Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/126364
The New Space Program It's been 14 years in the making, but now the wait is over. As we head to press, the lights are being turned on at Houston's newest piece of public art: sculptor Tim Glover's Light Garden. The graceful 25-feet-tall twin stainless-steel structures resemble Tim Glover's Light Garden, 2012, tree branches Washington at Westcott sprouting pods of colored light (which can be choreographed in endless hues), and they beam upon the gateway to our city's restaurant and club corridor, sited at the nexus of Washington Avenue and Westcott in a specially configured traffic circle/ roundabout monikered WOW (Washington on Westcott). The $2.6 million project — which represents city funding for the street engineering and contributions from private citizens and foundations for the green space and public art — creates an impressive gateway to a booming area where night life had often taken over civic planning. Set amid a handsome stand of native trees and shrubs devised by landscape architect Keiji Asakura (the firm also designed the surrounding park), the WOW is a big wow. A third Glover tree of lights will rise in late 2012, once the final $175,000 is raised. Contributions wowroundabout.org. Catherine D. Anspon COURTESY RICE UNIVERSITY I James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany Skyspace, Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion, 2012, at Rice University foot elevated roof and 14-by-14-foot oculus does indeed resemble a spacecraft. Open to the public free of charge during the summer (every day but Tuesday; fall hours will be announced at a later date), the skyspace's LED-enhanced light shows take place 40 minutes before sunrise and again at sunset. During the day, the pavilion is open for viewing and contemplation. Lift off! For reservations (required for sunset shows) and complete calendar, skyspace.rice.edu. Catherine D. Anspon From Houston Gallery Walls to the Whitney's Hallowed Halls COURTESY HIRAM BUTLER GALLERY f flying saucers exist, Houston has a new landing strip: the portal of the just-unveiled James Turrell Skyspace, aka the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion, which was inaugurated days ago at the Rice University campus, along the axis that runs between the Sallyport and the Shepherd School of Music. One of the artist's largest such creations, it joins the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's vaporous light tunnel and the Quaker Live Oak Friends Meeting House skyspace to make our town a true Turrell destination. But this site-specific public-art piece, five years in planning and one year in production, is the game changer. Unlike the MFAH artwork, which requires museum admission, or the Quaker commission, which has limited access, this is the most democratic and ambitious Turrell to date. The artist's 73rd skyspace (and one of his largest) represents the distillation of the light-andland talent's deeply held, almost hermetic beliefs about time, space, perception and the concept of other worlds. Seating up to 120 people, the university's Twilight Epiphany is also titled in honor of Booth, trustee, alum and former protégé of both Dominique de Menil and Turrell, who gifted the seven-figure artwork to Rice. Molly Hubbard, Rice's art director, propelled this futuristic endeavor forward. With double-decker viewing stations, the open-to-the-sky pyramidal structure with its 12-foot-high grassy berm, 72-by-72- For those who brave July's sultry climes, a visual banquet awaits. A tradition for more than three decades, the summer city-wide open house ArtHouston unfurls Saturday, July 14, in a day-to-night art trek that offers fare blue-chip to edgy, with a side of performance and fashion. PaperCity is once again media sponsor. And here's a note for your acquisitions radar: Whitney Biennial talents ranging from Julie Mehretu and Yun-Fei Ji to Shahzia Sikander and Leandro Erlich once soloed at ArtHouston, which was originally conceived as "Introductions" to unveil new creative types to the collector community. ArtHouston 2012 includes more than 30 esteemed shows, including these must-sees: James Turrell's "Six Holograms" at Hiram Butler Gallery (compelling 3-D photo works on glass plates that anticipate the big Turrell retrospective coming Spring 2013 to the MFAH); a lively Latin mix at Deborah Colton Gallery, including richly James Turrell's Untitled, 2010, at Hiram Butler Gallery impastoed figuration by Becky Soria and the always Pop Michael Macedo Meazell; Jelaine Faunce's sexy photorealist cakes at Dean Day Gallery; and University of North Texas MFA candidate/painter of the dizzying abstracts Trey Egan at McMurtrey Gallery. Kudos to Harris Gallery for pulling it all together; stop by Harris' Museum District space for realist Robert Winter Hughes' Southwest-inflected still lifes. Also recommended are the droll "Board-Walk Circus" series by Houston woodworking man Doug Forrest at Koelsch Gallery (a homage to folk signage); Laura Rathe Fine Art's duo shows for abstractionist Luc Leestemaker and surrealist Anke Schofield: G Gallery's Diane Barber–curated view for a group of up-and-coming Spanish painters; RISD prof Susan Doyle's confluence of myth-informed paintings and lithographs at PG Contemporary; and PF2 at Wade Wilson Art, curated by Zoe Jackson-Jarra and Debbie Treviño Porter, which involves some cool paper fashion, crafted from — what else? — current PaperCity mags. I'll be art-walking in a June 2012 ensemble. Catch the lineup at arthouston.com. Catherine D. Anspon Pearly BRSH Dental, 2800 Kirby Dr., 713.660.0966; brsh.com What better time to whiten and freshen up your smile than in preparation for your summer vacation? The powers that be at BRSH Dental recently debuted their chic spa-like offices, designed by architect Issac Preminger, with furnishings from his stylish wife Cynthia Davis' country French-inspired boutique, Indulge. This is the farthest thing from a sterile-looking dentist office you'll ever encounter. Instead, the