Is it possible to be overwhelmed with too many good choices at once – sort of like heading to The Chocolate Bar after a two-week fast? Or a weeklong tropical vacation with the Houston Fire Department after a nunnery stay? An abundance of choice can only be a good thing… so choose your spring art events wisely!

Frame Dance Productions: CONTEXT May 11 @ 8pm | May 12 @ 2pm/8pm | May 13 @ 2pm

This fresh dance company presents a multi-sensory gallery of music, photography, choreography and film in CONTEXT. The cyclical experience begins with a facilitated discussion through the photography and film exhibitions, leading to live dance performance and flowing back into the gallery. The interactive format engages audiences and offers fresh ways of looking at the human body in movement, through work by Sil Azevedo, Lorie Garcia, Lydia Hance, Charles Halka and Frame Dance Productions. Winter Street Studios, Upstairs Gallery (2101 Winter Street)– $15. www.framedance.org photo by Sil Azevedo

Homegrown Houston – 3G: Three Generations of Houston’s Best Jazz Artists May 11 @ 8pm

Houston jazz artists Joe Sample, Hubert Laws and Jewel Brown come together for Homegrown Houston – 3G, benefiting Music Doing Good in Schools’ outreach program, an innovative, interdisciplinary, musical-arts enrichment program for students who want to take their skills to a higher level. As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, performances honor those Houston teachers who are “growing” the next generation of musicians. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall– $25. www.musicdoinggood.org

INSIGHT|OUT Festival May 19-20 (various times)

Experience a free weekend of music, movies and motion via performances and events in off-the-beaten-path spots around the city. The event casts top experimental artists against Houston’s unique landscapes for brand new works through the collaboration of three Houston arts groups – the University of Houston’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Aurora Picture Show and DiverseWorks. Locations include Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Project Row Houses and Uptown Houston. FREE! For times/locations: www.mitchellcenterforarts.org

ARC Exhibition: Stephen Kwok | Walled Garden May 19 – June 22 Free public opening reception: May 19, 7 – 10pm

Creating work straddling the boundary between the digital and physical worlds, Stephen Kwok’s installation-based, multimedia exhibition is an exploration of technology, spirituality and our connection to physical goods and the environment. Fresh Arts/Spacetaker

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DiverseWorks ArtSpace presents Luck of the Draw May 18 @ 6:30pm

DiverseWorks’ celebrated annual fundraising event is back! Luck of the Draw features artists from DiverseWorks’ past, present and future who have created artwork especially for the event. Bid on a variety of priceless art experiences such as trips, private tours and studio visits or buy an Art Chance Ticket and select the perfect work for your art collection. For the first time, pieces will remain on view as an exhibition through June 9.  DiverseWorks (1117 E. Freeway). For tickets, visit www.diverseworks.org.

By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson

This April is simply flooded with diverse and dynamic art to keep you occupied. No life preserver needed for these picks – you’ll leave each floating!

Dance Salad Festival April 5, 6, 7 @ 7:30pm Explore powerful merging of diverse styles in contemporary ballet, theater and music from the Stuttgart Ballet, Semperoper Ballett, English National Ballet and Spellbound Dance Company, to name a few. Each evening features major historical works with some of the most acclaimed choreographers from Europe and South America. Cullen Theater, Wortham Center (501 Texas Ave.)– tickets $20-$50. www.dancesalad.org 

Photographer Marco Bravi

Suchu Dance presents Circle of Perpetual Apparition April 13, 14, 15 & 20, 21, 22 @ 8pm (Sundays @ 7pm) A “circle of perpetual apparition” is an astronomical term: anyplace on a celestial sphere where the polar axis is equidistant to the observer’s latitude and the stars never set. Suchu’s new work is performed in the round, with the audience seated in a simple circle of chairs placed on the stage to define the performance space. The dancing occurs inside and outside the circle, embedding audience members in the performance and allowing a visual connection between all. Barnevelder Theater– tickets $15-$25. www.suchudance.org 

