Seeking Houston's hidden art scene

October 21, 10:25 PMHouston Art ExaminerAlexandra Gaisbauer

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Yes, Houston has an art scene

Houston: home of the Rockets and Astros, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the Livestock Show and Rodeo and a heap of petroleum engineers. These are all recognized facts about the largest city in Texas. The majority of people tend to associate the city of New York with fashion; Vienna with classical music; Paris with art. In the same way, Houston and oil go hand in hand. Ask anyone, including a born and raised Houstonian, what kind of images come to mind when contemplating this southern Texan city. They are doubtfully visions of gallery openings or local artists mingling at an exhibition. 

Houston is, unfortunately, forever tied to the oil industry. And that does not leave much room for excitement.  Despite its ‘oily’ reputation, it is my ambition to shed some light on its ‘artsy’ potential.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Houston is not all about oil. Surprisingly, the city I have called home for over fifteen years does convey a fair share of cultural charm. It may not boast the most fascinating architectural inspirations or a museum the equivalent of the Louvre in Paris (frankly, the Louvre stands on its own in all its majesty). Nevertheless, it has a certain je ne sais quoi and a thriving creative soul, if you simply give it a chance. Try shedding those preconceived ideas which readily label Houston nothing more than a fast-paced metropolis lacking public transportation, and in my case, discarding the memories of growing up in yet another city with petroleum pumping at its core.

Art is all around you.  The theater district and museum district established the performing and visual arts scene. Noteworthy companies and institutions include the Houston Ballet, The Museum of Fine Arts and the Menil Collection, just to name a few. The last time most of you stepped foot in a museum was probably in grade school, am I right?

The Menil Collection

Evermore exciting, the creative scene is expanding as I write.  Non-profit organizations such as FotoFest and the Houston Center for Photography expose our community to the photographic arts through diverse exhibitions and educational programs. Furthermore, collaborative gallery spaces like Box13 have been created to support emerging artists and will hopefully continue to grow as more and more artists tap into Houston’s creative resources. And by the way, those art openings and specials events (also known as parties) you thought you lacked the privilege to attend are actually organized for you, the public. So comb your hair, put on your shoes and don’t worry if you’re no art connoisseur. Enjoy discovering your city’s unique art scene, one opening at a time. I’ll keep you posted!