Houston art scene abounds
Danielle Stillman
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: A & E
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At the Art League, Dixie Friend Gay showcased some of her early works in "The Private." A Houstonian primarily known for her landscapes featuring native plants and animals, Gay's work from the 1970s and 1980s are a radical departure from her later subjects. The sensual drawings combine themes from Greek mythology with organic elements.
Gay's drawings are meticulously executed in pen and ink; her large-scale works are as big as 4 feet by 6 feet, but the amount of detail she expends for each work doesn't vary. Though not for the easily offended, Gay's drawings are passionate and creative interpretations of mythology, and her use of the natural is a nod to her later works, which can be viewed in the front gallery. They provide a stark contrast to the unabashed sensuality seen within "The Private."
The same weekend brought the opening of one of Houston's newest art spaces, Darke Gallery. Despite a name that may (perhaps unfairly) conjure up visions of a 15-year-old Goth girl, there's nothing "darke" about the subject matter of the opening exhibition or the space in which it is held. In fact, the gallery name is the owner's surname.
A former residence, the gallery's double-decker format offers spacious, high ceilings and recycled gym floors. It is hard to imagine the space as being anything but a gallery. Local artist Janet Wayte's bright abstracts conjure up images of jazz music and urban color. There are no stand-out pieces, but only because Wayte's pieces communicate with each other; seeing them together in the same space is to be surrounded by liveliness and energy.
Finally, MSquared Gallery in the Heights unveiled its collaboration with Houstonist.com, the photo exhibition "600 sq. mi." Originating as an open call, varied types of photography are represented in the show: digital, film, black and white, color, portrait, landscape and the list goes on. The exhibition is a catalog of the elements that make up Houston, and would make a fine introduction to the city for non-Houstonians.
From "ballet folklorico" dancers to River Oaks, the places and people of Houston are all represented here down the long wall that holds almost all of the 40 photos. Photographers don't shy away from showing the less-desirable side of the city in featuring its homeless. Each of the facets represented in the photos help to create a balanced portrait.
Art in Houston is everywhere, and the scene is alive. A simple night out can be the key to discovering an exciting part of the city's cultural mosaic.