casi perfectos en las hojas para construir los nidos de sus crías. La diminuta fiesta cobra vida con brillantes bolas de disco, flores silvestres nativas, senderos de mosaico y una recreación del jardín que inspiró esta obra. Aunque tiene un aspecto alegre y divertido, Fiesta Disco de los Polinizadores celebra la importancia de los polinizadores nativos para los ecosistemas, los jardines y nuestra alimentación. Espero que esta instalación inspire a visitantes de todas las edades a observar, valorar y proteger a estas pequeñas criaturas siempre.
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The Really Small Museum is brought to you by artist & curator | El Museo Pequeñito es presentado por la artista y curadora: JulietWhitsett.com | @juliet_whitsett_art| @ReallySmallMuseum_atx
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This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment. Este proyecto cuenta con el apoyo parcial de un Subsidio Elevate
de la Secretaría de Arte, Cultura, Música y Entretenimiento de Austin.
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