Art by Juvenile Defenders, Feb. 4th @ Premium Goods

The Children’s Prison Arts Project (CPAP) will be showcasing Art by Juvenile Defenders entitled “Making A Difference for a Better Tomorrow”. CPAP is a non-profit arts education organization whose strives to introduce juvenile offenders in correctional facilities and shelters to an innovative educational theater and visual arts forum where they can express themselves in a productive way. Come experience the art from young souls with a true artistic vision.

When: February 4, 2010

8-10pm

Where: Premium Goods

2416 Times Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005

Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool in Houston, Starts Jan. 30th @ The Contemporary Arts Museum

Barkley Hendricks’s stylistic renderings connect the art movements of American realism and post-modernism while touching upon many of the art movements of the 1960s and 1970s—pop art, photorealism, minimalism, even black aesthetic nationalism. Join Hendricks and organizing curator Trevor Schoonmaker, curator of contemporary art at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, for a discussion of the artist’s work. This exhibition is comprised of 57 paintings, including fullfigure portraits and lesserknown early works.

When: January 30, 2010-April 18, 2010

2:00 pm

Where: Contemporary Arts Museum

5216 Montrose

Houston, TX 77006

Premium Goods Call for Artist Entries

When visiting Premium Goods in The Village, the vibe definitely takes customers to a cool place outside of Houston. Premium Goods, the original hub out of Brooklyn, is a great place for sneaker aficionados  to purchase limited edition kicks in an eclectic east coast atmosphere. You may walk in on a DJ spinning some classic hip hop tunes along with a display of some of the coolest art. The walls of the famous Houston sneaker shop houses some of the most creative local talent in the city from students and tenured artist.

This sneaker spot, located in the trendy village shopping center is currently accepting entries for artwork to be displayed in-store at the Houston location. To All the Basquiat’s, make sure you send in some of your best work.

Peace and Blessings!

Return of Renaissance

Yates High School has a troubled history in Houston. The school is seemingly constantly under attack from all sides, but Houston can’t let it go because of the students it produces. Take Jason “DJ Flash Gordon Parks” Woods for example. He is a product of the photography program at Yates, lead by Ray Carrington III, based on the community in which he grew up. Jason wasn’t fully committed to photography until he hit college, where he majored in photography at Sam Houston State University.

He now has a book of his work published and ready for sale. His book, “The Beautiful Side of Ugly,” takes you on a walk through the impoverished black experience in the ghettos of Houston’s third and fifth wards. In the next twenty years, with some photo re-touching, these images will sure to be placed in an African American museum of history. The gentrification of the Houston urban neighborhoods, like New Orleans, the people, the homes, and the spirit of Houston’s south side will make the historical context of the city non-existent.

As a highschooler, he naturally fit in with all the characters we all knew so well. If there was a Yates version of AC Slater, Zack Morrison, and Screech — Jason would have been the cool cat that fit, from top to bottom. But Yates was no after school special.

Whatever questionable encounters the southsider  experienced was through his  “alternative” love for music. In the 90s, alternative defined anything that was not “screwed” or produced with a southern twang, so his love for Wu Tang was rarely a topic for discussion at the lockers.

“The minute you mentioned Wu Tang, or some De La Soul, nigg*s gave you that strange look,” Woods says. “If you wasn’t bumpin screw, don’t even mention anything else.”

Thankfully 10 years later, his love for music has transcended to the club scene at chill spots in Houston.  Flash Gordon Parks, his DeeJay moniker, spins a  fusion of jazz, hip-hop and soul that surprises newcomers once they step into his magical world. Like his photography, Parks catches the moment through melodic sounds from HISD, which he’s a member of, to J. Davey, Esperanza Spalding, and Foreign Exchange. With headphones cocked to the side, and a glass of a non-alcoholic beverage on his table, the DJ is lost in the music. Tapping his foot and moving to the rhythm of an underground artist, Houstonians should be inspired to step up there discographies.

“I feel that once the word is put out there about this experience, more and more people will

come,” he says. “The Houston club scene is used to being told what’s cool and where to go, rarely do folks seek any newness.”

Why? “Because if that’s all you know, then why look for anything different?”

The crowd is medium in size but very pleased with their DJ. His mix of old school, underground, and radio jams are worth listening to, his skills are definitely a rarity.

A lover of art, film, and music, in cities like Philly, New York, DC, and LA, he would be considered a cool well-rounded cat, but in Houston’s urban world of cool, he’s dubbed The Renaissance Man.