Mills-McCoin Rock ’n’ Roll Circus April 14 @ 7pm Enter into a world conceived by the manic mind of Mills-McCoin where the music never stops. Featuring performances by local rock legends Roky Moon & Bolt, Blackie Dammet, Poor Pilate and The Handshake, the show utilizes all of the whimsical spaces, sounds and lighting of the Orange Show to give you a non-stop evening of music, dancing and drama. Plus a special show by The New Movement Improv Troupe. The Orange Show (2402 Munger St.)– tickets $15 in advance, $20 at door. www.orangeshow.org

Photograph by Adorable Creative

 

Inprint presents former U.S. Poet Laureate W. S. Merwin April 23 @ 7:30pm The Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series comes to a close with former U.S. Poet Laureate W. S. Merwin. During the last half century, Merwin has written more than 20 collections of poetry, nearly as many books of translations and numerous prose works. He has won every major literary prize, including both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for his collection The Shadow of Sirius. Reading followed by an on-stage interview, book sale and signing. Alley Theatre (615 Texas Avenue)– tickets $5. www.inprinthouston.org  Photograph by Shabda Kahn

DiverseWorks presents the 34th School of Art Masters’ Thesis Exhibition  April 27 @ 6pm (on view through May 12) The UH School of Art, Blaffer Art Museum and DiverseWorks present works by Danilo Bojic, Ted Closson, Sebastian Forray, Lisa Garrett, Steve Hook, Chuck Ivy, Rosine Kouamen, Natali Leduc, Emily McGrew, Abi Semtner and M’kina Tapscott. Representing a wide array of media and practices, the exhibition premieres these UH MFA graduates as professional artists emerging to explore new projects. DiverseWorks ArtSpace (1117 E. Freeway)– Free! www.diverseworks.org 

Image credits: Lisa Garrett, Urban Decay

 

By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson

Too much to do this month, and too little time! Houston’s art scene is serving up a diverse spread this March –  indulge in a sumptuous sampling guaranteed to get your juices flowing!

Lone Star Performance Explosion Houston International Performance Art Biennale March 8-10

Houston’s first Performance Art Biennale will be presenting an exciting and diverse collection of live works. A broad spectrum of international and local artists will appear at three venues, providing a taste of this cutting-edge genre in which audiences can watch, experience and participate in the action. Artists include The Art Guys, Nestor Topchy, Jill Pangallo, Jenny Schlief and more. DiverseWorks, Avant Garden, Notsuoh– visit website for schedule & pricing.  www.lonestarexplosion.org

Framed @ Photobooth on Montrose March 30 @ 8pm

Step inside the dance, watch from around the Photobooth, peek in the large windows and follow the dancers as they move and manipulate the space. No “stage” to be found. Directed by Lydia Hance, Frame Dance Productions performs in a unique live dance installation. Fun, Quirky, Fresh. The Photobooth on Montrose (2710 Montrose Blvd.)– www.framedance.org

ARC Exhibition: Home Spun|Jaime Collier On view March 19-April 27 Opening Reception: March 23 @ 6pm-8pm

Spacetaker presents a solo exhibition by photographer Jaime Collier as part of the 2012 FotoFest Biennial. Contextualizing the ideals of what “home” means to her and to the various cultures she has photographed throughout the world, Collier will transform Spacetaker’s gallery into the common rooms of a home, shaping each space physically and emotionally through her photographs and photographic prints on textiles used to make clothing, home furnishings and structural elements. Spacetaker ARC (2101 Winter Street, Studio B11)– Free. www.spacetaker.org

Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre presents Sara Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone March 22–April 7 

Synopsis: Jean becomes annoyed when the man sitting next to her won’t answer his ringing phone, until she finally answers it herself, discovering the man is dead. By taking ownership of his phone, Jean moves into Gordon’s life, meeting his mother, his widow and falling in love with his brother.  But as Jean clumsily attempts to comfort his grieving relatives and discovers the nature of Gordon’s unpleasant work, she realizes she may be in for more than she bargained for. Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios (1824 Spring Street)–$15. www.mildredsumbrella.com

