MMAM Sustainability Conference & Workshop
March 20 & 21
Workshop/$275 | Conference/Free
Minnesota Marine Art Museum | Winona
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) will host two events on March 20-21, 2026 that will explore the intersection of art, climate science, and freshwater sustainability. Both events will feature artist Tali Weinberg, whose work is currently on view at MMAM in the exhibition Water | Craft.
The events include a hands-on weaving workshop led by Weinberg at MMAM, and a public sustainability conference presented in partnership with Winona State University (WSU). Together, the programs invite participants to consider how artistic practice and scientific inquiry can deepen understanding of climate change and freshwater resources.
The workshop, Weaving Climate Data: Interpreting Place Through Color and Thread with Tali Weinberg, will be held at MMAM on March 20 – 21, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day. In this two-day workshop, Weinberg will guide participants in exploring how weaving can translate climate data, memory, and emotional connections to place into tactile form. Attendees will begin by reflecting on landscapes and waterscapes meaningful to them, then learn to interpret climate information through color and pattern on small frame looms. Through a combination of discussion, observation, and creative practice, participants will create woven studies that connect scientific data with personal experiences of the environment.
No prior experience with weaving or data interpretation is required. All materials will be provided, and participants of all skill levels are welcome. The tuition for this workshop is $275, and $250 for MMAM members.
Also on March 20 – 21, MMAM, in partnership with WSU, will host a two-day conference, titled Climate Change and Freshwater: The Past, Present and Future of the Midwest, that will bring together artists, scholars, and community members to explore pressing issues surrounding freshwater resources and climate change in the region. The event is free and open to the public, though registration is requested by March 19, 2026.
The conference will begin Friday evening at MMAM with a keynote presentation by Weinberg discussing the role of art in the climate conversation from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Conference programming will continue Saturday at WSU with presentations, workshops, and poster sessions addressing freshwater sustainability and climate change in the Midwest. The day will begin with breakfast at 8:30 a.m., followed by welcome remarks and a series of sessions running throughout the day.
Tali Weinberg is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores climate science, environmental data, and textile practices. Her artwork is included in the collections of the Berkeley Art Museum, Georgia Museum of Art, and Denver Botanic Gardens and has been exhibited internationally, including at Griffith Art Museum in Australia, Zhejiang Art Museum in China, 21c Museum in Oklahoma City, and the Center for Craft in North Carolina. Several of Weinberg’s works are currently on view at MMAM as part of Water | Craft, on view through December 27, 2026.
For workshop tickets, schedules, and full event details, visit mmam.org.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a nonprofit art museum that creates meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven-acre riverside campus. It is through this surprising diversity that MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be.
MMAM is committed to actively staying informed and participating in meaningful and sustainable climate action. As the museum explores humanity’s relationship with water, it recognizes the responsibility cultural institutions have to serve as resources for building climate resilience through operations, partnerships, and public programming.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.