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midtown PAPER
in & about list of happenings in midtown
Preservons la Creation
A PUBLICATION OF MIDTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT • houstonmidtown.com 2nd qtr 2014
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mark your calendar midtown meetings and events
who do i call
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take the stairs... mid main upstairs shops yield vintage finds
interfaith ministries for greater houston helping hands in midtown...
Record-setting mural exemplifies diverse Midtown art scene
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midtown+bright future=continued success TIRZ board member retires Michelle Clayton Collier is stepping down
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midtown dining • café hélène • howl at the moon
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arts calendar a list of midtown art events
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Manjari Sharma, MAA Laxmi, Asia Society Texas Center.
what’s inside
under the big top
lookinside
midtownmap
Definitions with midtown meanings...
heat-resistant
can be used to describe the variety of pot plants available at the “Flower Row” shops – 3900-4900 Fannin. (TGF Flower’s bougainvilleas ($24) thrive on a sunny patio.)
espalier
process of controlling plant growth. (No espaliers needed at Mongoose vs Cobra. The unassisted vines covering the exterior walls are awesome —so are the cocktails!)
trees
a perennial plant with an elongated trunk, supporting leaves and branches. (You’ll find 30 newly-planted trees in Midtown, thanks to the hard working MMD Services & Maintenance Committee.)
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ebastien “Mr. D.” Boileau can attest a 5:30 a.m. wake-up table. One hundred years from now, I believe people will consider call is not easy for the creative type, but when you’ve got these artists masters of their time.” a captive audience and a message to get across, you’ve got Born in Versailles, France, Mr. D was influenced by the American to rise and shine. Boileau’s impressive five story, 10,000 square foot Preservons la Creation, the largest mural in Houston, has certainly captured people’s attention and is destined to create conversation about the impact and creditability of urban art as a true art form. For the French-American artist, what better “studio” could there have been than Midtown. It is estimated over 10,500* cars pass by 2800 San Jacinto each day; METRORail stops just one block west of the mural with a weekday ridership of over 6,500** and an average of 3,100** riders on the weekends. Considering Midtown’s Photo by Peter Molick Photography graffiti movement in the ‘70s and ‘80s and began his artistic endeavors recent designation as a Cultural Arts and Entertainment District, a in Paris in 1987 at the age of 14, creating his first large scale mural sought after commendation awarded by the State of Texas, the setting measuring 3,000 square feet two years later. His successful mural couldn’t be more ideal. company, Eyeful Art Murals and Designs, was launched in 2000 shortly “By placing this Italian Renaissance imagery within this contemporary after his move to the U.S. and now serves both public and private seccontext, we are using public art to not only beautify but to educate,” tors that seek the creative talents of his talented team. explains Mr. D. For urban muralists, it’s a message they’ve been trying Mr. D’s Eyeful Art, the company that creates to send for years, calling to attention the worand brings to fruition the artwork and graphics thiness of urban art as well as the admiration VIP Preview party for Preservons la Creation on June 5 included graciously represents one third of this collaborative for and preservation of these symbols within our donated light bites, drinks and enterthe record-setting project. When block-long culture for generations to come. Preservons la tainment along with a well-received auction murals are not keeping them busy, HoustonCreation is a giant step closer to erasing the of beautiful painted doors. Midtown's Charles based UP Art Studio, headed by Noah and Elia stigma associated with street art. Washington and Mr. D were two of several Quiles, provides studio space for urban artists “As an artist, this endeavor is my Sistine artists whose cumulative works brought a total in which to work and showcase their talents. Chapel. It’s challenging and time consuming but of $17,000. Approximately 40% of the funds Noah is an accomplished artist in his own it makes me reflect on the dedication of the raised will go toward children's mural projects right. The non-profit Texan French Alliance masters like Michelangelo,” says Mr. D. “And in France and Houston at Texas Children's for the Arts completes the team. I realize if you’re going to challenge yourself, Hospital; participating artists will be compen"The Texan French Alliance for the Arts you’re going to have to step up to the next sated by what remains after deducting some decided to collaborate in this project because level.” He hopes his mural project brings a of the project costs. Later this year, the Texan it highlights the importance of having and new awareness of public art and how it actuFrench Alliance will debut Once Upon A Door, a project that invites children and their parents to preserving creativity in our daily lives, conally “changes people’s lives, changes neighborbegin a dialogue of new discovery and imaginatributes to the beauty of the neighborhood hoods, all for the better.“ tion. Music, visual imagery, theatre, video, lights, and creates connections between the people An up close view of Preservons la Creation games and, of course, doors will create a sensoof the city. Linking the Open the Door project (translated “Let’s Preserve the Creation”) ry 360-degree environment for appreciating art with the mural was a natural progression of reveals the fluid short strokes of spray paint, and the bridges it builds between us. Follow the the mural, as the two projects share comcriss-crossed and layered across the wall, a project as it develops on Midtown's Facebook mon goals besides creating collaboration and component of the process known controverpage and in the Midtown eNews. relationships between the Texan and French sially as tagging. Once upon a Door is an invitation to explore cultures,” explains executive director of the “Spray cans are modern day paintbrushes,” like a kid again and to open the door to the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts, Karine says the artist. “Tagging is the action of writing creative resources we have at our disposal in Parker-Lemoyne. “With Preservons la Creation, your name to say you were there; it’s been order to transform the world as we see it. I see an invitation to look at the world as a around since the cave men. It’s what you do canvas,” she says. “The world, like this mural, is a canvas, and with it that makes the difference.” it depends on us to make something beautiful out of it, to stop and Canpressionism® is the term the artist has coined to describe his technique. “Street art, urban art is what our generation brings to the Continue on page 8
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Photo by Noah Quiles
Photo by PIPE MultiMedia
Photo by Matthew Landry