Summer Is Usually Slow for Art in Houston, but Not this Year

Summer Is Usually Slow for Art in Houston, but Not this Year

'Light Up Your Life (For Sandra Bland)' by Cauleen Smith, on view at the CAMH this summer

MANY HOUSTONIANS OFTEN think of summer as the off season for art in the city. But this year, as Covid wanes, the scene is booming. Here's what's happening at just three of Houston's most iconic arts venues.


THE MENIL COLLECTION It closed for six months at the start of the pandemic, but upon reopening in the fall, the Menil has unveiled a series of captivating exhibits, including several that continue through the summer. Enchanted: Visual Histories of the Central Andes debuts on July 30 as the museum's first exhibit exploring the visual culture of the Peruvian Andes. In addition to examples of festive dress and archaeological materials, the show will highlight photos by Pierre Verger, who gifted the de Menils, the museum's founders, a large collection of his original gelatin silver prints from his trips through the Central Andes.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOUSTON A multimedia exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Cauleen Smith focuses on how acts of kindness and the power of revolutionary thinking, in response to the injustices and inequities our society continues to face, can create a better world. We Already Have What We Need — featuring a moving video installation by the same title — debuts July 15 and runs through Oct. 3.

MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER A summer tradition, programming at Miller Outdoor Theater has made a comeback for 2021. In August, the 47th annual Houston Shakespeare Festival highlights a series of classic Shakespeare films — Henry V, A Midsummer Night's Dream — each one preceded by a live lecture from theatre historian and HSF executive director Rob Shimko.

Art + Entertainment
The Latest in Anti-Aging Tech Now Available in River Oaks

Dr. Edward Lee and Nuveau

DR. EDWARD LEE believes in bringing the most advance treatment options to his patients at Nuveau. At the River Oaks practice, he performs the latest nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures, such as BOTOX and fillers, various laser treatments, and other nonsurgical treatmetns such as CoolSculpting and EmSculpt. He also does facelifts, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, and rhinoplasty for facial rejuvenation. Plus, he can achieve natural results with breast augmentation and breast lift surgery, as well as body contouring, such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, Brazilian butt lift and mommy makeovers.

Keep ReadingShow less

Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwijk

BLAME IT ON the Moon! Mercury Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 gala at the Thompson hotel — themed “Moonlight Serenade and chaired by Ally Shell and Martijn Van Koolwijk — was a night of glamour and big band vibes, raising more than $350,000 for the company.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art+Culture

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

ONE OF THE most elegant and anticipated galas of the year — Asia Society Texas’ Tiger Ball — drew some of the society set’s heaviest hitters. And it scored a new personal best in terms of dollars, raking in a whopping $1.73 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art + Entertainment