Ars Lyrica presents “La Resurrezione” March 9 @ 7:30pm

Handel’s “La Resurrezione” is a musical retelling of the Resurrection story, as seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, two companions, an angel and Lucifer himself. Handel’s work is full of exuberance, beautiful and poignant melodies, even flashes of humor. The Grammy-nominated early music ensemble’s production will feature Canadian soprano Gillian Keith and countertenor Ryland Angel. Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall– starting at $31. www.arslyricahouston.org

Awready! The Houston Hip Hop Conference March 27-28 

Exploring the unique music and culture of Houston hip hop, the Awready! Hip Hop Conference was developed by the Houston Hip Hop Archives Network, a partnership developed by the HERE Project and University of Houston Libraries for preserving the artifacts of Houston hip hop. See the full schedule at www.lws.lib.uh.edu/hiphop/.

February is dedicated to love… or more specifically, the pursuit of love and the potentially fevered last-minute search for Valentine bouquets and gifts. In the sage words of love’s most sonorous troubadour (Barry White): “Too much of anything is not good for you, baby.” But while overdosing on Godiva has unfortunate repercussions for your waistline, there’s no such thing as too much art in our opinion! Take this month to celebrate those artists who make you swoon.

The Coast of Utopia
@ Main Street Theater
February 9 – March 11 (Times vary)
Main Street Theater presents Tom Stoppard’s trilogy chronicling a group of real-life Russian intellectuals dreaming of revolution. Set against the backdrop of Paris during the Revolution of 1848, philosopher Alexander Herzen articulates his search for a Utopia before he is thwarted by a series of personal catastrophes. In Shipwrecked, a disillusioned Herzen finds solace in London within a community of political émigrés including Karl Marx and Mikhail Bakunin.
MST Rice Village (2540 Times Blvd.)– tickets from $26. 713.524.6706 / www.MainStreetTheater.com

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater’s Winter Mixed Rep
February 9, 10 & 11 @ 7:30pm
DWDT presents a mixed rep showcasing the stunning 27’52” by icon Jií Kylián, the master of fusing classical and modern dance. This electrifying program also features the Texas premiere of Walsh’s Nessuno created for Hubbard Street 2, memorable duets from his award-winning The Trilogy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by Domenico Luciano, Stefania Figliossi and Japanese ballerina Hana Sakai, as well as a cameo appearance by beloved ballerina Tyann Clement.
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall (800 Bagby Street)– Tickets $25–52. 713.315.2525
www.dwdt.org

ROCO in Concert
February 18 @ 5pm at
The Church of St. John the Divine
February 19 @ 5pm concert with Dinner at The Houstonian Hotel
ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra) welcomes guest conductor Kazem Abdullah to conduct Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 4, Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto performed by Richard Belcher (of the Grammy-nominated Enso Quartet), and the world premiere of Lumiére Lunaire (refletée) by composer and jazz pianist Paul English. With a core of 40 local and national professional musicians, ROCO has made a name for itself in Houston and beyond as a chamber orchestra whose performances are “the most fun you can have with serious music.”
713.665.2700| www.rocohouston.org

Grown-up Story Time 44
February 21 @ 9pm
BooTown presents the 44th installment of Grown-up Storytime (GUST), a favorite for Montrose-bound theatricals! The formula: The public submits stories to be read by a rotating crack-squad of expert storytellers who’ll rock your socks off with their unique spin on each tale. It’s every third Tuesday of the month – what else are you going to do? An added bonus also in February: Boo’s nontraditional take on the Benshi show! In the tradition of Japanese performers providing live narration for silent films, BooTown will dub one of “the greatest pieces of American film history to date”: ROADHOUSE. GUST: Rudyard’s British Pub (2010 Waugh Drive)– $5. www.bootown.org

It’s time to start fresh in the new year! Clean out your closets, kick your bad habits and renew your gym membership – or at least, vow to make good use of it, rather than writing it off as your charitable contribution to the fitness industry. As always, January is all about reflection and self-improvement… so among your New Year’s resolutions, consider dedicating more time to exploring your local art scene.

