Hey there -- as we all grapple with how/when the pandemic is going to end, I keep taking it one day at a time. If you're looking for a way to get centered -- or for focusin g your life -- I'm available for hire for one-on-one labyrinth walks or nature mandala-making (or both!) , all done with masks and physical distancing. And, as always, I'm offering virtual  Life Path Sessions ; see more about those here .  If you're interested, please call me at 713.492.1173. I'd love to help you find PEACE in this crazy time. 

Black Restaurant Week is in town through this Sunday, July 19. They've got plenty of good eats, and you can also check out this list of recommendations of black-owned restaurants in Houston. As always these days -- be sure to check if they're open before you go! There's an "All Black Lives Matter with All Black People" virtual town hall this Saturday, July 18, 4-6pm, and the Ensemble Theatre has a robust list on ongoing virtual offerings here. And here's a curated list of anti-racist books for kids from one of my favorite organizations, the Representation Project.

I'm going to start PICK-ing some VIRTUAL EVENTS each week! I'll still focus on one arts organization that is open, so doncha worry: you can still venture out with my help. 

➡️ Virtual for ADULTS: Houston's own oboist and Artistic Director & Founder of ROCO, Alecia Lawyer, is being spotlighted this Sunday, July 19, 4-5pm as part of the American Composers Orchestra's "Connecting ACO Community," a new initiative in response to COVID. Alejandro Basulto Martinez composed a piece that Alecia will perform -- all the details are here. 

➡️ Virtual for KIDS: Young Audiences of Houston has created a new online series -- Arts for Learning Creativity Pops!, which are videos created by YAH teaching artists (including me -- you can see "Labyrinths for Meditation" here and "Nature Mandalas" here). They are also presenting a free "Music & Dance Around the World" livestream summer concert series; tomorrow, Thursday, July 16, 7:30pm is the next one. See more about it and the full schedule of future concerts here. 
 


My ⭐️ARTS PICKS Spotlight⭐️ this week is Archway Gallery , which is currently open daily by appointment. Their Twelth Annual Juried Exhibition is on view through July 30; the juror was my friend and gallerist Wayne Gilbert (owner of G Spot Gallery, whi ch is open Saturdays from noon-5pm). Archway also has  a virtual exhibition,  #BLACKLIVESMATTER - Time for Change , on view online through July 31 (click on the image below of "Rising" by Joe Haden to see the full exhibition). That show was organized by artist Tracey Meyer  and a portion of p roceeds from sales will benefit Community Artists' Collective . Archway's next music event is a virtual concert  by Heights Fools on Stools this Saturday, July 18 at 7pm. The g allery is one of Houston's, and the nation' s, oldest artist-owned and operated galleries (since 1976!). It's located at 2305 Dunlavy Street. 

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In non-pandemic times, and since I started publishing my blog in 2004, it has been a space to promote my curated list of unique live Houston area cultural events (PICKS) on the weekend for adults and kids. Because of COVID-19, those haven't happened since mid-March so I originally re-worked the format to focus on 5 Houston-based arts & culture organizations in my (Almost) Daily Dose of ARTS PICKS blog each of the NINE weeks of quarantine. You can see each edition - and read about 45 arts groups! - here.
 
And now I'm bringing you an  ⭐️ ARTS PICKS Spotlight ⭐️ each  week -- featuring an arts & culture space that is open -- and you'll get info about all of their activities and sometimes a video to bring them to life. And starting this week, I'll also be PICK-ing virtual events for ADULTS and KIDS. 

I'll keep doing all of that until public events start happening again on a larger scale and I can start curating live event PICKS again.

In the meantime: please enjoy my weekly Spotlights and VIRTUAL PICKS, and please stay healthy!

Sincerely,

Sarah Gish
713.492.1173

P.S. If you want to IGNITE YOUR LIFE now or anytime, check out my list of "12 Ways to Ignite Your Life Daily" -- and watch the 12 videos I recently made about each Way  here. I'm very proud of that list and my work and I hope it will help you live a fully creative life. Meditation, taking care of yourself, enjoying life, and laughing -- plus more! -- is what will get us through this global pandemic.