Inescapable Changes: The Hidden Agenda

Jonathan Schipper, “Slow Room,” 2024

This week brings in exhibition openings at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and Rice Gallery, the first annual Weird Homes Tour Houston, and site-specific electronic performances at the James Turrell Skyspace.

Tuesday, October 4

Performance — New Music at the James Turrell Skyspace at Rice University

From 8 to 9:30 pm, head to the James Turrell Skyspace at Rice University (6100 Main) for a unique event featuring original site-specific music composed in the institution’s electronic music studio. Bring a blanket for the grass in case the central portion of the Skyspace fills up early, which is highly likely. Performers include Clare Glackin, D’Aria Tennikova-Šátral, Brendan McMullen, Ben Morris, Wesley Ducote, Darrel James Materum, Michael Hewitt, Chelsea Helm, Daniel Egan and Brian Mangrum. The event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, October 6

Opening Reception — Jonathan Schipper: Cubicle at Rice Gallery

From 5 to 7 pm, join Rice Gallery (6100 Main) for the opening reception of Jonathan Schipper’s exhibition Cubicle. Known for his time-based, kinetic installations, Schipper will construct an office setting that “will undergo subtle, yet inescapable changes over two months.” He chose a cubicle-filled office space for his installation as a symbol of recent history, indicating that what began as a promise of increased workplace comfort and privacy for employees has now fallen out of fashion. The opening reception will feature complimentary snacks and beverages from Saint Arnold Brewery. Cubicle will be on view through December 4.

Friday, October 7

Discussion — Sight Lines: Looking at Guns Panel Discussion at Houston Center for Photography

As part of the programming for their current exhibition, Sight Lines: Looking at Guns, the Houston Center for Photography (1441 W. Alabama) will host an interdisciplinary panel discussion about guns, violence and visual culture. Running from 6 to 7:30 pm, panelists include exhibiting artists Garrett Hansen and Shelley Calton, as well as Xavia Karner, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Houston, and Carrie Andersen, a Ph.D. candidate in American Studies working on violence and visual culture at the University of Texas, Austin. The discussion, moderated by HCP Executive Director Ashlyn Davis, is free and open to the public.

Opening Reception — A Traveling Show at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

From 6:30 to 9 pm, join the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (5216 Montrose) for the opening reception for A Traveling Show, centered around a selection of mail art exchanged over the past eight years by artists Matt Keegan and Kay Rosen. Their correspondence is augmented with a selection of artworks, including paintings, sculptures and drawings, demonstrating the artists’ unique approaches to language, linguistics and communication. The exhibition will be on view through January 15, 2024.

Saturday, October 8

Weird Homes Tour Houston

From 10 am to 6 pm, Houstonians can participate in the first annual Weird Homes Tour Houston, taking participants on journey through some of the city’s most extraordinary homes on a unique self-paced, self-driven tour. The tour includes homes of artists, collectors of oddities, rare art collectors and more. General tickets are $25 and VIP tickets are $45, which includes two extra houses and access to a VIP party with homeowners and artists. Additionally, 10 percent of the proceeds from the tour will be donated to Avenue CDC, a group fighting for affordable housing in Houston.

Discussion — Matt Keegan and Kay Rosen with Dean Daderko at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

As part of the programming for Matt Keegan and Kay Rosen’s exhibition, A Traveling Show, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is hosting a discussion with the artists led by museum curator Dean Daderko, starting at 2 pm. The conversation will focus on their individual work as well as their ongoing series of mailed correspondence featured in their exhibition.

Reception for BEST IF USED BY and Talk with Participating Artist Kazuki Guzmán at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

From 3 to 5 pm, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (4848 Main) is hosting a reception for their group exhibition BEST IF USED BY, in addition to the unveiling of Kazuki Guzmán’s “Vuitton Nana” and a talk by the artist. The reception will feature curated bites by Houston Dairymaids and The Grateful Bread, as well as music provided by DJ Andy V. The exhibition will be on view through January 15, 2024.

by Elizabeth Rhodes