“and everything in between” @ Spacetaker
January 13 @ 6pm: Opening Reception
On view January 13 -March 2
“and everything in between,” a solo exhibition by Houston artist Curtis Gannon, showcases collages and constructions based on the deconstruction of the comic book medium. His various approaches to presentation and reassembly explore the fundamental mechanisms by which comics communicate their message. Incorporating intricate geometric patterns made of overlapping, cut-up and woven comic book pages (including Plexiglas installations), the work highlights the characteristics of American action comics: color, movement, dialogue, dramatic story lines and pop entertainment. Spacetaker ARC Gallery (2101 Winter)- Free! www.spacetaker.org

A Crack in Everything
January 19-21, 7:30pm: zoe|juniper performances
January 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, 1pm: Local performances
zoe|juniper (Princess Grace Awardee Zoe Scofield and Juniper Shuey) create an immersive environment of video, dance, photography and installation extending and expanding upon their touring dance work, A Crack in Everything (ACIE). Using the Greek tragedy The Oresteia to explore the emotional spectrum of justice and retaliation, the installation allows viewers to experience the performance from different perspectives simultaneously, providing insight into the physical and emotive realities of the performers. DiverseWorks ArtSpace (1117 East Freeway)- Free! www.diverseworks.org

Inprint presents Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood
January 23 @ 7:30pm
The Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series presents literary icon Margaret Atwood, author of more than 40 books and internationally celebrated novelist, poet, literary critic and environmental activist. Her tenth novel, The Blind Assassin, received the 2000 Booker Prize, a prize for which she has received five nominations. Her work includes The Edible Woman, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Robber Bride and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood. The reading will be followed by an on-stage interview, book sale and signing. Cullen Theater in Wortham Center (501 Texas Ave.)- Tickets $5. www.inprinthouston.org

Party Like It’s Mardi! – Music Doing Good Jazz Series
January 27: Pre-Show Party @ 7pm; Performance @ 8pm
Grab your friends, snag some beads and King Cake, sip a Hurricane and celebrate the grand spirit of Mardi Gras. Music Doing Good director of jazz and trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis gathers his crew of legendary jazz musicians including saxophonist “Preacherman” Mark Gross and jazz all-star drummer Adonis Rose, along with Big Chief Gerard Bo Dollis and Big Chief Smiley Ricks to lead the parade. Don’t hesitate to don your beads and costumes and bask in bold sounds and elation of this rich tradition. All ticket sales benefit the Musical Instrument Aid and Scholarship Fund. Zilkha Hall (Hobby Center)- $25.
www.musicdoinggood.com

The art scene has gotten hip to the festive holiday spirit, too… so knock back the nog and venture out to any one of these artful celebrations this season and stir up a little trouble with your culture. Felices Fiestas!

Suchu Dance presents Shhelkunchik
December 1-4 @ 8pm
“Shhelkunchik” is the Russian word for the Nutcracker ballet. Loosely using source material from the original Hoffmann story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” Suchu branches out from its usual non-representational style to create a narrative dance delivered in a non-linear, collage format: a perfect alternative, semi-Christmas-ish event for dance lovers (and haters). Visitors can also enjoy the newest Suchu Holiday Market featuring an opportunity to purchase holiday gifts. 8pm. Barnevelder (2201 Preston)– $15-25.  www.suchudance.org

