Walk with a Naturalist
Shelby Hendricks leads a Walk with a Naturalist tour of Beta Space: Patty Chang and David Kelley, on view at the San José Museum of Art, November 1, 2024–June 1, 2025. Photos: SJMA/Frederick Liang.
Join Shelby Hendricks, group tour and family programs manager, for an observation-based exploration of works currently on view through the lenses of art and science.
These cross-disciplinary tours invite visitors to engage with artworks in unexpected ways, bringing a more-than-human dimension to scientific ideas while deepening our emotional connection to the environment.
a small ocean swallowed
Visitors view a work in a small ocean swallowed, on view at the San José Museum of Art, July 10, 2026–February 14, 2027.
Join us for an observation-based exploration of a small ocean swallowed.
Through close looking and guided discussion, participants will consider how the artists envision water as a model of interconnectivity and reimagine the entwined relationship between humans and the bodies of water that surround us.
Register in advance for a quicker check-in!
Upcoming tours
Wednesday, August 26
12:30–1:30pm
Meet in the Lobby (first floor)
Wednesday, September 16
12:30–1:30pm
Meet in the Lobby (first floor)
Register for Sep 16
Wednesday, October 28
12:30–1:30pm
Meet in the Lobby (first floor)
Wednesday, November 18
12:30–1:30pm
Meet in the Lobby (first floor)
Registration Information
Walk with a Naturalist is free with Museum admission and open to visitors of all ages.
- Advance registration is strongly recommended.
- Walk-ins are welcome as space permits.
- Each tour is limited to 20 participants.
- Comfortable footwear is encouraged.
Previous Walks
Explore exhibitions that have previously hosted Walk with a Naturalist tours.
About the instructor
Shelby Hendricks (she/her) is a fiber artist with over ten years of experience in art and science education. She moved from Illinois to the Bay Area in 2021. With a background in biology and anthropology, Shelby seeks to foster a lasting appreciation for the natural world and illuminate the connections among art, science, history, and culture.