The Great Lakes Aquarium was the perfect choice for my first community-based art project. My artwork is inspired by natural history, and is a platform for me to explore human’s relationship with the natural world as an observer and collector. So the chance to work with and exhibit in a science-based museum in my hometown was ideal. There is a strong focus on engagement and education at the Aquarium and everyone on staff embraced my project and helped me to make the most of my visits. It was been a spectacular year. In so many ways, the art is embedded in the experience of the year even more so than the artwork itself. I have been enriched by the conversations with visitors and staff, the stories of how the community connects to their natural surroundings and the joys and challenges of turning their words into artwork. My hope is that viewers of the Great Lakes Almanac exhibit were drawn into details, noticed aspects of the museum in the content, and recognized the vast and varied input from their community in the making of this show. Much like how the Aquarium encourages visitors to “Discover Wonder,” my installations aim to inspire a sense of curiosity.