Posted by Monica Danna on Jan 26, 2009 in
arts + events Internationally renowned choreographer, Pat Graney, makes a grand return to Houston as she takes over DiverseWorks’ entire building with her latest exhibition and performance House of Mind. In an amalgamation of female memory, collective unconscious, and family and cultural histories, Graney creates an expansive kinesthetic sense of her work that takes the audience on an intense and thought-provoking journey through her past, her mother’s battles with Alzheimer’s and the quirky imagination that Houstonians saw in The Vivian Girls (2005) and Sleep (1998). The public is invited to tour the installation, a multi-sensory experience that physically manifests aspects her mind, and then experience a choreographed performance, in which each viewer’s experience will be as unique as memory itself.
Just a little info on the exhibit from Shawna:
“This is by far the biggest installation/ performance that we have ever done!!! The installation will take over the entire space (theater, main gallery, and project space- 6000 sq. feet). There’s going to be 100,000 button waterfall, a book room consisting of 4,000 books, and several performances at the beginning of the run. We’ve definitely never done anything like this. I’m so excited. I just saw the performance in Seattle and it was so good!!”
The installation for House of Mind will be on view during gallery hours. Admission is free and open to the public.
If you would like to purchase tickets to the House of Mind performances, look and click here. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for DiverseWorks members and $8.00 for students and seniors. Seating is EXTREMELY LIMITED, so reserve your tickets ASAP.
Pat Graney
House of Mind
Installation on view: Jan. 30- Feb. 21, 2009
Performances: Jan. 30 & 31, Feb. 5 – 7, 2009
7:30 pm
DiverseWorks Main Gallery, Project Space, and Theater
Tags: arts + events, diverseworks, houston, installation art, pat graney, performance art
Posted by Monica Danna on Jan 21, 2009 in
arts + events,
music 
Tonight, Wednesday, January 21, 2009
7:30pm
Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex
2201 Preston Street, Houston, Texas
Admission: Free
On the occasion of the publication of his new book, Performance, Technology, and Science (New York, PAJ Publications, 2008), theatre director/choreographer Johannes Birringer will address ideas and suggestions for the interrelationship of digital media art, performance, and choreography, show film excerpts from his latest production, Corpo, Carne e Espírito, which premiered in Brasil last June, as well as from Suna no Onna, his collaborative dance work with fashion and interactive/smart garment designers, which was shown at London’s Laban Centre. He will address the recent history of dance and technology and the emergence of interactive art and bio art in an international context of art & science collaboration.
Birringer is artistic director of the Houston-based AlienNation Co. and directs the
Center for Contemporary and Digital Performance at Brunel University, London.
He has created numerous multimedia dance-theatre productions in Houston since moving there in 1987, including Invisible Cities, Ad Mortem, North by South, Parachute, and Mirak, and his digital dance and screen-based works have been shown at festivals around the world, most recently at Dança em Foco (Rio de Janeiro) and Choreographic Capture (Munic0h). He is the author several books including Dance & Cognition, Media and Performance, and Performance on the Edge.
This event is sponsored by Barnevelder Movement/Arts and Dance Source Houston
For more information, call 713-529-1819
Tags: arts + events, Barnevelder, dance, technology
Posted by Monica Danna on Jan 13, 2009 in
arts + events,
books I’ve been anticipating this for a looooong time. (Almost as long as I’ve been wanting these two to reunite).
I’ve sung Jim Parsons praises since the day I met him. Arguably one of THE most knowledgeable resources on all things Houston, and one helluva inhaler of Barnaby’s Blue Cheese Fries.
Jim, along with the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance’s David Bush, has been working on a Houston Art Deco architecture book, and it’s finally time to share it with eager, Houston-adoring fans, like yours truly. 
This Thursday, January 15th, ArCH’s ArchiTypes and the Houston Public Library present:
Houston Deco: Modernistic Architecture of the Texas Coast
with authors Jim Parsons and David Bush.
“Join us on the 4th floor of the Downtown Houston Public Library at 6:00pm on Thursday, January 15th, for a presentation by authors Jim Parson and David Bush. A book signing and reception will follow immediately at the Architecture Center Houston (ArCH) at 7:00pm.”