Communograph Bus Tour: Architecture and Community with Stephen Fox
December 3 @ 2pm
Join the Mitchell Center and local architectural historian Stephen Fox for an alternative bus tour, exploring John Biggers’ principle of “Good and Relevant Architecture.” Sites and stops include Emancipation Park, the historic Eldorado Ballroom, Cuney Homes and a special presentation by Alvia Wardlaw at TSU on the artwork and legacy of John Biggers. Meet at Project Row Houses (2521 Holman)– $10. RSVP required; call 713.526.7662. www.mitchellcenterforarts.org

Sketchy Neighbors at Spacetaker ARC
Opening December 10 @ 5pm
w/ special appearance by NANO Fiction December 21 @ 6:30pm
Spacetaker presents Houston artist collective Sketchy Neighbors in The Saddest Love Story Almost Never Told: Based on a True Idea, showcasing new work based on public submissions, as well as a multimedia collaborative installation. Drawings, paintings and sculptures via a multitude of media including black velvet, found objects, custom snow globes and more come from neighbors Marisa Avelar, Anthony Butkovich, Brenda Cruz, Jordan Johnson, Katsola, Devon Moore, Melissa Perez, Chris Thompson and Jeff Whiteley. On December 21, local writers from flash fiction publisher NANO Fiction join in for Inky Improv, an experiment in collaborative exchange where scribes and sketchers draw inspiration from audience suggestions. With a strict time limit, each round of this creative throwdown pits artists’ and writers’ wits against each other in friendly fire promising entertainment and unexpected results. Spacetaker ARC (2101 Winter)– free! www.spacetaker.org  

Ars Lyrica presents Bach and Time and a New Year’s Eve Gala
December 31 @ 9pm
Ars Lyrica rings in 2012 with Bach and Time, a program that juxtaposes Bach’s beloved Suite in D (with its famous “Air on the G String”) against vocal works by the great Baroque master on the subject of time, including a cantata on the idea of eternity and one for the new year. Featured soloists include soprano Melissa Givens, countertenor Ryland Angel, tenor Zach Averyt and bass-baritone David Grogan. A gala reception with champagne, delectable hors d’oeuvres and special musical entertainment follows, so make your plans now to spend New Year’s Eve with Ars Lyrica!  Zilka Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts– concert starting @ $31, gala $60. www.arslyricahouston.org

By Jenni Rebecca
Stephenson

November is a month of excess. On the heels of Halloween and the mounds of orange and black candy, what better way to recover than with an overstuffed Thanksgiving dinner – complete with your family’s secret recipe for green bean casserole. (Secret, but eerily similar to every other casserole out there.) Keep with the theme and overindulge in arts this month as well!

Alternate Reality by Magid Salmi
Opening November 4 @ 6pm

Spacetaker presents Alternate Reality, a solo exhibition by Houston artist Magid Salmi, as part of its ARC Exhibition Series. Salmi’s unique photographic stills feature common household and perishable items in an alternate reality, investigating the notion that what we consider strange and shocking at this point in time may become the status quo in the future. Taking a humorous approach in his work, his images playfully encapsulate our society’s obsession with consumerism and technological progress. On view through December 2 at Spacetaker ARC (2101 Winter Street)
Free! www.spacetaker.org

red, black and GREEN: a blues
November 4-5 @ 7:30pm

Spoken word/hip-hop theatre artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s new multimedia work on environmental justice and social ecology questions collective responsibility during dramatic climate change. In an exhilarating, interactive performance of dance, text and video, the presentation begins with an immersive onstage viewing of the installation/set designed by visual artist Theaster Gates. Developed in residence with the Mitchell Center, Joseph’s piece contains extensive imagery of Houston, its neighborhoods and personalities. Wortham Theatre, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, University of Houston (Entrance 16 off Cullen)– Tickets $20.
www.mitchellcenterforarts.org

Pianist Kathryn Woodard
November 5 @ 8pm
Sonic Crossroads presents pianist Kathryn Woodard in recital, in which she will perform works by Keiko Fujiie, Eka Chabashvili, Adnan Saygun, Ivan Bozicevic and others from her recent CD releases. Frenetic Theater (5102 Navigation Blvd.)– Tickets $15. www.soniccrossroads.com

