Gauguin in Houston
Paul Gauguin (1848 – 1903) is usually referred to as a French painter, but that is deceptive. While born in France, his grandmother was a Peruvian-born Spanish aristocrat. Just one…
Dorf Gallery – A Village with a Loud Voice
Compared to cities like Houston and Dallas, which have mature art audiences—collectors, donors, patrons of the arts, and nationally recognized museums—Austin has been slow to achieve this status. Its museums…
Austin Classical Guitar Gives Teens Hope
I was fortunate to chat over lunch with the effusive and humble Matthew Hinsley, founder of Austin Classical Guitar (ACG), who has been a dedicated community arts organizer in Central…
Battle of Pavia Tapestries in Ft. Worth
The Kimbell Art Museum has a very special Italian treat in store this summer, and it’s not gelato. Seven of the most gigantic tapestries ever created are on loan from…
The Airy Lightness of Champagne
Image: Voltaire by La Tour “Throughout the eighteenth century,” we are told in this book by Oliver Wunsch (professor of Art History at Boston College), “delicacy structured debates over morality,…
THE SUMMER OF 1905: Matisse and Derain
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is hosting a world-class exhibit right now, and it’s not to be missed. Henri Matisse is a household name, Andre Derain less so. But…
Hunt Slonem in Austin
The famed Manhattan-based artist Hunt Slonem is in Austin for a grand showing of his art at West Chelsea Contemporary on 6th Street. Slonem’s works grace the walls of such…
Glass Art at Woodlands Art Festival
The recent Art Festival in the Woodlands (just north of Houston) once again hosted an electric mix of creative people who create art in varied media. Richard Bond from Ottawa,…
STAR TREK Discovery at SXSW
Just 3 days to go before the final season of Star Trek Discovery premieres on TV. For those at SXSW, the wait for season 5 ended in March: the first…
UnDark: A Radioactive Puppet Play
The Vortex is one of Austin’s not-so-best-kept secrets. For theater lovers who want the strange, irrational, weird, and controversial off-off-off-Broadway underground type of theater, this is for you. A snug,…