Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/141341
Grand Masters, Painter's Progress: A trio of shows spotlight Texans who are literally as good as you can get. Whitney Biennial 2000–exhibited Al Souza solos at long-time dealer Moody Gallery with a new series that departs from puzzle works towards enigmatic dimensions involving bookplates and more (through May 26) ... At New Gallery/Thom Andriola, Earl Staley has risen like a phoenix, presenting canvases both past and present (through May 15). Is there another better colorist in this town? ... H.J. Bott's Beyonbar Symmetry, 2012, at Anya Tish Gallery Earl Staley's The Leap, 2012, at New Gallery/Thom Andriola The mighty H.J. Bott continues his 40th anniversary DoV party (Displacement of Volume, that is), fresh from a Blue Star exhibition in San Antonio, before he travels to Galveston Arts Center in June. The geometric obsessive alights at principal dealer Anya Tish Gallery (May 12 – June 9). When are we going to see a museum show for one of our own? For decades, Bott has been light years ahead with his robots, soft sculptures, yarn installations — including a fantastic environment for Project Row Houses that earned him an ArtLies cover — and the endless perambulations of the DoV. CAMH, please! Now's the time ... Contemplate the glories of Jerusalem in Barbara Hines' sensitive, color-suffused canvases that capture its expansive light and spiritual power (Meredith Long & Company, opening May 10) ... We'll also be checking out Meredith Pardue's abstractions at Laura Rathe Fine Art, which subtly record nature through oil, oil crayon, charcoal and mysterious debris expansively applied to canvas (through May). Yellow Blossoms and More: Art prince Lester Marks adds another Warhol to his trove: a classic yellow flower canvas from 1964. I can't wait to attend the next Marks Collection art party and visit it ... Speaking of winsome, "Paper Dolls" is the theme for a one-night-only Mo Mong happening organized by photogs Debbie Porter and Brent Bruni Comiskey, with Zoe Jackson-Jarra's ab-fab Fashion Plate threads on the impromptu runway. Deets are still coming together, but the Tuesday, May 15, happening, which benefits Spring Branch arts and education nonprofit Newspring promises to be fab and fun ... Hot, hot, hot: Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts teams with Aurora Picture Show and DiverseWorks to literally and metaphorically traverse the landscape via a thrilling weekend of music, alfresco dance and cinema that addresses culture and Houston history. Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Project Row Houses and Uptown Houston have gotten on board as hosts for the event, dubbed "Insight/Out" (Saturday – Sunday, May 19 – 20; mitchellcenterforarts.org). I'll meet you at Stephan Koplowitz's multimedia performance by the Williams Tower Waterwall. Art Notes Jason Wu's Plastic Shoes Hot off the heels of a sell-out fashion collection for mega-retailer Target, emerging fashion designer Jason Wu has introduced another stellar collaboration, this time with Brazilian plastic-shoes brand Melissa Shoes. Melissa has previously created footwear with top-notch designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood, but Wu is the first American-based designer to collaborate with the shoemaker. Wu oomphs up two styles, the Ultra Girl ballet flat and the Lady Dragon peep-toe slingback, the former with a chic Wu palette and printed lace with sweet Miss Wu owl emblems and bow. From $135, at Lenny e Cia. Kate Allen Stukenberg MAXINE HELFMAN PC Acquire We want these bronze babies: Martin Margiela women's leather lace-ups. $795, at Forty Five Ten, Dallas; through maisonmartinmargiela.com. For this month's PaperCity curated artist, we tapped Texas talent Kelley Devine to showcase her newest body of work, "Paper Poor." Often raiding her own library or secondhand bookstores to save from buying costly canvas or fancy art-store paper, she begins with titles and texts that have special resonance, then uses them as a background upon which to draw all manner of animal images, with a deft touch and sensitivity to the spirit of each creature. We commissioned Miz Devine to literally take inspiration from April's issue and turn it into an artwork, in keeping with this series. A graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a BFA in sculpture who's exhibited at the well-regarded Jonathan Ferrera Gallery in New Orleans, Devine has branched out to explore painting, print-making and the aforementioned