M-AAA Grantee Loop38 Completes Longleaf, A Multimedia Tribute
By Elizabeth Snell
The Artistic Innovations project premiered in Nacogdoches and Houston, Texas, this past spring.
Loop38, a cutting-edge contemporary music ensemble from Houston, Texas, has completed their multimedia project, Longleaf, composed by Ben Morris. Supported by a 2024 Artistic Innovations grant from Mid-America Arts Alliance—awarded last summer—this project is an immersive experience that brings the endangered longleaf pine forest to life through music, video, and soundscapes.
“Art is probably the most human thing one can do, I think—just to create and experience together and create community. Art is a way of making people feel things and connect with ideas, and concepts, and issues that will move them and hopefully change them for the best.” says composer Ben Morris.
Watch our latest video with Ben Morris and Loop38 where we discuss Longleaf and their inspiration: Loop38’s Longleaf Project. Video by Sebastian De Geer.
About the Artistic Innovations Grant
The Artistic Innovations grant is a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance that encourages artists and organizations to take creative risks and develop original works of significant artistic and social impact.
Artistic Innovations exclusively engages in-region artists and organizations in the creation of new, original works for audiences in the M-AAA six-state region of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Loop38 received this grant last year to bring Longleaf to fruition.
Longleaf: A Multimedia Exploration of the Longleaf Pine Forest
Longleaf is an evening-length multimedia work composed by Ben Morris commissioned by Loop38 that tells the story of the longleaf pine forest—an endangered ecosystem in the American Southeast, particularly in rural East Texas, where some of its last stands remain. The project weaves together music, historical photographs, video projections, and natural soundscapes to trace the history of the longleaf pine tree and the timber industry, raising awareness about the importance of preserving ecosystems and old-growth forests.
Loop38 performing Longleaf at the MATCH festival in Houston, Texas. Loop38 was awarded an Artistic Innovations grantee last year. Video still by Sebastian De Geer.
The project held two premiere performances. The first was held at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, accompanied by a recording session and community events. The second performance took place at the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH), serving as the finale of Loop38’s 2023–24 season. They also held a Q&A for the audience after the performance.
To learn more about Loop38 and their work, visit their official website here.
Latest Artistic Innovations News
Read the latest announcement about the newest 2025 Artistic Innovations grantees.
For more information on the Artistic Innovations grant and the projects it supports, visit the Mid-America Arts Alliance webpage.