NEWS BITS

BRUCE DAVIDSON’S PHOTOGRAPHS

The Menil Collection

The exhibition Collection Close-up: Bruce Davidson’s Photographs highlights Davidson’s sustained engagement with social and political concerns with works from the museum’s permanent collection.

The exhibition comprises a selection of the American photographer’s most consequential series made between 1956 and 1995, primarily drawn from an anonymous gift to the museum of approximately 350 of Davidson’s photographs, which have never before been on view at the Menil. Seeking a shared humanity, Davidson’s photographs offer an intimate perspective of his subjects and their communities, from circus performers to Welsh miners to New York City neighborhoods. Rebecca Rabinow, director of the Menil Collection, said: “The Menil is honored to present some 60 photographs by Bruce Davidson in this timely and thought-provoking exhibition. A leading figure in the history of documentary photography, Davidson’s work focuses on the many challenges faced by American and European multiracial, multiethnic societies that promise liberty yet struggle to achieve racial and economic equity and justice.” Molly Everett, Curatorial Assistant, Modern and Contemporary Art, said: “With this exhibition, we have the incredible opportunity to consider Davidson’s powerful practice thanks to a recent anonymous gift that builds on the Menil’s strong holdings of civil rights-era photographs Davidson’s work is representative of how photography has, and continues to be, a crucial medium for social engagement.” The Menil’s presentation begins with work from one of Davidson’s earliest series, Brooklyn Gang, 1959. The work received international acclaim, and the artist subsequently was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to document “Youth in America.” For this project, Davidson joined the Freedom Riders, college-age activists who confronted racial segregation in the American South. Davidson was profoundly impacted by the violent resistance the group encountered, as well as by the glaring inequity in the communities they visited. “Riding on that bus with the Freedom Riders,” recalled the photographer, “I became sensitized, and the exposure developed my perception.” According to John Lewis, one of the leaders of the Freedom Riders who later became a United States Congressman, “Bruce’s courageous photographs helped to educate and sensitize individuals beyond our southern borders. They shone a national spotlight on the signs, symbols, and scars of racial segregation.” On view until May 29, 2022.

Bruce Davidson, Selma March, Alabama, 1965. Gelatin silver print, 12 5/8 × 18 3/4 in. The Menil Collection, Houston, Anonymous gift. © Bruce Davidson/Magnum Photos

Left: Textile Fragment Depicting Male Figure, Plants, and Monkeys, ca. 1400. Chimú, Peru. Photo by James Craven. Right: Pierre Verger, Untitled, Fiesta de la Virgen, Copacabana, Bolivia), 1939-45. © Fundação Pierre Verger From the moment of their unveiling at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in February 2018, the official portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama became iconic. Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of Barack Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of Michelle Obama have inspired unprecedented responses from the public and come to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on the final stop of their national tour. On view from April 3 through May 30, 2022.

TRUE NORTH 2022

Sculpture – Heights Boulevard

True North has announced the eight Texas artists chosen for its 2022 sculpture project - arriving in March on the esplanade of Heights Boulevard: ELIZABETH AKAMATSU, Nacogdoches, ART FAIRCHILD, Dallas, RACHEL GARDNER, Houston, GUADALUPE HERNANDEZ, Houston SUGURU HIRAIDE, Wichita Falls, WILL LARSON, Austin, ISRAEL MCCLOUD, Houston, JIM ROBERTSON, Trinity. On view from March to December 2022.

The Institute for Spirituality and Health

A Street Art Festival in Downtown Houston

The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center (The Institute) is the new charity beneficiary of Via Colori® Houston, a time-honored street painting festival taking place April 2nd and 3rd, 2022. The event will be held at POST, Houston’s newest cultural epicenter. The historic Barbara Jordan Post Office is located in downtown Houston at 401 Franklin St. The purpose of this free, family-friendly event is to raise awareness and funds to support The Institute and its education, platforms, and programs at the intersection of spirituality and health. This time-honored street painting festival will again bring together hundreds of student, amateur, and professional artists to create beautiful chalk masterpieces while also celebrating Houston’s diversity. This event will also feature live music, a children’s creative area, and expansive hospitality options for a weekend of artistic expression and community connection. “The Institute is pleased to be the new beneficiary charity of Via Colori® Houston. We look forward to hosting its inaugural, two-day creative arts and cultural event. This event will draw thousands of families, artists, vendors, volunteers and festival-goers for a weekend of creativity and inspiration. Via Colori® Houston is an outdoor event celebrating the act of spontaneous, temporary works with a charter to foster commu-

The Triumph of Heroic WASP

Fly Girls of WWII tells the inspirational stories of the American women known to history as WASPs, (Women Airforce Service Pilots) who answered the call to service during the World War II. More than 25,000 women applied for the experimental flight training program, only 1,830 were accepted. In this exhibition, visitors will hear the stories of these pioneering pilots and the triumph and perseverance of these heroic pilots. Visitors will see original WASP World War II uniforms, military artifacts, and learn how these courageous women changed the face of our military. Exhibition on view through July 10, 2022.

nity connection and resilience,” commented by Leah Adams, vice president of engagement at The Institute. The festival welcomes chalk artists of every skill level - from those steeped in all things art to the curious at heart to family art projects and company team building. For more information on Via Colori® Houston , visit www.viacolorihouston.org.