Check out his podcasts for a taste of his musical choices on peaceuvmine.com. If you’re not feeling it, you probably don’t get this publication anyway.

Anjelah Johnson’s Howdy to Houston

“That’s how weeee do itttt,” Anjelah Johnson proclaimed throughout the night as she entertained a nearly sold out show at the Verizon Wireless Theatre on June 27, 2009.

From couples on ”date night” to groups of high-heel clad females on a “girl’s night out,” Houstonians came out in flocks prepared to laugh and be entertained by the 27-year-old comedian and former MAD TV cast member.  Known for impersonating characters such as “Tammy,” the Vietnamese nail salon lady and Bon Qui Qui, a rude fast food worker, it’s no surprise she appeals to diverse crowds of all ages.

Dj Angie Vee from Los Angeles definitely created a party atmosphere by paying homage to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. She spun favorites, such as “Billie Jean” and “Rock with You.”  The all-female Beat Freaks from America’s Best Dance Crew hyping the crowd with their signature hip hop moves made you almost forget that Johnson was filming her first special for Comedy Central.

Within seconds of stepping center stage with her contagious smile, the San Jose, Calif. native wasted no time mentioning Houston’s blistering summer heat saying  ”It is not right,” and compared the Bayou city to her dad on how she loves the support but only gets to see him twice a year.

The audience was entertained when she talked about the frugality of her family and how looking back at childhood pictures she had the same outfit from the age three to age seven.  She also mentioned how her dad doesn’t buy anything without a coupon, including Tampax tampons with Pearls.

Johnson’s talent spans way beyond telling jokes and impersonations.  She not only showed off her beat boxing skills during the show, but surprised the crowd with her energetic moves when she joined the Beat Freaks in their closing number.

It was obvious her impressions of various guys that have approached her in the past were a spectator favorite judging by the audience laughter.  There was the one Mexican guy that tried to get her attention by making animal noises to the Black guy that cat-called her by a description such as “ponytail” and “blue shirt”, its no surprise her comedy sketches on YouTube have already been viewed by millions.

Although the one woman show won’t be back in Houston anytime soon Johnson is scheduled to perform in Dallas at the House of Blues in August.

Here’s Season 13 episode 8 of a MadTV performance below.

Body Art Tattoo Expo

Enthusiasts of ink and skin turned up from around the country on May 22 – 24 to attend Houston’s first annual Body Art Expo. Contrary to popular opinion, the event was a true family affair, where all kinds of people showed up to see true artists go to work.

Brian from Undisputed Tattoos based in San Antonio said the Houston show is the largest he’s been to. “It’s great to be around so many different artists and see so many different portfolios,” said the artist, who like so many others, does not offer up his last name.

The show featured freestyle art competitions, musical performances and of course on the spot tattooing. MegaProductions, the host of the event, would not release how much money the event drew in, but an average tattoo expo has 30 to 50 booths. The body art expo had 140, and the Reliant Center was packed.

Photography by, Jamie Lockard

Human Nature, April 3-May 10

 

These days it seems that everyone’s talking about the state of the world around us.  People are “going green” or taking time to examine the way they treat the earth.  Not to be left behind, the Houston Center for Photography will be hosting Human Nature for the following month.  Human Nature is a collaborative exhibition between several photographers from all over the world, each displaying a series of photos demonstrative of the dynamics of human infringement on the natural world.  Additionally, there is also a section dedicated to local student participation in this project. Young artists from high schools all over Houston have also submitted their work in answer to this theme.  Collectively these photos form a fascinating mosaic. 

Furthermore, on Friday, April 17 and Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. there will be a film screening relating to the thesis of the “Human Nature” exhibition.  On the alternating Thursdays, April 23 and May 7, also at 7 p.m., the HCP hosts “partner potlucks,” where, for a donation of canned food, one can enjoy food, drinks, artist talks and discussion sessions for local non-profit organizations.  All donations benefit Loaves and Fishes, an organization providing free meals to families in need nationwide.  The HCP is located at 1441 West Alabama St. Check them out at www.hcponline.org

 

Woodlands Art Festival, April 4-5

Welcome to springtime, Houston.  The time of year when there is no excuse too small to justify spending the day outside.  The time, for the art world, in which paintings walk off the walls to enjoy a day in the park instead.  This weekend Memorial Park hosted the Bayou City Art Festival, a three-day event held bi-annually, once in the spring and again in autumn.  For $10 admission, attendees are free to browse through the 300 some artists’ open air galleries, view live performances and snack on various goodies in the blissful Houston sunshine.

