NEWS

Very Artsy News: Houston Airports, Rita Dove, Selena and More

A weekly brief on what’s trending in Houston’s arts and culture scene.

By Amarie Gipson August 30, 2021

Julia Barbosa Landois,  As Above Below. 2020. Courtesy HAS and Houston’s Civic Art Collection.

There's a constant flow of news from every corner of the world. Throughout the last few weeks, the city of Houston has weathered uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 Delta variant along with hurricane season scares. While turmoil continues to linger, one thing's for certain: the city is continuing to invest in its creative communities. Last week, Houston airports announced that an array of newly acquired artwork will be on display, the museum district is gearing up for historic exhibitions, and the fight for voting rights continues. 

Here's a brief roundup of some interesting arts and culture news. 

2021/2022 Inprint Brown Reading Series kicks off with first African American U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove on August 30th

Today, August 30 is the first day of the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series 41st season. The series is one of the nation’s leading literary showcases that features award-winning essayists, poets, fiction writers and more. All programs this fall are slated to take place virtually and the season kicks off with a poetry reading from the first African American U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove. 

For more information, visit here.

Houston Celebrates the ‘Largest One-Time’ Art Acquisition at Houston Airports

Get ready to make your travels a lot more artful. With the support of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), the Houston Airport System acquired over 70 pieces of artwork that will be installed in both of the city’s airports. A committee of arts professionals and practitioners reviewed nearly 700 applications from artists across the state of Texas and selected works that best represent Houston’s diversity. Ranging from two to three-dimensional works, the acquisition includes artists like Mel Chin, Bert L. Long, Jr and Dorothy Hood along with a host of underrepresented creatives. 

Rooftop Cinema Club returns to Houston's Skyline Sept. 1

This Wednesday, the Rooftop Cinema Club is back with a new venue in Uptown and will kick off with a special screening of "Selena" (1997).  The open-air cinema will also feature showings dedicated to the Lone Star state including, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "Reality Bites" and "Urban Cowboy." 

For more information, visit here. 

LULAC on the Frontline at Historic March for Justice 

This past Saturday, Houston’s own League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was present at the March on for Voting Rights March and Rally in Washington, DC in solidarity with civil rights leaders across the nation. The historic organization continues its hard work towards an important restoration effort for its headquarters in Houston’s Midtown. 

Share
Show Comments