Ars Lyrica Houston presents Musical Alchemy
November 12 @ 7:30pm

An evening of striking instrumental combinations and prize-winning soloists including Baroque violin sensation Ingrid Matthews and Baroque flautist Colin St. Martin! Familiar works by Bach and Handel are leavened with more exotic fare, including chamber works by Bach’s youngest son and by Frederick the Great’s personal composer. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center– Starting at $31. www.arslyricahouston.org

Jacqui Sutton @ The Mucky Duck
November 13 @ 6-8pm
Back by popular demand, Jacqui Sutton appears with the Frontier Jazz Orchestra, mixing jazz, bluegrass and classical music to create her signature Frontier Jazz style. Songs from the debut CD “Billie & Dolly” on display with appearances by Paul Chester, Henry Darragh, Dennis Dotson, Max Dyer, Ilya Janos-Kolosz and Anthony Sapp. www.jacquisutton.com

Spacetaker’s Winter Holiday Art Market (WHAM) November 18-20

Once again, Spacetaker’s Winter Holiday Art Market (otherwise known as WHAM) takes over Winter Street Studios for a juried special exhibition, sale and art festival in one! Featuring a wide variety of fine arts and crafts for sale (including paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, clothing, purses, ornaments and soaps), over 65 local artists are displaying their wares at WHAM 2011. Six years strong, WHAM’s the perfect opportunity to pick out a unique print, a handcrafted necklace or hand-painted holiday card for all the loved ones on your gift list… all while enjoying live music, complimentary beverages and activities for the whole family. Plus, patrons bolster the local economy by supporting those creative types who make Houston a great place to live. Support local and grow together!
www.winterholidayartmarket.com

By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson

No rest for the weary as the cultured set starts the fall in a sprint! Who needs to pace themselves? The beginning marathon arts season is just beginning, but it’ll leave you flying high.

Main Street Theater’s Woof

Through October 9

Woof, a world premiere by Y York, opens Main Street Theater’s 36th season. Through dark humor, the drama relates the raw story of one man watching his world crumble around him and deciding how to move forward.  MST (Rice Village); $10+.

www.mainstreettheater.com

Framing Bodies: LOVE ME

October 14 & 15 @ 8pm

Choreographer Lydia Hance presents a new dance film uniting daring professional dancers and brave community members (a librarian, nurse, lawyer, pre-school teacher and mail clerk) to share their romantic secrets through word and dance. Through stories of sublime expressions of love to the depths of emotional isolation, these Houstonians spill their guts… will you listen? Spacetaker ARC (Winter Street Studios); $10. www.framedance.org

 

Divergence Vocal Theater’s Autumn Soiree

October 14 & 15 @ 8pm

Join chanteuse Misha Penton and a range of multi-arts mavens for a phantasmagoric evening of sinister folktales, dance, puppetry and haunting vocal and instrumental music spanning the centuries. Stay for the otherworldly post-performance party dressed in your Gothic best! Divergence Music & Arts (Spring Street Studios); $20. www.divergencevocaltheater.org

The Secondary Colors

October 20-22 @ 7:30pm

Presented in part by the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, The Secondary Colors combines the quirky multi-faceted vision of Karen Stokes with the evocative music of composer Bill Ryan. Green, Orange & Purple comprise a trilogy of pieces exploring the meaning housed in the color and a conceptual platform for community. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for Performing Arts. www.tdghouston.info

make eyes at me

October 20-22 @ 8pm, October 23 @ 7pm

The new production, make eyes at me, marks a departure for Suchu Dance in its intensity and darkness. Starting with the words “sex” and “death” as a point of departure, movements explore attraction, intimacy, deterioration, violence, vulnerability and the fear of the unknown. Barnevelder Theater (2201 Preston); $15-25. www.suchudance.org

