Dynamic Group Show at Blaffer Demonstrates Anxiety, Desire, Resilience — and Diversity

Dynamic Group Show at Blaffer Demonstrates Anxiety, Desire, Resilience — and Diversity

Michael Ray Charles

AFTER NEARLY A year without gallery openings and with museum programs gone virtual, it feels encouraging to be back in close proximity to the local arts community, relatively speaking. Fifteen Houston-based artists — many of whom share the same social circle in "normal" times — are brought together again in Carriers: The Body as a Site of Danger and Desire at Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston, on view through March 14. The featured works demonstrate how each artist examines the role of the body and its connectivity to the circumstances of a global pandemic, longing for contact during isolation, as well as the resurfacing of racial tension across the US.


The exhibited artists work in a variety of mediums, from painting to film. There are beautifully rendered paintings on plaster by Lovie Olivia, figurative mixed-media works by Preetika Rajgariah, provocative photography by j.bilhan and large-scale video installations by both Francis Almendárez and Ryan Hawk.

'Forever Free #6' by Michael Ray Charles

There is also a glitter-glue fantasy courtesy of Jasmine Zelaya, whose solo presentation at Project Row Houses will resume upon its imminent reopening. And a particularly compelling work by Viollete Bule, "This is Not Gold," is composed of bars of Hispano soap stacked like gold bricks, speaking to the obsession with cleanliness brought on by the pandemic. The sculpture emits a fragrance visitors can smell from a distance, even with a mask on, and will likely evoke nostalgia for many Spanish-speaking viewers.

Most notably, the exhibition, organized by Tyler Blackwell and Steven Matijcio, includes multiple works by the pioneering painter Michael Ray Charles, who questions the racial stereotypes cultivated throughout the course of American history in his art. Charles graduated with an MFA from UH in 1993, returning in 2014 to become the Hugh Roy and Lillie Franz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Painting. In 1997, Blaffer organized the first major survey of his work, an exhibition that traveled to The Austin Contemporary and Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati.

'Hunting' by Gerardo Rosales

It's no surprise that many of the black and brown artists featured in Carriers are not often seen in Houston's woefully under-representative commercial gallery world. It is uncanny that the immense diversity of this metropolis is not always reflected in this microcosm. But with Blaffer providing artists of color increased visibility while driving empathy for many marginalized groups of artists and viewers alike, Carriers should lead to a reexamination of gallery-exhibition possibilities. Even our rarified art world could use some democratizing.

Art + Entertainment
With Expertise in Blondes, Extensions and More, the Janelle Alexis Team Is a Go-To Salon

YOU CAN'T LIMIT Janelle to one title – Hairdresser. Her career and business has been established and built on a strong foundation. Using her two business degrees + one more in-process, this enables Janelle and the team to deliver not only a customer-focused experience, but a foundationally solid business. There is much more than meets the eye, and in sharing a little bit about Janelle, she was not only an international hair extension educator for over 14 years, but brings extensive expertise to blondes. She rounds this out with her previously launched namesake cosmetic line, which is a perfect complement to her belief that “Beauty is our Business”.

Keep Reading Show less

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less