Culture

These Houston Artists Want You to Plan Your Vote

Two local arts institutions have been tapped to help get out the vote by unveiling exclusive new works.

These Houston Artists Want You to Plan Your Vote

The presence of voting-related content on social media is hard to ignore. From celebrities and activists to everyday citizens, individuals are putting the pressure on their networks to register and vote. Now, in an effort to increase the “visual vocabulary" utilized in this movement, Vote.org has partnered with artists and museums across the county to produce unique content — and some of the most compelling pieces were made right here in Houston.

Two institutions tapped to participate in the nonpartisan Plan Your Vote initiative are DiverseWorks and Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston. Plan Your Vote seeks to empower Americans to take action and ownership of their voting rights by connecting citizens with accurate, up-to-date, state-specific information about registration, mail-in and absentee voting, ID requirements, polling locations and other voting-related topics.

The organization partnered with museums, as these institutions have served as sites of civic engagement and dialogue throughout history, to reinforce its messaging and offer increased visibility. Each participating museum has been posting Plan Your Vote campaign images, commissioned from represented artists, on their social media channels, and has added a button to its website, prompting visitors to check out PlanYourVote.org.

A hand-cut map portrait by Nick Vaughan and Jake MargolinA hand-cut map portrait by Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin

Blaffer just unveiled a creation by New York-based neo-conceptual artist Jenny Holzer, who is known for her text-based public art. In her animated post for Plan Your Vote, neon letters scroll by, sending the message: “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. Register early, vote early." It's capped off with an unmissable neon-purple, all-caps reference to PlanYourVote.org. Holzer's personal page touts other, more partisan messages presented in the same way.

Both Blaffer and DiverseWorks posted a promotional image created by Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin, Houston-based interdisciplinary artists whose street-savvy aesthetic incorporates hand-cut maps, striking black backgrounds and ample negative space. The duo's creation for Plan Your Vote was based on a photograph of Houston drag queen JJ Farmer taken in the backyard of Mary's, Naturally in 1976.

DiverseWorks has also featured a piece by Vincent Valdez, a Houston oil painter who grew up in a working-class, mainly Mexican community, and who has historically used his art to help dissect his identity as a Mexican-American. Subject matter of past works has included the KKK and the passing of Muhammad Ali. Valdez's Plan Your Vote image “Requiem" depicts an eagle overlaid with block letters that spell out the campaign. On his personal page, Valdez posted the shot and made the plea: “If you look at what a society does to its most vulnerable, then you see what it eventually intends to do to us all. Vote. It won't instantly fix an oppressive system. But it's a good place to start."

AT TOP: “Requiem" by Vincent Valdez

Art + Entertainment
promoted

Consistent Focus on the Patient Is What Sets Montrose Med Spa Apart

Consistent Focus on the Patient Is What Sets Montrose Med Spa Apart

Owner Maricela Olivo and Montrose Med Spa

WHAT MAKES MONTROSE Med Spa stand apart from the competition? We set ourselves apart from the competition by being consistently focused on one thing: the patient. With that focus, we will succeed in a successful and healthy experience and loyalty to Montrose Med Spa. Staying true to our message of intentional wellness is a point of difference where I see other spas being unclear and distracted in their direction. By listening to our patients, we ensure we meet and exceed their expectations. We continually stay on top of the market by offering the best innovative body sculpting and skin treatments that invigorate and energize and are specifically designed to restore balance and strength and renew youth to the body. We also utilize a number of marketing programs to stay on the minds of our guests, including radio, TV, direct mail, email blasts, and unique invitations for exclusive treatments. One element that helps to establish the bar and sets us apart from our competition is our emphasis on providing a complete medical gym experience—from the varied treatments with Emsculpt Neo to a personalized health and wellness and skin evaluation for each individual by our certified staff. We also provide a noninvasive, pain-free, and needle-free facelift through EMFace in addition to offering monthly beauty memberships that create a commitment to the overall wellbeing of the patient.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’

What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.

Keep Reading Show less