Postcards from Houston
As an abstract artist, I am always on the lookout for inspiration and new experiences to fuel my creativity. That searching has largely included travel which is something I have made a priority and that I value to feed and nourish my creative well as I push ever forth with my work. My art has changed and evolved alongside each new place and experience. Surprisingly, Houston, Texas has been my secret muse for over three decades. Since the 1980s, Houston has been my second home town, thanks to my sister and parents who relocated there. But it wasn't until my first visit to Houston from Oregon that I realized how much the city had to offer in terms of culture, art, food, and parks.
As a young artist, Houston was a culture shock to me, coming from Jersey City, New Jersey, just across the river from the art capital of the world. To remedy this, I channeled the museum and gallery wanderings of my youth in New York, and similarly, made it my mission and embraced discovering Houston’s art, food, and culture. Over the years, I have seen how Houston places great importance on public art, structural design, and the arts in general. One of my favorite places to visit is the Buffalo Bayou Park, which contains a sculpture park along its many trails, smartly built structures housing restaurants, skate parks, dog parks, and visitor centers.
I find it gratifying to share all that Houston has to offer, especially the art and galleries. Houston is not just an oil town; it is a the 4th largest city in the nation, and the most diverse that celebrates the arts, creativity and diversity. Houston also boasts a vibrant food scene with fabulous restaurants scattered throughout the city. Some of my favorites include Brasil, Ostia, Himalaya and the Monarch.
Houston is also home to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), which has seen two new expansions in the past twenty years. The most recent, The Kinder Building, was finished in 2020. Designed by Steven Holl Architects. The space dedicates three full floors to modern and contemporary art from the permanent collection along with curated exhibitions. The museum expansion also added new works to the Cullen Sculpture Garden and the remodel of the Glassell School of Art complete with an outdoor performance space. One of my very favorite time specific thing to see near the MFAH is the James Turrell Twilight Ephiphany Skyspace situated on the campus of Rice University just outside of the prestigious Shepherd School of Music.
If you're an art lover and foodie, Houston is the perfect destination for you. Now, I know this might be hard to believe by some, but, I have managed to find all the good things about Houston and fallen in love with the Montrose, Upper Kirby, Midtown, and Heights neighborhoods over the years. If you're worried about the heat, like I am, plan your trip to Houston during the cooler months of March, April, or May. There is also the option of making a short visits to nearby Galveston on the Gulf Coast which I’ve taken with my sister and her family too.
Houston's art scene is not limited to museums and galleries. The city is home to NASA, Sawyer Yards, the largest artist studio community in the nation, Project Row Houses, The Jung Center of Houston, and the Menil Collection. The Menil Collection is a growing campus of exhibition spaces that are all free and open to the public.
The Menil is funded by philanthropist and heiress to the Schlumberger Limited oil-equipment fortune, Dominque Menil. The Menil campus includes the Menil Collection built by architect Renzo Piano, the Cy Twombley Gallery, Menil Drawing Institute, Dan Flavin installation at Richmond Hall, and the Rothko Chapel.
Of all the Houston places of art import, the Rothko Chapel is the most meaningful to me. That I share my birthday with Rothko, named my cat after him, and my family happens to live near the Chapel, makes it that much more a special and sacred place.
Thanks for reading my blog, I am happy to share with you how grateful I am to Houston. So, if you do indeed plan a trip there, drop me a line! I am happy to offer details and trip planning suggestions.
