ArtValet

Still on the lookout for unusual backgrounds, hobbies or jobs of artists, this week we meet Heights artist Abiola Wabara. Before arriving in the Heights, Wabara lived in Italy, Spain, Israel, England, played professional basketball and currently works as a business consultant for a multinational consulting firm. Wabara paints on canvas and like many artists, can’t remember when art wasn’t important in her life. Probably more so now than ever. “Art has been in my life ever since I can remember. Painting is my way to vent and free myself from any disappointments, broken heart or bad feelings I may have,” Wabara says in her bio. “My art represents what I see as beautiful or subjects in which eyes I see a different story.” As I said, there’s more to Wabara than she lets on in her … [Read more...] about Art Valet: Artist with international background settles in Heights

HITS Theatre, a Heights nonprofit theater company, kicks off the spring season with “Shrek the Musical,” their 31st-anniversary production at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Performances are over the next two weeks Thursday - Saturday, March 29 - 31 and April 5 - 7 at 8 p.m. The event is ticketed for covered seating. Free tickets are available (four per person over age 16 while they last) at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The box office is located behind the theater. If tickets remain at 1 p.m., the box office will re-open one hour before show time to distribute the remaining tickets. Really, though, the best way to see a performance is on the hill, which will start filling up in the afternoons before the show. I … [Read more...] about Art Valet: HITS presents ‘Shrek the Musical’ at Miller Outdoor Theatre

Wandering the aisles at First Saturday Arts Market, I love to ask the artists what else they do either for a living or recreation? The answers are sometimes stunning. Examples: political science professors, NASA Space Station operations, marathoners, pilots, FAA investigator and today, we meet master carpenter and mountain climber, Heiko Weiner. Weiner, a Pasadena resident, specializes in turned bowls. He has succeeded in developing his own, distinctive style. He combines wood with other natural materials, such as essential oils, semi-precious stones, bone, and metal. He enjoys the challenge of applying various precise techniques required for this type of work. Weiner travels the country to fine art shows and will be a featured artist at the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park this … [Read more...] about Art Valet: Artist reaches new heights after art festival

It hardly seems like it, but two years have gone by since I first wrote about a random walk that led me to a story about FotoFest International. This year the biennial event runs March 10 - April 22 and is absolutely vast in scope, education and exhibition space. The focus of the FotoFest 2018 Biennial is India, a nation of more than 1.3 billion people and the world’s largest democracy. The exhibition features 47 leading or emerging photographic and new media artists of Indian origin, working both in India and globally. Every part of Houston is covered as well with literally hundreds of photographers. In the Heights, there are seven venues that include the Art Car Museum, Bill’s Junk, Gspot Contemporary Art Space, The Heights Theater, The Vineyard Church of Houston, THINGZ Gallery … [Read more...] about Art Valet: FotoFest International on display in the Heights

One creates monsters and ghouls from her imagination, another takes fantastical creatures from real life and immortalizes them forever. Jessica Carlos and Ruben Salazar may have attended the same show together a time or two, and both have taken their next big steps opening their individually unique studio and retail space, respectively, and are hosting grand openings this weekend. Salazar was one of the first exhibitors at The Market at Sawyer Yards and frequents the popup circuit almost weekly. Salazar creates shadow boxes and frames with exotic insects and butterflies from around the world and calls his business “Bug in The Box.” His mother was an entomologist and taught Salazar about spreading and pinning insects and how to preserve them. His father was a botanical artist. The … [Read more...] about Two Grand Openings – with Imagination Galore