About Houston Deco: Modernistic Architecture of the Texas Coast:
When it comes to Art Deco, Houston is rarely cited in the same breath as Miami, New York or Los Angeles, but the city boasts many gorgeous examples of this early 20th-century style, some of which are in jeopardy of being forever altered or demolished. In the 1920s, as Houston was beginning its transition from medium-sized Southern city to major American metropolis, local business and civic leaders made a conscious decision to create a new image for their community. As the Roaring Twenties gave way to the Great Depression, Art Deco zigzags and Art Moderne streamlining reshaped the city’s stores, skyscrapers, factories and apartment buildings. Through color photographs, David Bush and Jim Parsons showcase the fine detailing on Houston’s surviving Art Deco and Art Moderne structures. From downtown landmarks to east end industrial sites, Houston Deco captures the grace and beauty of these innovative designs with an eye toward the importance of conservation, restoration and preservation.
About Authors in Architecture:
Debuting in January 2009, Authors in Architecture is a new collaboration between the Houston Public Library and ArchiTypes, the inaugural membership group of ArCH. Our aim is to create a new dialogue between these two downtown cultural centers and their patrons. This monthly series is free and open to the public.
About ArchiTypes:
ArchiTypes is a membership organization of Architecture Center Houston (ArCH) dedicated to increasing appreciation of architecture, understanding our built environment and encouraging sustainable development. There are no membership requirements other than an interest in architecture including environmental responsibility, urban design, interior design, public art, and landscape architecture. To join ArchiTypes please contact nicole@aiahouston.org or call 713.520.0155 for further information.
Houston Public Library Downtown
500 McKinney, 4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
6:00pm
Architecture Center Houston (ArCH)
315 Capitol, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77002
7:00pm
Recommended parking at the Houston Public Library parking garage or the Hobby Center parking garage.
Follow Jim on Twitter: @fourfive
Follow Greater Houston Preservation Alliance on Twitter: @ghpa
Tags: architecture, art deco, books, houston architecture, houston public library
Posted by Monica Danna on Jan 9, 2009 in
arts + events Yes, our little baby Sketchy will be one year old this weekend. And what a year it’s been! Whew! Check out some of our sketchy pics from the last year.
Join us this Sunday, January 11th as Houston celebrate one year of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School at Avant Garden. Check the flyer for all the deets.
Our model is taking us back to the Wild Wild West days, so get ready for some hat throwing, boot stomping, lasso tossing good times 
Bring those sketchpads and get ready for a whole new Sketchy year!!
Tags: avant garden, dr. sketchy, houston sketchy
Posted by Monica Danna on Jan 8, 2009 in
arts + events 
Went to check out the Houston touring performance of Spring Awakening at the Hobby Center last night, and wow! was I ever awoken! Fantastic! Was blown away by the soundtrack (Duncan Sheik).
These kids were amazing. Great performances by many of the young cast members. The boys were my favorite. The choreography was stellar. The live band was superb.
Jesus, what can’t I say? I want to go see it again. And probably will. Totally bummed that I didn’t catch wind that you could purchase tickets to sit ON the stage. Yes, ON the stage. Those aren’t cast members, those are $25 ticket holders. Effing A. I wanted to be there so bad. Apparently they are sold out for all future performances. Maybe I’ll check it out in another city.
Playing thought the 17th at the Hobby Center. I urge you to check it out. I secondly urge you to invite me so I can see it again.
Big thanks to @mertastic + @deneyterrio + NetSquared for the tix!
Buy Your Tickets. Do it. Go Now. I’ll wait here.
p.s. i totally watched the drummer the whole time. i’m a rock band-o-holic.
Tags: hobby center, musical, spring awakening
Posted by Monica Danna on Jan 3, 2009 in
arts + events,
coworking,
music Don’t forget, tomorrow continues the BandCamp series at Caroline Collective. (Given my recent Rock Band 2 obsession, I may be considering quitting my job to join a band. that, or just to play Rock Band all day.)
What: Bandcamp: TOURING workshop
Who: Sara Winter of AEG-TMC/Warehouse Live and Gretchen Schmaltz of Western Civilization will be our featured speakers.
When: January 4, 2009, 1-3p
Where: Caroline Collective, 4820 Caroline St., Houston 77004
Why: Learn about booking a tour for your band including tips and tricks to contact bookers, routing logistics, a packing list for your tour, and best practices for promoting in an away city.
Find out more on the Caroline Collective Bandcamp post.
*We are also asking bands to submit a tour proposal to us: length, desired region, budget, why… Then we will select one of these proposals and book that band a tour. We will transparently detail every step of the way so that others can learn this process and provide guidance for our (mis)steps. By collectively sharing the Houston Music Community’s expertise and advice we’ll be able to demonstrate its actual strength.
Tags: bandcamp, caroline collective