Sculpture Month Kicks Off Saturday with Spooky Show at the Silos

OPENING SATURDAY IS Synaptic, Sculpture Month Houston’s sixth group exhibition to be installed within the dark, labyrinthian interiors of SITE Gallery, located inside the former grain towers at The Silos at Sawyer Yards. If you haven’t ventured into the silos for such an event, it’s an experience you won’t forget, as the architecture and spooky vibe of the silos always inspires its exhibiting artists to stretch their work into strange, often experimental territory. The show runs through Dec. 3.

The title and theme of Synaptic is inspired by the human brain’s mysterious and miraculous ability to transform electric synapses into concrete thoughts and emotions, which are rooted in the creation of art, especially sculpture. Sculpture Month Houston curator Volker Eisele invited 18 Texas- and Houston-based artists to run with the theme, and be as scientific or as silly as they like in their exploration and visual interpretation of how brain activity can produce both conceptual and concrete art.

The diverse group includes artists working with sculpture, sound, video and, in the case of Ronald L. Jones, large-scale, floor-to-ceiling installations of string. The exhibit also features Austin-based data artist Laurie Frick’s immersive interpretation of a kinetic brain model, a video installation by Hillary Holsonback that explores the intellectual and moral dilemmas of artificial intelligence, and what’s described as “a look at the dark side of the human psyche” by painter and sculptor Sharon Kopriva. John Berry, Christie Blizard, Jeff Gibbons, Dave Greber, husband and wife team Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magsamen, Meredith Jack, Dameon Lester, Beili Liu, Virginia L. Montgomery, Chris Sauter, Matthew Steinke, Brad Tucker, and Meredith Tucker will also show in Synaptic.

Complementing Synaptic is Ambient Avenues, a performing arts series on select Saturdays inspired by the exhibiting artists and curated by Meghan Hendley Lopez and Chapel in the Sky.

The Silos (photo by Wei Hong)