Ash Arder: Hard Rock Maple

In conjunction with the Whitney Biennial 2026, artist Ash Arder presents a sonic broadcast and meditation on the material and haptic features of The Roxy, a former disco roller rink and queer club, located not far from the Whitney’s current site on the far west side of Manhattan. Hard Rock Maple is inspired by Arder’s own experience of the roller rink as a recurring safe zone for experimentation, play, and self-discovery. Situated around the concept of the club floor as witness, she will connect the behaviors of construction and building materials to the spaces they form and the people they keep safe. This sonic activation connects to Arder’s installation currently on display in the Biennial, Broadcast #4, which is part of a series of objects that use sound to distribute seeds across soil beds. In further exploration of the floor as witness, Arder works with seeds from the Maple tree, the most used material for roller rink floors.

Following the activation, Arder is joined in conversation by designer, urban ecologist, and herbalist, marisa prefer, to discuss human collaboration with plants and natural ecosystems. 

This program is presented in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum (ALM) as part of their ongoing series, Queer Ecologies. 

Ash Arder is a transdisciplinary artist whose research-based approach works to expose, deconstruct or reconfigure physical and conceptual systems–especially those related to ecology and/or industry. In her work, Arder manipulates physical and virtual environments to explore materials, mark making, mechanical portraiture and sound design as tools for complicating dynamics of power between humans, machines and the lands they occupy. She lives and works in Waawiyatanong (Detroit, Michigan) about an hour south of her hometown of Muscatawing (Flint, Michigan).   

marisa prefer, born in Queens, NY is an alumni of the Urban Design Forum Forefront Fellowship, a DSNY Master Composter, a New York City Parks Super Steward, a Certified Community Pruner and a Y11 NEW INC mentor.

The American LGBTQ+ Museum (ALM) preserves, investigates, and celebrates the dynamic histories and cultures of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, as well as those of the emergent and adjacent identities among our communities. ALM’s Queer Ecologies series explores the dynamic relationship between LGBTQ+ histories, and the natural world, bringing together artists, historians, scientists, storytellers, and community voices, considering how queer people have found connection, creativity, belonging, and liberation through relationships with land, water, plants, animals, and ever changing environments.