How a warehouse in Brooklyn is breaking down barriers between science and the arts.

When you think of the word ‘culture,’ what comes to mind? Most likely, the first things that pop in there are the visual arts and music. That’s natural. They’re often thought of as the cornerstones of culture in any society, along with the food we eat and the technologies we use to experience the world…

When you think of the word ‘culture,’ what comes to mind?

Most likely, the first things that pop in there are the visual arts and music. That’s natural. They’re often thought of as the cornerstones of culture in any society, along with the food we eat and the technologies we use to experience the world around us.

But if that’s where you stopped, you’re forgetting one important culture pillar: science.


“Science is a part of culture. We’re here, just like the artists are here, just like the musicians are here and the writers, the photographers, designers and tech guys,” says Janna Levin, Director of Sciences at Pioneer Works. Pioneer Works is a cultural center in Red Hook, Brooklyn that is dedicated to experimentation, education and production across all cultural disciplines.

When Dustin Yellin founded Pioneer Works, he wanted science and the arts to come together in one place. Pioneer Works has an open floor plan that creates a collaborative environment. It also hosts a number of events, educational programs, performances, residencies and exhibitions across all of these disciplines.

Nostalgia

Crayola has retired just 13 colors in 123 years. The first 8 led to protests.

Wholesome

His trumpet broke halfway through the national anthem. So he grabbed a mic and started singing.

Nature

A man lost track of his late dad’s beagle for 10 years. Then a Florida rescue scanned her microchip.

Culture

In 1990, Marge Simpson ‘wrote’ to Barbara Bush for ‘criticizing her family.’ It got an apology.