BREAK-THRU

October 21 @ 8pm

MusicDoingGood (formerly known as Divas World Productions) opens their season with BREAK-THRU, a concert of diverse musical genres including songs from R&B’s Sam Cooke to Chopin and beyond. Hosted by Dr. David Eagleman, author and neuroscientist, proceeds of ticket sales benefit The Parish School, advocating for children with language and learning differences. Rockefeller Hall (3620 Washington); $45/60. www.musicdoinggood.org

 

Inprint presents Jeffrey Eugenides

October 26 @ 7:30pm

Inprint’s Margarett Root Brown Reading Series presents award-winning writer Jeffrey Eugenides, whose first novel, The Virgin Suicides, became an international bestseller and feature film by Sophia Coppola. Eugenides later won the Pulitzer Prize for his blockbuster novel Middlesex, a family saga centered on a Greek hermaphrodite. Featuring his third novel, The Marriage Plot, the reading will be followed by an interview, book sale and signing. Cullen Theater, Wortham Center; $5. www.inprinthouston.org

By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson

 

Jack Ferver & Marc Swanson: Two AlikeSeptember 15-17 @ 7:30pm

 Choreographer Jack Ferver in collaboration with visual artist Marc Swanson creates a meditative and visceral performance following a man’s journey from rural upbringings to a furious adulthood set in an urban landscape in his latest work, Two Alike. Ferver acts as the emotive flesh and voice inside Swanson’s eerie and raw sculptures. This performance corresponds with Swanson’s ongoing show at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. DiverseWorks ArtSpace, 1117 East Freeway – $10-$20; Thursday Pay What You Want Ticket. www.Diverseworks.org

 

Media Archeology: Rewind – Play – Fast Forward September 15-17 @ 8pm 

In collaboration with the University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Aurora Picture Show presents the 8th annual Media Archeology Festival (Rewind – Play – Fast Forward) showcasing artists who manipulate, recycle and reinvent electronic media in multidisciplinary performances. This year’s festival explores games as social tools for interaction, community building and entertainment – from chess and charades to role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. Details include gaming under the stars underscored by popular tunes via vintage computers to a live video game performance. Various locales, like The Orange Show and Menil Park—Free! www.aurorapictureshow.org

 

SALSA Y SALUD
September 17 @ 6pm

(Performance @ 8pm)Salsa y Salud is a health education initiative presented by Arts with Social Impact, the Hispanic Health Coalition, BOUNCE (Behavior Opportunities Uniting Nutrition Counseling and Exercise) and the Foundation for Modern Music. Through the appeal of salsa music and dance, Salsa y Salud unites people of multiple ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds for an evening of art, exercise and entertainment. The night kicks off with a free salsa lesson for the public, a concert by the KIPP Academy Jazz Ensemble and finally, a showcase of over 60+ performers. Miller Outdoor Theater (6000 Hermann Park Dr.) – Free!

 

Inprint presents authors Francisco Goldman and Nicole KraussSeptember 19 @ 7:30pm Launching the 31st season of the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series, Francisco Goldman, author of The Long Night of White Chickens and The Art of Political Murder, will read from his new work, Say Her Name, a personal account of his wife’s untimely death. Also, Nicole Krauss, one of The New Yorker’s “20 Best Writers Under 40” and author of bestseller The History of Love, will share her new book, Great House. Readings are followed by an on-stage interview, book sale and signing. Cullen Theater in Wortham Center (501 Texas) – General admission $5. www.inprinthouston.org

 

Ars Lyrica presents Paradise Found September 23 @ 7:30pmThe 2011-12 season of Transformations begins with a journey from worldly torment to heavenly ecstasy, featuring French-Italian soprano Céline Ricci in her Houston début with core Ars Lyrica string and continuo players. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts – Starting at $31. www.arslyricahouston.org

 

