Posted by Monica Danna on Jun 11, 2009 in
arts & crafts,
weddings I’ve always so admired crafty people like Katie, Sarah, Michelle, and Melissa. People who can take a piece of felt and a glue stick and create a masterpiece.
I’m not a crafter. In any sense of the word. I can’t sew myself out of a corner. The only time I’d ever use craft to describe me, would be followed by the words mac’n'cheese.
I subscribe to no less than 50 craft, design, and fashion blogs, wide-eyed gazing at the posts in my Google Reader like a little girl would tear through a Tiger Beat issue. It’s sad, yes. But I am an admirer of crafty design, not a possessor of the skills required.
I usually find that when I get something in my head, it won’t get out ’til I satisfy it. And for months I’ve been determined to find a stress relieving hobby that does not require me staring at a computer for 20 hours a day. However, I never expected to summon my crafting desire at midnight on a Tuesday in a 24 hour Kinko’s in Katy, TX.
If you are a reader of this blog, you’ll recall that this year I am attending 15 weddings. Four of those which I am either in or helping to plan. Over the next 10 weeks alone I will be hosting 2 bridal showers, organizing 1 couples shower, planning 2 bachelorette parties and attending 3, 2 bridal luncheons, 4 rehearsal dinners, and attending 5 weddings. And that only takes us up to August 31st. Then begins fall wedding season. I’ll spare you the details. Plus, I’ve gotta leave something for you to read in the book I’m writing about all of it! 
So takes me to Monday night. Sitting at dinner with Amber talking about the upcoming 3 weeks of wedding festivities upon me. I had searched all day for bridal shower invites for a shower I am hosting in a few weeks. I really needed to get the invites out stat, and couldn’t find anything I was looking for. Amber suggested Michael’s and I immediately perked up. I had been searching at every stationery store I could find in Houston. (Actually have a later post planned on this, found some great places!) But nothing had what I was looking for color and budget-wise.
The thought of going to Michael’s always intrigues me. Much like things normal people do, like grocery shopping, when I am in Michael’s, I feel like part of a society of crafty people. “Ah, yes, can you point me in the direction of the paper mache aisle,” I could hear myself casually say. Or exchange jovial beading tips with whoever happened to be standing on the bead aisle. (Did you know there is a whole aisle of beads?!). Dreams, all dreams.
Read more…
Tags: arts, bridal shower, craftiness, invitations, shower, weddings
Posted by Monica Danna on Mar 28, 2009 in
arts + events Imagine my glee when I received my fav arts eNewsletter, Flavorpill’s Artkrush, and slathered across the header was Houston: Art on the Bayou. Double take! Yup, us! Wheee! ‘Bout dang time, y’all.
Check out the lead story on Houston’s “long-established, internationally recognized art scene.” Thanks for noticing, FP.
For more Flavorpill Culture eNewsletters, check this.
Tags: artkrush, arts, arts + events, flavorpill, houston
Posted by Monica Danna on Aug 21, 2008 in
arts + events Three new exhibits open at Lawndale this weekend, with an opening preview party on Friday night.
Opening Reception Friday, August 22, 2008, 6:30-8:30 PM
Artist talks at 6:00 PM
Check it out, yo.
(Re)Vision: A Preservation of Houston’s
Inner Loop | Shannon Duncan
Project Space
Shannon Duncan has a compulsion to collect and photograph discarded and otherwise overlooked objects, reviving their once precious nature by excessively archiving and/or documenting what she finds. For her installation in the Project Space, Duncan extends her interest in abandoned property to include real estate. Between January 1st, 2008 and June 30th, 2008, Duncan synced her life in tandem with the City of Houston’s on-line permits website, then visited residential properties scheduled for demolition within the inner loop. She captured these fugitive places using (the now discontinued) Polaroid film, and retrieved what personal items she found on site. (Re)Vision encapsulates her six-month project, with the collection of images gridded off by zip code and accompanied by selected found objects.
http://www.communitywalk.com/revisionhouston
Read more…
Tags: arts, arts + events, houston, houston arts, lawndale
Posted by Monica Danna on Aug 21, 2008 in
arts + events 
Molly Gochman
Give-Away Release Party III
Experiential Opening: Saturday, August 23, 2008, 6-9pm
2445 North Blvd.,
Houston, TX, 77098
Exhibition Dates: August 23- August 28, 2008
Houston-New York based, experiential Artist Molly Gochman presents Release: Give-Away III as her last event at Commune on 2445 North Blvd, Houston.
