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OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. "M agic Water," i n d e e d . That title speaks to the oceanic p a r a d i s e of artist, diver, and naturalist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee's latest exhibition, on view this month at Rockport Center for the Arts. The Mumbai-born, Houston-based painter/ sculptor/installationist evokes the majesty and surreal beauty of the depths in an exhibit that is both an ecological statement and ode to the sea creatures, tide pools, and coral reefs extolled. Mahimtura Folmsbee's solo, presented in Rockport Center for the Arts' expansive H-E-B Gallery, alludes to Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee in studio Mahimtura Folmsbee, a BFA grad of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, is best known for her epic 2022 public art piece The Aquarius Art Tunnel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. "Magic Water" follows in that direction, a gesamtkunstwerk with nearly 180 individual components plus nine large-scale vinyl prints based on drawings. The ambitious installation created for Rockport speaks to Mahimtura Folmsbee's passion and commitment to her subject. She is a collaborator with marine organizations ranging from the Galveston Bay Foundation and Coral Restoration Foundation to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and her practice embodies the marriage of art and science. "My world is driven through the places I go for my diving — bringing the sublimity and beauty of our oceans into my work," she says. "The exhibition is literally focused on the magic of water and the ability that water has to heal, not only spiritually, but also on our planet." Artist reception Saturday, May 9, 5 to 7 pm; through June 7, rockportartcenter. com. Catherine D. Anspon Conjuring an Underwater Kingdom in Rockport Casa Amariz: Colombian Design Shines H ouston's latest design destination is a story of both preservation and personal passion — in this case, a c o m m i t m e n t t o Colombian furniture and decor underscored by sustainability and a quest for the handmade. Cue Casa Amariz, a newly minted 3,600-square- foot showroom installed in the handsomely restored domestic spaces of a 100-year-old Montrose brick foursquare. Discover avant- garde Colombian brands Diamantina & La Perla and Quinta Edición, both dedicated to artisanal furniture and crafts of the region; their vibe is informed by a reverence for materials — solid oak and supple leathers to organic fibers and natural stone. You'll also find shoppable objects for tabletop and desktop: handmade ceramic vessels and planters, woven placemats and basketry, candles, handblown glass, and braided rugs formed from fique (sisal) in cool modular configurations. Casa Amariz offers a democratic price point, from unique accessories priced under $100 to a Quinta Edición Soata oak console with fique appliqués woven by artisans from Santander, Colombia ($1,980). Art is also part of Amariz's vision: She showcases the photorealist canvases of Colombian talent Alex De La Torre (from $2,100). Amariz describes Casa Amariz as "a celebration of Colombian and Latin American design." It serves as HQ for Amariz Interiors and a nexus for cultural programming and gatherings. Casa Amariz, to the public and trade, by appointment only, Monday through Friday; 1636 W. Alabama St., casaamariz.com. Catherine D. Anspon place. A historic art colony devastated by Hurricane Harvey, both the town of Rockport and the arts center have been rebuilt, the latter with a stunning new campus. Installed in this reborn arts institution facing the Gulf of Mexico, her jewel-like paintings and lapidary starfish sculptures (many encrusted with precious and semiprecious stones) are paired with walls of porcelain sea slugs and anemones, the latter of which bear a feminist interpretation. A series of porthole- shaped lenticular photographic prints also inspire the viewer to revel in the wonder of the oceans and care about preserving them. The new Casa Amariz showroom in Montrose ANDREA CANON MICHAEL TAYLOR / GITTINGS HOUSTON 18