If you were unable to attend this weekend, however, there’s no need for despair.  The end of March heralds the beginning of the festival season.  Next weekend, April 4-5 is the Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, a slightly smaller event but with equal promise.  Also $10 for entrance, the Woodlands Festival is compiled of some 200 artists displaying their works along the waterway, as well as floating parade held Saturday morning beginning at the Town Green Park and heading towards the Marriott Hotel.  As with the Bayou City Festival, food concessions are available for purchase should you need a break.  Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 4 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 5.  Additional information regarding directions and parking are available at the here: http://www.woodlandsartsfestival.com/parkinganddirections.html

Anya Tish Gallery

 

Of the five galleries housed in the space at 4411 Montrose Blvd, you can always count on a champagne reception of a Friday evening.  This week, the reception in question was for Texas native painter Charlotte Smith, held in the Anya Tish Gallery from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.  Smith’s work, described as both “pointillism on steroids” and “galactic,” hinges on a paint-drip method she developed herself which endows each piece with a unique interplay between color and texture, surface and shadow.  Walking the line between painting and sculpture, Smith’s pieces imply rather than depict the subject.  The collection is titled “Hard Candy” and will be on display through April 17th. 

Across the hall from the Anya Tish Gallery is the Peel Gallery, a one-room space concentrated on the meeting of fine art and retail.  Emerging jewelers have their wares displayed on hand-crafted furniture, lit by elegant and modern chandeliers – and everything is for sale  The third gallery on the upper level of 4411 Montrose is the Barbara Davis Gallery, which will be housing Virginian artist Christopher Deeton’s “Numinous” exhibition through April 11^th. 

Downstairs, you’ll find the Joan Wich & Co. Gallery, which focuses on the discovery and elevation of local Houstonian artists.  The Joan Wich & Co. Gallery will also be the host of next week’s artist reception, for painter John Sturtevant and his collection “The Last Beginning,” which will be on display from Friday, March 27 through Saturday, April 18.

The receptions tend to run for three hours.  All the galleries keep their doors open and it’s as much fun to mill around outside and chat as it is to take in the art. As the evening winds down, if you’ve worked up an appetite, or perhaps even a little buzz, be sure to drop into the Tart Café across the foyer for a bite, also open till 9 p.m.  I hope to see you there next week! 

http://www.anyatishgallery.com/

 

 

ART HOUSES>>>

Zine Fest Houston is an event dedicated to promoting zines, minicomics and other forms of small press, alternative, underground and diy media & art. It is also a grassroots attempt to build the local zine, diy and alternative media scenes and form networks with media creators in other areas.

ADMISSION IS ALWAYS FREE and table space is provided free or at-cost for zinesters, writers, artists, distros and other individuals and groups involved in the creation, publication distribution or promotion of alternative media and diy.

The festival is a new and different experience every time, offering a diverse new crop of zines and other projects every year including many never before seen anywhere else and other unique sights such as a live chicken manning one of the exhibitor tables during our first festival.

The goal of the event is for attendees to not only discover new zines, but also to be inspired to create their own diy art and media projects.

Zine Fest Houston 2009

Date: Saturday May 16, 2009

Time: 2pm until 10pm

Location: ArtStorm

Address: 4828 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77004

Contact: details@zinefesthouston.org

via About « zine fest houston.

_________________________________________________________________________

Curator Kathy Grayson brings a Downtown NYC insider’s perspective to CTRL with a show comprising many of that scene’s luminaries, some of whom also have a personal connection to Houston. Patrick Griffin grew up in Houston, and met Dash Snow here, a teenager in exile from misdeeds in Manhattan. Dash’s grandmother, Christophe de Menil is the reigning doyenne of the Houston art world. Terence and Slava are titillated by Texas.

ADDRESS & PHONE
3907 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002 (map below)
713.523.2875

GALLERY HOURS
Tuesday – Saturday
10 am to 6 pm
or by appointment

_________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to the Green House Gallery!
The Green House Gallery is a dynamic new artists’ collective, offering beautifully diverse paintings, luminous hand-made ceramics, striking metal sculpture and wall hangings, and uniquely elegant wearable art.

All of the artists are Houstonians, some born and raised in Texas, some from all corners of the earth.

P.A. Mueller Oils, acrylics, shellac

Doors are open from 11-6, Thursday through Sunday, and by appointment.

Contact Information
Email: info@greenhouseartgallery.com
Phone: (713) 535-6462
Address: 716 W Alabama St Houston, TX 77006