Texas-based artist, Liz Painter created this image at the 2021 Kerrville Chalk Festival. Photo by Mackenzie Wade

Last January, an anonymous local art patron donated a piece of artwork from one of the most recognized names in the contemporary art world, Joan Miró (1893-1983), to the Woodlands Art League (WAL). The donated untitled piece was painted in 1949. Miró, was a Spanish artist who worked with Picasso in the 1920s, and was part of the Surrealist group of that era. “This is an extraordinary gift which will inspire people in many ways. We are very grateful to have this unique, original painting at our studio,” said Sara Saravo, President of WAL. “We hope this gift will encourage others to follow the example of this generous donor...” she said. Tom La Rock, VP Studio, Classes & Workshops for the WAL went on to say, “Our plans are to display the painting at the WAL studio. We hope to use it to raise funds to further expand our organization and serve the art community in the greater Woodlands area.” WAL studio, classroom and gallery space are located in the Epic Creative Co-op. To learn more visit: ww.woodlandsartleague.org. The John Chamberlain Building at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa will reopen, after a comprehensive 12-month-long restoration of the 23,000-squarefoot space. The project also includes conservation of the 23 largescale John Chamberlain sculptures permanently on display within, which comprise the largest permanent installation of Chamberlain’s works in the world. Chinati will celebrate the reopening with a special day-long event on April 30, 2022. Admission to the John Chamberlain Building will be free to visitors on that day and for the remainder of 2022. “Almost four decades in the desert have taken their toll on the Chamberlain Building. The restoration work preserves and strengthens this landmark so that it may continue to be a central destination in Marfa,” says Jenny Moore, director, Chinati Foundation. “The improvements to the Chamberlain Building, along with the rest of Chinati’s art, architecture, and land, ensure that we continue to serve as a beacon of creativity and inspiration for decades to come.” In partnership with The United States Conference of Mayors, Americans for the Arts presented the Local Arts Leadership Award

to Mayor Sylvester Turner during a ceremony at the USCM 90th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. For over 20 years, Americans for the Arts has recognized elected officials at various levels of government with their Public Leadership in the Arts Awards. The prestigious award celebrates Mayor Turner’s advocation for the city’s rich and diverse cultural character, and his outstanding and consistent support for the arts in Houston, with particular emphasis during Hurricane Harvey and the Covid-19 pandemic. With the help of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), the mayor engages Houston’s thriving creative community based on leadership that values art and artmaking as foundational to the wellbeing of individuals and neighborhoods. “My heart is full of gratitude for this incredible award,” said Mayor Turner. “I am honored and humbled to be recognized for my tireless support of the arts in Houston. Art helps define a city and we are working to keep Houston a global creative city.” Mayor Turner’s leadership approach of working collaboratively has been a hallmark of his time in office. His vision has resulted in the development and improvement of programs like Artist INC in Houston with Fresh Arts, the Poet Laureate Program for the City, and the addition of two Cultural Districts totaling to seven in the City recognized by the State of Texas. Mayor Turner, who in his second four-year term in office, made a commitment early on to the advancements outlined in Houston’s Arts and Cultural Plan, and increased engagement and collaborative work between MOCA and local arts agency Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) that resulted in the redesign of the City’s grants system to ensure a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels. “Mayor Turner is not a ‘business as usual’ leader. Throughout his terms, he has been focused on promoting the arts and ensuring diversity and equity,” said , MOCA Director Necole Irvin. “Mayor Turner is a strong leader who continues to show his dedication to the expansive arts and cultural landscape of Houston, his value of the centrality of the arts, and his genuine love of the arts. The MOCA team congratulates you on this welldeserved recognition.”

Nothing Goes to Waste showcases a survey of artists who find exciting ways to reuse and repurpose materials, scraps, and castoffs through ingenuity. Highlighting works created from discarded materials like ceramic shards, cut paper, and marble remnants, the exhibition explores how salvaged material can inspire creativity and provoke curiosity about the impact various industrial and artistic processes have on the ecology of the planet. In response to the increased production rate of single-use items, particularly following the onset of the pandemic, Calder Kamin creates colorful and entertaining creatures from recycled materials like plastic bags and cutlery. Inspired by nature’s adaptability, Kamin draws on the resourcefulness of the Earth’s biodiversity, calling upon individuals to curtail their consumption habits and make use of what they have. In the face of stifling realities such as the pandemic, many artists like Leigh Suggs, Calder Kamin, Jeff Forster, and Chase Travaille, have shifted their studio practices and enlisted community support, using reclaimed materials from their networks in meaningful ways. While it is common knowledge that many industries yield a high volume of material waste, the amount of energy and resources expended in the production of art is less openly discussed. However, artists like ceramicist Jeff Forster are taking a closer look at the sustainability of their own practices. As an educator, Forster has developed an awareness of how much waste is produced in a single semester of his ceramic art classes. In order to conserve resources in his own work, he collects and incorporates leftover clays, slips, and glazes into abstract sculptures. HCCC Curator Kathryn Hall comments, “Now, more than ever, we need to reevaluate how materials are collected and utilized in order to ensure the health and longevity of our planet. Nothing Goes to Waste celebrates the fun, generative, and restorative benefits of sustainability through craft practices, and we’re excited to showcase this group of artists, who contribute to the legacy of reuse in the history of craft.”

On view: January 29–May 7, 2022 at the Main Gallery.

From top: Calder Kamin, Plastic Planet Stag, 2018. Plastic bags, steel, foam, wood, glass eyes. Photo by Philip Rogers. Courtesy of the artist. Jeff Forster, Glaze Tectonics—Fissures, 2021. Ceramic and Glassell Studio glaze waste. 13.5 x 17 x 4.5 inches. Photo by the artist. Courtesy of the artist.

Bruce Davidson, Selma March, Alabama, 1965. Gelatin silver print, 12 5/8 × 18 3/4 in. The Menil Collection, Houston, Anonymous gift. © Bruce Davidson/Magnum Photos