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T he Bloom on the Rose: Proving that less is more and Mother Na- ture rules, Hiram Butler Gal- lery presents an exhibition of only two paintings — but what glorious canvases they are (through Septem- ber 24). Their creator is American master Jennifer Bartlett, whose stained glass-win- dows can be seen at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on West Alabama — a significant piece of ecclesiastical art, also rooted in na- ture. Booking It: To celebrate PaperCity's new perfect-bound format, we tapped Laura Rathe Fine Art talent Karen Hawkins to create a sculpture out of vintage issues representing our first 22 years. Austin-based Hawkins is enamored of books and all things paper; see the result at Laura Rathe Colquitt, paired with luscious abstractions by Texan Sydney Yeager, who paints from a historic storefront in Elgin (September 10 – October 22). On view at Rathe's Post Oak location are Stallman Studio's wall sculptures, sug- gestive of wave theory (through September 17). Departing: Blaffer Art Museum's transformative director Claudia Schmuckli, one of Texas' best contemporary cura- tors, has been tapped for a plum post at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Schmuckli was always ahead of the game, presenting early on such talents as Urs Fischer before he was anointed by a Whitney Biennial. She was also responsible for the Blaffer's futuristic new look by Work Architecture Company. Schmuckli's swan song is "Matthew Ronay" (through October 1), his American museum de- but; the phantasmagoric shapes and kaleidoscopic colors conjure the set of a Saturday-morning car- toon. For more art, all the time, visit papercitymag. com. Catherine D. Anspon Art Notes COURTESY THE ARTIST AND HIRAM BUTLER GALLERY COURTESY THE ARTIST AND LAURA RATHE FINE ART Karen Hawkins' totemic installation (detail), 2016, at Laura Rathe Fine Art Jennifer Bartlett's Rose, 2010-2011, at Hiram Butler Gallery H ow does an art proj- ect for the Guggen- heim Foundation in Venice find its way to Lynn Wyatt's nape? By way of artist turned avant- garde jewelry designer Grazia Fortuna Ward. The Italian-born artist, who studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, creates dimensional environmental works for studios and private collectors, and collaborates with architects on settings and locations worldwide. But her second venture — a collection of ear- rings and necklaces she calls GFW — is perhaps her most expressive. Her oeuvre, 10 collections in, exists precariously at the crossroads between painting and sculpture, crafted of a mixture of porce- lain and marble powders, 24K gold leaf and resin. Her clients are her canvases — truly construc- tivism at its finest. $300 to $4,000, at Sloan/Hall. Francine Ballard OBSESSION: ABSTRACT ADORNMENT T his year's Texas Con- temporary Art Fair unfurls big-picture partnerships at the reborn George R. Brown Convention Center. The fair is collaborating with more than 30 cultural institutions around the city, including the Houston Sym- phony, Houston Ballet, Meth- odist Hospital, Houston First and all of the major museums. Expect to see these groups par- tying in the highly anticipated Gensler-designed VIP Lounge, a show-stopping structure crafted in dialogue with international furniture showroom BeDesign; sponsors Knoll and Kartell will embellish the lounge to create an unprecedented luxury experience. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston will once again be the Fair's beneficiary. This year, Fair-goers can purchase Elevated Access for $500 (with proceeds benefitting the mu- seum), granting coveted first access 30 minutes prior to the traditional VIP Patron Preview (a $150 ticket). Elevated Access privileges include behind-the-scenes tours at The Menil Collection; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and tony pri- vate collectors' homes. CAMH will also launch an exciting new Young Patrons group for 21- to 40-year- olds at the Fair, offering insider en- counters for next-gen art supporters. AeroMexico comes aboard to fly in collectors and influencers from Mex- ico City and beyond to experience the Fair and Houston's celebrated arts culture. I n t a n d e m with luxury hotel spon- sor the Four Seasons, international and national art luminaries receive special perks includ- ing a luxe Four Seasons room pack- age with VIP credentials to the Fair, which unfolds just steps from the downtown hotel. One of the most enticing events during Fair week is Recipe for Success' Art + Food ben- efit Tuesday, September 27, at the Four Seasons (tickets from $250, at recipe4suc- cess.org/events.html). Also, scoop up artist-edition napkins by nota- ble talents in the Recipe for Success booth. Joining the 60-plus international exhibitors are creative part- ners. Inprint presents Poetry Buskers, who pen custom poems based upon artworks at the Fair. Houston's Gulf Coast Journal holds public discussions in the Fair's theater-turned-reading room. In honor of Gulf Coast's upcoming 30th anniversary and launch of the Toni Beauchamp Art Lies Prize in Critical Art Writing, the journal presents a panel about the future of critical art writing. F o r o u r i n s i d e r g a l l e r y preview and the latest Fair news, follow our arts channel at papercitymag.com. S E P T E M B E R 29 – O C TO B E R 2, t x c o n t e m p o r a r y . c o m HOUSTON 24 Melissa Miller's Moth, 2016, at Moody Gallery COURTESY THE ARTIST AND MOODY GALLERY, HOUSTON Sergio Gutiérrez's La Doble Visión, 2015, at Parallel Oaxaca COURTESY THE ARTIST AND PARALLEL OAXACA, MEXICO Sergio Gutiérrez's La Doble Visión, 2015, at Parallel Oaxaca