Weekend of Texas Contemporary DanceSeptember 23 and 24 @ 8pm September 24 @ 11amWeekend of Texas Contemporary Dance, a showcase of dance works by companies and choreographers throughout Texas, features Ad Deum Dance Company, Earthen Vessels/Sandra Organ Dance Company, HIStory, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, infinite Movement Ever Evolving, Psophonia Dance Company, Vault and choreographer Ashley Horn. Weekend also features a family matinee, Dance around the World, with Houston Ballet II. Miller Outdoor Theatre—Free! www.houstondance.org

 

Save the Date! Winter Street Studios – Houston’s largest group of working artists – throws open its studio doors to celebrate 7 years on October 1! Swing by to glimpse over 80 artists on display, including artist Mark Masterson at the Spacetaker ARC Gallery. www.winterstreetstudios.netwww.spacetaker.org

By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gift of Gift of’s Exhibition & Vote Party

 

 

 

August 20 @ 7pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join art patrons, artists and art lovers to celebrate up-and-coming photographers while making a communal gift to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston! The concept: Gift of Gift of (GoGo) offers young art patrons a chance to impact large collecting institutions and aid emerging artists from around the world by organizing a shindig showcasing photographs for the consideration of collective purchase and donation to a museum’s permanent collection. A ticket includes libations, delish bites, music and three chances to vote for the work to be bought with pooled ticket funds. Spacetaker ARC (2101 Winter Street)–  $30 pre-sale and $40 (cash only) at door. www.giftofgiftof.com

 

 

 

Music for Silent Films

 

 

 

August 21 @ 7pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Composer Chris Becker presents composed and improvised music accompanying silent films by local and NYC artists (Noe Kidder, Jonathan Jindra, Robert Thoth, Carolina Vasquez and Pablo Gimenez Zapiola). Using the popular software program Ableton Live and a large collection of samples, Becker improvises a soundtrack to each silent film by layering samples like pieces of an aural jigsaw puzzle. Beginning with a partially composed “template” of sounds, an improvised dialogue between music and images begins as the film unfolds. Joining Becker is Houston bassist extraordinaire Thomas Helton. Divergence Music and Arts (1824 Spring Street)– $10. www.thomashelton.org

 

 

 

UH Arts Open House

 

 

 

August 23 @ 4pm

 

 

 

The UH Arts Open House coincides with the second day of Cougar First Impressions and features live music from the Moores School of Music, readings from the Creative Writing Program, demonstrations by the School of Art and performances by the School of Theatre & Dance. All events offer a sneak peek at the UH Arts Fall season. UH Arts Quadrangle (Entrance 16 off Cullen Blvd.), University of Houston– Free! www.mitchellcenterforarts.org

 

 

 

Continuum’s iPerform @ Spacetaker

 

 

 

August 26 @ 7:30

 

 

 

 

iPerform is a performance showcase and series created by performance art troupe Continuum. The exhibition consists of video/photo documentation of the group’s work interspersed with interactive “stations.” At the opening reception, the audience is invited to partake in guided visualization/meditation and ritualistic sweeping/cleansing rituals, confess their sins to a shrine of Bud Lite Lime or make photocopies of random body parts for a wall collage. Additionally, Continuum is hosting free performance art workshops immersing participants in an encouraging, safe atmosphere to explore themselves through the performance medium, all culminating in a closing night showcase. Spacetaker ARC (2101 Winter Street)– Free! www.spacetaker.org

 

 

 

Fall for Dominic Walsh Dance Theater

 

 

 

August 26 @ 8 pm 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater kicks off another electrifying season with a dynamic program of audience favorites including Walsh’s inventive Time Out of Line that merges dance, visual art and video along with his powerful solo set to Claude Debussy’s popular Clair de Lune. With a unique mix of technical virtuosity, innovation and collaboration, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater is one of this country’s leading contemporary ballet companies. So pack a picnic and bring the whole family for this evening guaranteed to entertain and inspire! Miller Outdoor Theatre (6000 Hermann Park Dr.)– Free! www.dwdt.org

 

 

 

 

By Jenni Rebecca Stephenson