Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1044932
OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. 24 F or those enamored of in- dustrial relics, we have the art installations for you: Prepare for close encoun- ters with decommissioned rice silos transformed via dramatic sculptural interventions. There are other venues, too, which nod to the romance of air travel — a Miesian con- trol tower by Pulitzer-winning architect I.M. Pei and an Art Moderne gem of an airport terminal, both outfitted to reveal new definitions of public sculpture. All three are part of the programming of Sculpture Month Houston, now in its third iteration. With international GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM + SENSATIONAL SILOS G allerist Franny Koelsch Jeffries' credentials include more than two decades as a Houston art dealer at Koelsch Haus, her eponymous gallery located in a classic Montrose bungalow. Now she rolls out her most personal project yet: Ears of Buddha, a collection of bespoke women's shirts. Jeffries has stints at Barneys New York, Tootsies, and Cotton Club under her belt, as well as dual degrees in fashion merchandising and art history from University of Texas. With Ears of Buddha, she comes full circle: The shirts are hand-embroidered with Buddhas, peacock feathers, sunrises, elephants, and other hand-details, and created in small batches at a local atelier. They're made from Egyptian Pima cotton or linen, in six styles inspired by strong, iconic femmes. Ava (à la Ava Gardner) is all satin and lace, while Chrissy (an ode to tennis great Chris Evert) has sporty stripes. The linen-and-lace Lizzy nods to Marfa and Elizabeth Taylor in Giant, while Franky is the design most like Koelsch herself, informed by plaid and a touch of whimsy. The collection's name was inspired by the title of her late father's autobiography, which Koelsch hopes to publish: Ears of Buddha: Mystical Powers — the story of World War II-era Admiral Philip C. Koelsch and his exotic, far-flung travels. "While serving in the South Pacific, an elder native woman told Admiral Koelsch that he had Ears of Buddha, which meant he had mystical powers," says Koelsch of her father. Much of the branding, including the hang tags for the new collection, reference the hand- typed pages of Admiral Koeslch's memoir. Ears of Buddha shirts $360, through Koelsch Haus, Tootsies, earsofbuddha. com. Catherine D. Anspon To Acquire: ARTFUL SHIRTS artists participating for the first time (including Jessica Stockholder at The Silos at Sawyer Yards and Mexico City-based Thomas Glassford at The 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport), there's never been a better time for an immersion into contempo- rary sculpture. Twenty Texas talents also impress in exhibitions organized and curated by SMH, augmented by shows presented by 40 other entities, including galleries, nonprofits, muse- ums, and City Hall. Most exhibitions through December 1; sculpturemonth houston.org. Catherine D. Anspon COURTESY KAVI GUPTA GALLERY, CHICAGO; PHOTO NICK SANFORD Jessica Stockholder's Strings Attached Too, 2015, at SITE Gallery, The Silos at Sawyer Yards Franny Koelsch Jeffries wears Ears of Buddha. 3 2 4 4 AVA L O N P L A C E R I V E R O A K S RUTHIE PORTERFIELD ruthie@ruthieporterfield.com ruthieporterfield.com