Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/699462
Art Notes 4,000 + 40 + 469 + 25 at 75: Galveston is calling — and not just the sand and sea. Galveston Arts Center's restored 1878 First National Bank Building on the Strand — a paradoxical venue for showing au courant contemporary Texas art — is toasting one of the state's most stalwart art energies. The two-part exhibition "Twenty Five" celebrates the great Clint Willour as he turns 75 and prepares to retire. The beloved, eagle-eyed curator, who resiliently bounced back from heart surgery, is an activist, patron and, for the past quarter century, curator of the GAC. Willour and the Galveston Arts Center launched the careers of many Texas talents, as well as organizing seminal surveys for artists including David Bates, David Aylsworth, Mary McCleary, Luis Jimenez, Ann Stautberg, and David McGee, whose works are included in the exhibition. Here are Willour's stats: 40-plus years in the art biz, 25 years at GAC, 469 exhibitions curated for 4,000 artists, 22 of whom are on view in this grand Galveston finale (second installment opens Saturday, July 16, through August 21). Saudi Arabia Calling to a Feminist Stance: This summer's ambitious "Parallel Kingdom" examines contemporary Saudi Arabian creatives. Twelve talents spanning generations — including those working in film and comedy — are showcased at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art, which begins the American tour, devised by Culturunners in partnership with the Riyadh-based Gharem Studio. The endeavor is spearheaded by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (through October 2) … Women rule and collage is king at Kelly Moran's studio, at the Redbud Gallery complex (303 E. 11th) in the Heights. Moran is one of the city's most brilliant practitioners of collage and a printing-arts innovator. She opens up her space for a night packed with finds for every budget. Laced with wit, retro subjects and antique ephemera, this packs a feminist punch (opening Saturday, July 2, 6 to 9 pm). Shop the Art: We're enamored of all the little art treasures that abound around town, from Hello Lucky and Bill's Junk (both in the Heights) to the Menil Bookstore. The latter culls small-scale outsider painting and sculpture concurrently with the Smither Collection exhibition at The Menil Collection. Bookstore director Paul Forsythe and independent curator Jay Wehnert select the finds, from yarn balls to works by Reverend Howard Finster and more, all for sale (through October 16). The Jury Has Spoken: Must-sees that both open Friday, July 22: the fabled "Big Show" at Lawndale Art Center (through August 27) and Houston Center for Photography's "34th Annual Juried Exhibition (through September 4). "Big Show" features guest jurors Apsara DiQuinzio, Berkeley Art Museum curator, and Tina Kukielski, executive director of the PBS series Art21, while HCP taps Yasufumi Nakamori as juror. Summer Quenchers: Two exhibitions that define the season: Christy Lee Rogers paired with Michael Laube at Laura Rathe Fine Art with respective media underwater photography and pigment upon transparent acrylic (July 9 – August 20) ... and "Thirst," all about craft and drinking vessels at Capsule Gallery (July 8 – September 10). More art always, papercitymag.com. Catherine D. Anspon COURTESY THE ARTIST AND THE STATION MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART COURTESY THE ARTIST AND GALVESTON ARTS CENTER. COLLECTION REID MITCHELL, HOUSTON. Ajlan Gharem's Paradise Has Many Gates, 2015, at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art Mary McCleary's Portrait of Clint Willour, 2000, at Galveston Arts Center Y ayoi Kusama's life is the stuff of legends. Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, her world has intersected Warhol, outrageous performance art and even the hermetic Joseph Cornell (she was his first and only girlfriend). The Tokyo-based artist also created the most successful art-into-fashion fusion ever, with her exuberant dots and nets for Louis Vuitton. Now her work touches down in Texas, via a rare pair of installations with a giant pumpkin placed at their entrance. This is a coup for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which recently acquired one of the two hypnotic infinity rooms on view — the perfect excuse to introduce the dizzying Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity to Houston audiences. Talk about a summer crowd pleaser. After basking in the light, mirrors and water of Aftermath at the MFAH's Cullinan Hall, wander into a companion piece, Love Is Calling, which features Kusama's biomorphic soft sculptures, their floor- to-ceiling tentacle forms seeming to undulate as they pulse with colored light; set to a sound piece of Kusama reciting a love poem in Japanese, Love is an immersive sensory experience. "Kusama: At the End of the Universe" follows the MFAH tradition of transformative encounters during our balmiest months (something that started in May 2014 with #SotoSummer) and marks Kusama's first Texas exhibition since Rice Gallery mounted "Dots Obsession" in 1997. Through September 18, timed entry ticket required, mfah.org. Sign up for viewing at the museum admissions desk and online beginning July 1. Catherine D. Anspon KUSAMA CALLING Yayoi Kusama's Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity, 2009, at MFAH COLLECTION MFAH. © YAYOI KUSAMA. COURTESY DAVID ZWIRNER, NYC; OTA FINE ARTS, TOKYO / SINGAPORE; VICTORIA MIRO, LONDON; KUSAMA ENTERPRISE. T he men behind BeDesign on Richmond, Adrian Duenas, Marcelo Saenz and Vassili Tsipianitis, are opening a Kartell flagship store in Houston this fall — the first Kartell store in Texas. In the past 60 years, some of the most iconic modernist designers have contributed to Kartell: Joe Colombo, Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Piero Lissoni, Gae Aulenti, Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper, Mico Magistretti, Antonio Citterio, Ron Arad and, perhaps, most famously Philippe Starck. A location will be announced soon … Jeweler John Hardy opens its first proprietary U.S. store in River Oaks District in September … The boutique Whim, with proprietor Cindy Reich, has opened at 3637 West Alabama Street in the Hollywood Square complex (where David Brown Flowers and Tribute Goods are located), stocking contemporary designers Jenny Kayne, Grey Jason Wu, Warm and French label La Prestic … Contemporary designers also fills the racks at Belle Ami boutique, newly opened at 2943 Ferndale Street. Look for One Teaspoon Denim, jewelry designer Vanessa Mooney and Italian brand Sofia … Define Body & Mind studio, owned by Henry Richardson, heads to Dubai for its first international location. The expansion marks the 12th studio for Define. Jailyn Marcel THIS JUST IN: RETAIL RAP LOOK HUES Coming to Town P hotographer and makeup artist François Nars never underestimates two things: shock value and the sartorial dynamism of color — insights he may have acquired while shooting editorial campaigns with photographer Steven Meisel for Elle and Vogue in the '80s. Nars' fervid approach on set, which earned him notoriety with supermodels and designers alike, ultimately led to the launch of Nars cosmetics. A decade later, his Orgasm blush graces the cheeks of the world's most famous faces, along with other provocatively named shades such as Deep Throat and Sex Machine. Apparently sex does indeed sell — especially when encased in packaging concepted by modern design icon Fabien Baron. For the full visceral experience of the brand, with artists trained by Nars himself and music specially mixed for the boutique by French DJ Les Jumeaux, visit the new Nars Cosmetics boutique in River Oaks District. Nars Cosmetics, River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer Road, 713.343.2425, narscosmetics.com. Francine Ballard Luxury PROPERTIES. Utmo DISCRETION. M E C O M P R O P E R T I E S . C O M | 7 13 . 5 5 8 . 3 3 18 © YAYOI KUSAMA. COURTESY DAVID ZWIRNER, NYC; OTA FINE ARTS, TOKYO / SINGAPORE; VICTORIA MIRO, LONDON; KUSAMA ENTERPRISE. Yayoi Kusama's Love Is Calling, 2013, at MFAH