drawing (she is also a member Kelley Devine's Lucy Vuitton, 2012 of the underground Heights drawing collective Sketchy Neighbors). This multimedia artist proclaims of her current endeavor, "By using pages from books, I am able to give a deeper level of meaning to the image." Each Devine piece for PC Acquire — we consider them divine — is one of a kind, beginning with the creation shown on this page, drawn upon our own printed pages. For the complete portfolio, peruse papercitymag.com. For the complete portfolio (priced $500 to $2,000), peruse papercitymag.com. Inquiries Seth Vaughan, seth@papercitymag.com. Restaurant Buzz Latin Bites Café, the 10-table upstart downtown that gained quite a following, has moved to larger digs. Now named Latin Bites Cebiche & Pisco Bar, the charming Woodway location reflects the restaurant's Peruvian slant in both food and drink. Chef Roberto Castre, his sister manager Rita Castre and brother-in-law beverage director Carlos Ramos — all Peruvian natives and former caterers — have taken over the Rockwood Room space and now seat 120 diners indoors and 60 outside … Meet the huge Mexican reality star in our midst, Aquiles Chavez, and his partner, manager Mirna Cox. The superstar chef with two reality shows on the Utilisima network shown throughout Latin America (and on Comcast here) has opened La Fisheria off Shepherd Drive near I-10. A native of Tabasco, Mexico, Chavez may be a cookbook author and spokesman for the avocado industry in Mexico with 145,000 Twitter followers, but he's actually a humble man turning out remarkable Mexican fish-centered fare at this bright and fun spot … Check out LA Bar, the newest outgrowth of Ragin Cajun on Richmond. Named for Lake Arthur, Louisiana (the hometown of Joan Benoit Mandola, owner Luke Mandola Sr.'s wife), LA Bar is dressed up for an old-school New Orleans–style experience, with contemporary Creole cuisine and a 30-foot oyster bar … Word is that Brio Tuscan Grille will soon occupy the former Pesce space on Kirby Drive. The multi-unit concept debuted last year in CityCentre … Sprinkles Cupcakes in Highland Village plans to install its genius 24-hour cupcake ATM on the back end of the store next month. Soon you'll be able to quell those cupcake cravings 24/7 … We're keeping an eye on Hawthorn, the American/Mediterranean-style eatery opening any moment now in Dessert Gallery's former space off Kirby Drive on Lake Street (most recently home to Dorsia). The chef is Riccardo Palazzo-Giorgio … May 9 through 22, Central Market hosts its annual Passport series, this time taking a direct flight to France. Enjoy patisseries, fromage, wines and foods of all sorts. Laurann Claridge Cornelia Guest's Happy Totes She's an author, actress, animal activist, caterer, cookie baker and, most recently, a cruelty-free handbag maker. The multi-talented Cornelia Guest, daughter of icon C.Z. Guest, makes a stop at Tootsies Monday and Tuesday, May 7 and 8, with her stylish new collection of vegan totes, clutches, wallets, iPad cases and accessories made entirely of soft faux leathers, recyclable PVC and natural materials such as wood and organic cotton. We can't wait to get our hands on her signature Nicholas woven satchel stitched with sparkling sequins. The best part? The collection is available at non-socialite prices, topping out at $300. At Tootsies. Kate Allen Stukenberg Target's Chic Shops Target hits the bull's-eye this month with the launch of The Shops at Target concept, a new type of partnership that puts the affordable design pen not in the hands of another designer (as with Target's successful designer collaborations with Missoni, Proenza Schouler and Calypso St. Barth), but in the hands of five very stylish, yet very different, U.S. small specialty stores. San Francisco sweet shop The Candy Store, Aspen's cool beauty boutique Cos Bar, Miami's chic shopping destination The Webster, well-curated Connecticut home store Privet House and the Polka Dog Bakery based in Boston are the first boutiques selected to design and curate their own collections of goods, inspired by their unique style and what they stock in their own shops. Prices range from $1 for a colorful Cos Bar nail file to $160 for an online-only Privet House pouf, for a total of nearly 400 exclusive products. What's on our hot list? Palmprint dresses, scarves and swimsuits by The Webster; oldfashioned candy from the Candy Store; and whitewashed woven baskets from Privet House. Let's shop! target.com. Kate Allen Stukenberg MAY | PAGE 6 | 2012