Inside the Box: The Hidden Agenda
Installation view of “Yasuaki Onishi: reverse of volume RG” at Rice Gallery, 2024. Photo: Nash Baker. Courtesy the artist and Rice University
This week in Houston brings in a lecture about thoughtfully utilizing “white box” galleries at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, sound and performance event at the Center for Contemporary Craft, and the final installment of the LEAN, BLEAK concert series at HOMEcore.
Ongoing
Performance — Wake Up, Mama - A Pregnant Pause at MATCH
MATCH (3400 Main) presents Wake Up, Mama - A Pregnant Pause, a theatrical production detailing the continuing journey of Maggie Sabey, mother of two with one on the way. The multi-layered, comedic, and truthful piece follows Maggie and her newfound ‘mindfulness’ in motherhood. “Whether it’s her volunteer commitments at school, her sisters wedding, her husband and his Fantasy Home Brew Beer League, or her ever increasing maternal discomfort, it all comes to a head despite her best efforts to ‘keep calm’.” Held in MATCHBOX 1, tickets are $27 and performances are held daily from Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm with a matinee performance at 2 pm on Saturday.
Thursday, August 11
Performance — fading…: A Sound & Dance Collaboration by Lynn Lane & Jennifer Mabus at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
As part of the programming in conjunction with A View Within: Works by Paula Chung and Karen Rips, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (4848 Montrose) presents “The Power of Healing through Art,” an evening of performance, presentation and discussion about art therapy and its effects on both body and mind. Starting at 6 pm, dance artist Jennifer Mabus and sound artist and collaborator Lynn Lane will present fading…, a multimedia sound and dance performance about Alzheimer’s disease. “By abstracting the idea of memory and identity through sound and dance performance, Mabus and Lane create a physical experience of loss to understand the challenges that one encounters with this disease.”
Lecture — Thinking Inside the Box with Curator Josh Fischer at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
At 6 pm, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (5216 Montrose) presents a lecture by Josh Fischer, curator of the Rice University Art Gallery, who will discuss methods for installation artists to approach “white cube gallery” spaces, with his practice often involving the use of inexpensive, discarded materials. Drawing from his work at Rice Gallery and CAMH’s exhibition flow 流 by Jae Ko, Fischer will discuss the creative ingenuity behind spatial transformations and the uniqueness of such artist-created settings.
Friday, August 12
Stargazing with the Houston Astrological Society at Raven Tower
From 9 to 11 pm, the Houston Astrological Society is carting three professional telescopes to the top of the five-story Raven Tower (310 North) to give patrons a chance to see the stars. According to HAS, “Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and the moon should be the great targets that night.”
Saturday, August 13
Performance — LEAN, BLEAK: III at HOMEcore
As the finale of the three-event series, LEAN, BLEAK is a summer concert series featuring Texas songwriters, experimental improvisers and poets. This installment takes place at HOMEcore (2010 Commerce, Unit B) and includes performances by Garden Medium; Parham Daghighi, Ryan Edwards and Rose Lange; Christina Carter; and Spencer Dobbs and Joe Wozny. The show starts at 8 pm and there is a suggested donation of $5 to $10.
Screening — The Rocky Horror Picture Show at River Oaks Theatre
At midnight, join the Royal Mystic Order of Chaos at River Oaks Theatre (2009 West Gray) for one of their raucous performances alongside the screening of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Come in costume and make sure to pick up one of their “Rocky bags,” complete with everything from rubber gloves and toilet paper to party hats and noisemakers. Tickets for the event are $11 and you should probably arrive early to grab a good seat.
One Month Par-tay at El Bambi
Vintage clothing and accessories shop El Bambi (4721 N. Main) is celebrating their one month anniversary with a party from 2 to 5 pm. Started by Lindsay Beale and Emily Hynds, the shop features curated vintage goods for men, women and children, and the party will include sno-cones and drinks (and maybe even pizza), as well as music from Zack on Washington, who will be playing an all-cassette tape set.