The space will become alive with the interactive experience of Molly’s work on Saturday, August 23rd, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
Molly Gochman’s GIVE-AWAY PROJECT is a series that continually unfolds. Release: Give-Away III addresses relationships with change through exhibiting large-scale prints and intimate paintings, inspired by aspects within these prints. Both the prints and paintings serve as a way of archiving choices, circumstances, and personalities. During the exhibition, the image on selected prints will become less distinct. People will use cleansing tools designed to correlate with the body as instruments for physically engaging with the work. Release encourages one to be present, connect, and let go.
Creating opportunities for community interaction, connection, and exchange is a primary investigation of Molly Gochman’s work. When she began the GIVE-AWAY PROJECT in 2002, Gochman invited people throughout Houston to take place in an exchange, “Take home free clothes by modeling what you love”. People came throughout the evening the night of Give-Away Part I. Led by their curiosity, participants wove between the candy colored clothing and each other. It seemed as if garments were hovering at various heights within a large warehouse space. People chatted with each other. They also interacted with the objects by fondling them and evaluating their sizes and other features. They were considering the possibilities for these objects. Then, through documenting themselves with their chosen items, participants helped Gochman fulfill one of the intentions of this work, to investigate and record taste.
Read more…
Tags: arts, arts + events, diverseworks, houston, houston arts, molly gochman
Posted by Monica Danna on Jul 31, 2008 in
arts + events,
happy hour DATE: Sunday, August 3, 2008
TIME: 5pm-until they kick us out!!
LOCATION: Poison Girl Lounge, 1641 Westheimer, Houston, TX, 77006
(close to Wetheimer & Dunlavy)
Join the Staff of DiverseWorks for
Drink Houston Better at Poison Girl Lounge. Sit back and chill with us over tasty drinks and enjoy one of Houston’s favorite watering holes. The best part of all is that the profits from the night are donated to DiverseWorks. To accompany the delicious cocktails, you can enjoy the incredible jukebox that is dedicated to Texas music as well as the amazing pinball selection. Plus, DiverseWorks will have a raffle featuring a dinner for two to
La Mexicana, art work from local artists, and tickets to some of Houston’s hottest events.
Drink Houston Better is Poison Girl’s continued effort to make Houston not only tipsy, but a better place to live. Every first Sunday of the month you can do your part by doing what you love, drinking! Poison Girl generously donates the profits from an evenings bar tab to local non profits. We heart Poison Girl!
Tags: arts, arts + events, bars, diverseworks, happy hour, poison girl
Posted by Monica Danna on May 22, 2008 in
arts + events grossman has been creating weekly private dinners that benefit diverseworks. dubbed “Ad Hoc” the dinner bring together a diverse group of artists, journalists, and friend to the house for excellent food and (way too much) wine.
we had an awesome time. in attendance last night was diverseworks director diane barber, the orange show’s philip marshall, kaplan, grossman, houston journalist nancy wonzy, and artists Melanie Crader and Mick Johnson. Crader was showcased pieces she specifically created for the night’s dinner.
for more information, check out the chronicle piece on the dinners here: www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/arts/gray/5777325.html
Tags: arts, david grossman, diverseworks, food, houston, jeff kaplan, phillip marshall, wine
Posted by Monica Danna on Mar 17, 2008 in
arts + events 
photo: CosmoPolitician
Another great Dr. Sketchy event yesterday, what a turn out! No doubt thanks in part to the Chronicle’s coverage in last Sunday’s paper.
If you missed the event yesterday, you can catch some of the Sketchy action over at our HoustonSketchy Flickr Group
Be sure to check the site for upcoming dates and to sign up for the Sketchy Newsletter.
photo: groovehouse
About Dr. Sketchy
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is everything you wish all of your old boring art classes could have been. That is, chilled out afternoons full of beautiful people, killer beats, booze and ridiculous contests / draw-offs. Dr. Sketchy’s is what happens when Cabaret meets art school. When saucy models meet costume-themed boozefests. When artsy kids meet hip hop sketch clubs.
Houston Sketchy brings our steamy slice of the world a slew of stunning strumpettes to pose for and astound the masses – as well as pass out cool prizes and make fun of people. All that is expected of you is to sketch as you have never sketched before. And maybe have a couple of drinks, too.
Join us next time!
Tags: arts, avant garden, burlesque, cabaret, dr. sketchy, houston, houstonsketchy
