The Nature of Technology: The Hidden Agenda
Judy Labib, from “Collaborations XIV: The Nature of Technology” at the Houston Center for Photography
This week’s arts offerings include opening receptions at the Houston Center for Photography and DiverseWorks, private tours at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and an ambient and noise sound performance at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
Thursday, May 11
Performance — Texas Noise and Ambience at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
From 6:30 to 9 pm, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (5216 Montrose) revives Texas Noise and Ambiance, an ongoing interdisciplinary sound series that highlights the work of ambient, drone and noise based artists performing in Texas. The spring program of the series will feature performances by Illicit Relationship, Lily Taylor, LIMB, Raceway, Splendid Emblem and Tanner Garza.
Friday, May 12
Frank Hamrick, “Blackberries,” 2024
Opening Receptions at the Houston Center for Photography
From 5:30 to 8 pm, the Houston Center for Photography (1441 West Alabama) hosts opening receptions for four exhibitions. Frank Hamrick, the 2024 HCP Fellowship Recipient, presents Harder than Writing a Good Haiku, a selection of small tintype photographs conceived as select moments to be open to the viewer’s interpretation. Jan Rattia, the 2024 Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship Recipient, presents Tease, a series of photographs that offer a unique look into the lives of the largely misunderstood community of male strippers. The exhibition Resonantia from Louviere + Vanessa conceives the intersection of sound, sight, and science through four disparate works. Now in its fourteenth year, HCP’s Collaborations XVI: The Nature of Technology, offers up a group exhibition of exemplary photographic works from 18 students from Houston-area high schools. The exhibitions will be on view through July 2.
Roberto Jackson Harrington, from “C wut stix”
Opening Reception — Roberto Jackson Harrington: C wut stix at Bill’s Junk
From 7 to 9 pm, The Center for Experimental Practice presents a solo exhibition by Austin-based artist Roberto Jackson, C wut stix, at Bill’s Junk (1126 E 11th). The exhibition features a selection of one-off pieces, jokes, prints and objects that are not usually associated with Harrington’s work, the result of exploring, failures, dead-ends and self-amusement. The exhibition will be on view through May 27.
Discussion — Surrealism and the Art of the 1960s at The Menil Collection
From 7 to 9 pm, The Menil Collection (1533 Sul Ross) presents a symposium on the role that surrealism has played as both a historical touchstone and the contemporary of artistic movements that emerged after World War II. This includes a discussion on how the movement impacted the development of Pop Art, Happenings and Narrative Figuration within the cultural movement of the 1960s. Speakers include Dr. Sandra Zalman of the University of Houston and Dr. Steven Harris of the University of Alberta, and the presentation includes a video essay by artist Jean-Jacques Lebel.
Opening Reception — Mystic Errata at Mystic Lyon
From 6 to 9 pm, nine artists will showcase a variety of monoprints and misprints in the window display case at Mystic Lyon (5017 Lyons Ave.) in the Fifth Ward. The opening will feature work by Rene Cruz, Ryan Francisco, EYESORE, Dyan Cannon, Josh Higgins, Brett Hollis, Gabriel Martinez, and Travis Oren Smith. The event will also serve as the release for Zine Fest Houston’s 2024 compilation, with participating artists also selling their work.
Mysteries of the Unknown at Flying Squid Tattooing and Art Gallery
From 6 to 10 pm, join dozens of artists at Flying Squid Tattooing and Art Gallery (1507 N. Durham) for Mysteries of the Unknown, an art show exploring UFOs, conspiracy theory, cryptozoology, psychic phenomena and the paranormal. Participating artists include EYESORE, Shelby Hohl, María-Elisa Heg, Jade O Lantern, Rene Cruz, Brennan Burch, Gabriel Dieter and more. Several artists will be selling their work and free beer will be provided by Eureka Heights Brew Co.
Saturday, May 13
“Public Trust” by Paul Ramírez Jonas at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
From 1 to 5 pm, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston will present “Public Trust,” an interactive artwork by Paul Ramírez Jonas as part of his exhibition Atlas, Plural, Monumental. The piece asks museum visitors to examine the value of a word by declaring a promise, the words of which are recorded in a drawing that is shared with them and posted on a marquee board alongside similar pronouncements made by notable figures from the week’s headline news.
Opening Reception — into the midst of things at DiverseWorks
From 6 to 8 pm, join DiverseWorks (3400 Main) for the opening reception of the group exhibition into the midst of things. The exhibition brings together three artists — Regina Agu, ruby onyinyechi amanze, and Wura-Natasha Ogunji — to explore the concept of mark making in performance, drawing and writing, offering complex counterpoints to cultural and historical narratives. The title refers to in media res, a literary term that describes a narrative that begins in the middle of the action. The exhibition will be on view through July 22.
Monday, May 15
Tour — Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Showcasing nearly 50 ikat robes and panels from the renowned Murad Megalli Collection of the Textile Museum in Washington D.C., Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats features textiles originally produced in the 1800s in weaving centers across Uzbekistan. As part programming for the exhibition, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1001 Bissonnet) is offering two expert-led tours to educate patrons about the social, historical and economic aspects of ikat production. The first tour at 1:30 pm is led by Janet O’Brien, curatorial assistant for art of the Islamic worlds and an integral part of the installation process, and the second tour at 6:30 pm is led by Aimée Froom, cuator for art of the Islamic worlds. Tickets for the tours start at $55 for members and $65 for non-members and the exhibition will be on view through June 4.
