The Hidden Agenda: Not FPSF
Matthew Ronay. From Blaffer Art Museum’s website.
At this point, it’s pretty hard to ignore the fact that Free Press Summer Festival is happening this weekend. If you want to avoid the flower crowns, bikini tops and hot pavement, there’s more than a few things you can get into this weekend, including exhibition openings, the Montrose Print Market and a free all-night event with music, comedy, performance art and burlesque at Khon’s.
Tuesday, May 31
VHS M4t1n33: 2024 at Walter’s Downtown
Walter’s Downtown (1120 Naylor) is hosting VHS M4t1n33: 2024, a movie night featuring 12 futuristic, cyberpunk and sci-fi films, from Hackers and Tron to Total Recall and Hardware. The full schedule runs from 6:15 to after 2 am. With a food pop-up on site and free entry, there’s no better way to spend your Tuesday night.
Friday, June 3
Opening Reception for Hilary Lloyd and Matthew Ronay at Blaffer Art Museum
From 7 to 9 pm, Blaffer Art Museum (4173 Elgin) is hosting the opening reception for the museum’s summer exhibitions, including the first U.S. museum show by British artist Hilary Lloyd, known for her video sculptures, projections and installations, as well as Matthew Ronay’s exhibition of painstakingly crafted, brightly colored scupltures, reliefs and installations.
Opening Receptions at 4411 Montrose
The galleries at 4411 Montrose make it easy for you to catch all of the exhibitions at once with each gallery hosting an opening from 6 to 8 pm on Friday: Jonathan Faber at David Shelton, Jamie Earnest: Your Home or Mine? at Cindy Lisica Gallery, and Gavin Perry: Toe to Toe at Barbara Davis Gallery. Additionally, Anya Tish Gallery will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with XX Part Two, the second of two group exhibitions of painting, video, sculpture, photography, and installation.
Saturday, June 4
Toxic Tour at Project Row Houses
As part of the programming for Round 44: Shattering the Concrete: Artists, Activists and Instigators — an exhibition centered around the role of modern art forms in challenging the current political climate and inciting political change — Project Row Houses is hosting a “Toxic Tour” with the dialogue surrounding the relationship between the city and the oil industry. Led by T.E.J.A.S. (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services), patrons will visit petrochemical plants, refineries and East End neighborhoods along the Houston Ship Channel. Convening at Project Row Houses (2521 Holman) at 10 am, the event is free but guests need to RSVP.
Really Really Free Market at Menil Park
Stop by Menil Park (1450 Branard) between 1 and 5 pm to check out the Really Really Free Market, which is exactly as how sounds: bring something you want to give away, expect nothing for it in return. No money, no barter, no sales. Don’t have anything you want to give away? Maybe you can braid hair, tell a story or teach knitting. Or you can see if someone wants to give you something. However you do it, the event promises to be an interesting one.
Guided Tours at Asia Society Texas Center
The Asia Society Texas Center (1370 Southmore) is offering docent-led tours of the building, which is Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi’s first free-standing structure in the country, as well as of the art exhibitions currently on view. The architecture tour begins at 2 pm, the art tour begins at 3 pm and tickets are $5.
Opening Receptions at Hooks-Epstein Galleries
From 5 to 7 pm, Hooks-Epstein Galleries (2631 Colquitt) is hosting the opening receptions for two exhibitions, Lorena Morales: Pathway to Nowhere or Anywhere and Lauren Salazar: Togetherness Undone. The mixed-media exhibitions, both of a minimal, abstract nature, will be on view through July 1.
No Perfect Future at Wired Up
At 6 pm, head over to Wired Up (1318 Telephone) for the opening for a group photography show centered around the future. The show, curated by Bryan Forrester, features a variety of noted Houston photographers, including Emily Peacock, Theresa Escobedo and Ryan Francisco, among many others.
A Show at Khon’s
Running from 8 pm to 2 am, “A Show” is a hilariously vague title for an event that features music, comedy, performance art and burlesque on four different stages located around Khon’s (2808 Milam). With two stages for music from the likes of You Genious, Haley Barnes, Ak’chamel, P.L.X.T.X. and Pfaff, the range is pretty impressive. You can also go to the rooftop stage for comedy and burlesque or head inside for performance art. Oh, did I mention that the event is completely free? If you want to experience a festival but FPSF isn’t exactly your scene, this is where you should be. Editor’s note: This event has since been canceled due to weather concerns.
Sunday, June 5
Montrose Print Market: Downtown Edition at Saint Arnold Brewery
From 2 to 7 pm, The Printing Museum is hosting their annual summer print market, held this year at Saint Arnold Brewery (2000 Lyons Ave.) due to a fire at their West Clay location. The event features prints from so many incredible artists that you’d be a fool not to check it out, from the likes of EYESORE, Squiggle and Dash, ACK! and Blake Jones, just to name a few.
Houston Has A Labor History? Story-Share at Project Row Houses
At 5 pm, Project Row Houses is hosting a story-share about the history of labor organizing in Houston, giving the opportunity to share and hear first-hand accounts and favorite histories from community members. Each storyteller has up to five minutes to share their account of their experience with worker’s movements around the city.
Trivia Box at BOX 13 ArtSpace
To wrap up your weekend, head over to BOX 13 ArtSpace (6700 Harrisburg) to for Trivia Box. For an entry fee of $5 per person, teams of up to six people compete to win a custom designed trophy. Sign-in starts at 7 pm and the contest begins at 7:30.