interiors at this West Ave address are fashioned in tones of gray and white with glorious Calacutta marble and crystal chandeliers throughout. Step in for a 30-minute power-whitening session or arrange for porcelain veneers or a consult with Dr. Melicia Tjoa about a nonsurgical facelift with full mouth crowns — just some of the myriad ways to enhance your smile here. Laurann Claridge Whites BRSH Dental's anything-but-normal exam room and waiting room JULY | PAGE 6 | 2012 Restaurant Buzz COLLECTION MALBA – FUNDACIÓN COSTANTINI, BUENOS AIRES Continental Drift: The four corners of the globe come together this summer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Representing the Latin American continent, "Modern and Contemporary Masterworks from Malba - Fundación Costantini" showcases the splendors of the region — riches from the only museum in South America to collect in this depth. Frida and Diego are both present, as well as some surprises, including a new discovery to American audiences, Argentine painter/ sculptor Antonio Berni, whose 3-D creatures made from trash are both repelling and arresting. We were also taken by Berni's startling proto-Pop canvas from 1962, which portrays a Hollywood type seductively brandishing an American auto in her oversized, manicured hand (through August 5) … Just In: Scottish-born painter Katrina Howarth — whose sunny still lifes, interiors and landscapes remind us of the 1910s- and 1920s-era Bloomsbury Group — has Antonio Berni's La gran tentación, or La gran ilusión, 1962, at MFAH opened an eponymous gallery in Galveston. Stop by this weekends-only space in the historic Strand District and peruse her delightful abstracted oils. Howarth is a grad of the prestigious Glasgow School of Art (grand opening, Saturday, July 14, 215 Tremont, 713.550.6431; thehowarthgallery.com). For more Art Notes, tap papercitymag.com. Catherine D. Anspon MONICA SAVINO That's a WOW! [ Art Notes After more than three years of searching for the right location and team, Tony's alum chef Olivier Ciesielski has opened L'Olivier Restaurant & Bar in the Montrose with co-owner Mary Clarkson. The French-born chef's bustling eatery features subtle odes to his namesake olive tree, with branches woven into the design of globe lights and wine racks. His fare is reasonably priced (we love the homemade chicken liver pate, $11), with entrees tapping out (save for specials) at $22. We recommend sitting outside by the container herb garden … The tart frozen yogurt chain that has people lining up has come to Houston. Last month, Pinkberry opened in the Woodlands Mall; later this month, a new location debuts inside the loop at Highland Village Shopping Center. If you recall, we reported that developers Meredith Moody Emory and husband Matthew Emory opened their first Pinkberry locale last fall in Clear Lake … Chef German Mosquera and owner/partner Ash Shah have opened Roots Bistro in the former space of So Vino on lower Montrose. An alum of Ruggles Green, Mosquera's fare is farm-to-table focused. He, Shah and general manager Greg Spire forage for organic produce and heritage-breed meats for their full-service 100-seat eatery, which prides itself on being approachably priced … Speaking of Morton's, the old-school steak place across from the Galleria has just undergone a total renovation, from the menu to the dining room, bar, wine and board room. Laurann Claridge [ RAP The Inn at the Ballpark, owned by Landry's, Inc., and located downtown near (you guessed it) the Astros' home base, has signed a license agreement with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and will be rebranded a Westin Hotel (which is owned by Starwood). What changes are in store? Updated furnishings and finishes throughout, an expanded exercise facility and a completely new lobby, reception area and lobby bar will commence this year, to be completed by end of 2013. Home run! … Nordstrom unveils new changes this summer, starting with the men's department which is now located on the first floor, and a remodel of the VIA C department that highlights labels such as Theyskens Theory, Alexander Wang and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Meanwhile, The Wedding Suite now features made-to-order bridal collections including Vera Wang, Roses by Reem Acra and Jenny Yoo, plus an exclusive off-the-rack collection by Christian Siriano. While you're shopping, check out Bistro N, Nordstrom's new restaurant concept serving lunch and dinner and now boasting a full bar … BHLDN in Highland Village hosts Austin floral designer Ashley Bailey of Byrd Collective for the second month in a row, but this time she's one of a bevy of Austin's topnotch event gurus in town for what BHLDN bills "An Austin Afternoon" on Sunday, July 29. There's a farm-to-table Sunday Brunch presentation featuring BHLDN's decor items set by the capable hands of Liv by Design and Bird Dog Wedding. Festive paper pieces designed by The Creative Parasol will share tabletops with floral designs from The Byrd Collective. And save room for a fresh fruit treat from Tiny Pies, as well as seasonal savories and sips from Word of Mouth. The proprietors of all these Austin businesses will be in attendance, styled by BHLDN as perfect brunch guests, to answer questions and share ideas. Contact cwalker@bhldn.com for info … Ivory Bridal Atelier in West Ave has the Houston exclusive on Marchesa's stunning bridal collection … Local fashion designer David Peck now showcases his custom bridal gown design services online at davidpeckcollection.com/ weddings … Feeling bad about that heartand-dagger tatt? Welcome Mr. Tattoff to town, a laser tattoo removal clinic that's not just an ordinary tatt-off parlor. Founder and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Will Kirby is a reality TV star who won season two of Big Brother. Mr. Tattoff is open at 5385 Westheimer near the Galleria, between Chimney Rock and Sage. Sorry, this time you'll have to go sober during daylight. Call 832.571.2300 for an appointment, or visit drtattoff.com. Kate Allen Stukenberg