Houston's Art and Architecture

Hotel Za Za

Last week, I traveled to Houston for an art experience.   This eye (and mind) opening experience enabled me to see stunning private art collections and dramatic and ethereal architecture.   For three full days, we packed every minute with art.  Including unique works in our hotel in the museum district.  It is hard to choose just highlights!

Day One ~ We visited three private art collections in the River Oaks neighborhood not far from our hotel.  Each art collection reflected the owners diverse taste and style.   Upon entering the first house, we saw a 20' x 30' painting by abstract expressionist Helen Frankenthaler (Dec 12, 1928 - Dec 27, 2011).  The enormous size conveyed free style and bold colors.  Here we also saw an incredible sculpture made of what looked like a floating cloud of spun steel wool.

Next, the masterworks of John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt and John Peto.  Capping off the day, we heading to the Live Oaks Friends Meeting House designed by James Terrell at sunset to experience the artist's "Skyscape" architecture.   His skyspace projects are experiments with light and space.   In fact, his optical illusions have been so real that some visitors took them for real walls or beams, causing them to lean on them and fall or trip.   In this space, the ceiling opened to the sky and we watched as dusk turned the sky and internal walls multiple hues within minutes!  The calm and ethereal experience was breathtaking.

Helen Frankenthaler

We concluded our first day at the Hiram Butler Gallery to see the installation by artist Nic Niscosia, "Light...In Black and White".

 

Day Two ~ Highlights began at MFAH and the major works by Jules Olitski.   He created brilliant color harmonies and chromatic shifts in his enormous paintings.  His classic modern style is mesmerizing and timeless.  What also struck me was the iridescent colors conveyed airiness and beauty. 

Onto another private collection filled with floor to ceiling portraits by John Singer Sargent, prolific American Impressionist painter, Childe Hassam, noted for his urban and coastal scenes and sculptures by Henry Moore.  The inspiration was overwhelming and I wanted to get painting right then!

Day Three ~ Onto the Asia Society Collection where we escorted through their new building of serene beauty.  An exceptional opportunity to see it before it opens to the public next month.  Next we toured through Houston's unique architecture in unexpected places --spectacular!  Who knew a city could function with no zoning laws! 

Dramatic "Earthscape"

Onto the Menil House and Menil Collections.  Another exceptional visual experience -from their mid century home to their museum.   Upon arriving at the museum, we saw an exceptional "earthscape" at least twenty-five yards long.   However, the highlight had to have been the paintings by Cy Twombly.  These paintings of the artist's chaotic and random thoughts interspersed with paint made a deep and thought-provoking impression.

Add a walk to the Rothko Chapel and I was left numb.   As we were leaving the museum, a huge collection of Byzantine and Russian icons was also concluding its' exhibition and leaving for Sicily.  Most don't realize when moving major works of art, each piece has to be escorted from location to location.  There we met the Byzantine priest who was chosen to travel with this art back to Sicily.  He said a prayer over the well packed crate and hopped in the cab of the semi truck- fascinating!!