As I write this week's newsletter, 237,000-plus CenterPoint (LESS) customers remain without power, and devastation surrounds us all (every day, I am amazed at how many trees we have lost in our city and I wonder how people survive in the Bayou City without AC!). In spite of this unbelievable experience, Houstonians remain strong as they help themselves and others. I hope you are all safe and well, and will soon overcome the adverse impacts of Hurricane Beryl.

If you have the means and are able to do so, give back to artists and those organizations and businesses that support their creative work. While I currently have the time and the means to do this weekly missive, I will eventually need your help to sustain it over the long term as it takes a lot of time out of my work schedule.

So please do ONE thing this week to support artists, art organizations, and all who support art => INVITE YOUR FRIENDS + CLIENTS + CUSTOMERS + FAMILY + ANYONE ELSE TO SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter!

As always, my online calendar has a more complete list of visual art events happening in Houston.

~ Melissa Richardson Banks

All events are subject to change without notice. Please check with the venue or the organizer of an event to ensure that it is taking place as promoted and scheduled. And, if you miss an opening at a museum or gallery, please check the MUSED Houston art events calendar on my website at www.melissarichardsonbanks.com to plan your visit during a venue's regular operating hours.

WED 07.17.2024

🎨 OPENING RECEPTION "VAA's 40th Juried Open Exhibition" 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Redbud Arts Center (303 East 11th St., Houston 77008). On view thru July 27, 2024 in the West Gallery, this year's exhibition was juried by Tanja Peterson and is the Visual Art Alliance's 93rd exhibit overall since its founding in 1981.

🎨 OPENING RECEPTION "Paper Trails: A Collective Exhibition" 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Laura Rathe Fine Art-River Oaks District (4444 Westheimer Rd., Houston 77027). On view thru August 5, 2024, works by 15 acclaimed artists explore the limitless possibilities of paper as a medium.

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THU 07.18.2024

🎨 OPENING RECEPTION “Paradox” 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Silver Street Studios (2000 Edwards St., Houston 77007). On view thru September 14, 2024, this is the first juried exhibition (by Alton Dulaney) that draws work from all studio buildings on the Sawyer Yards campus. 

🎨 ART OPENING “Dance of Gestures: Loriana Espinel” 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sabine Street Studios-East Corridor Gallery (1907 Sabine St., Houston 77007) On view thru August 31, 2024 are works by this Houston-based Colombian artist whose visual system based on two different styles of calligraphy. 

🎨 ARTIST RECEPTION “Earl Staley: The Machine” 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sabine Street Studios-North Gallery (1907 Sabine Street, Houston 77007). On view thru August 31, 2024 are large, densely colorful paintings on canvas that highlight the longtime Houston artist's variety of approaches to image-making, mark-making, and his range of techniques.

🎨 ART EVENT “Riverside Terrace: Where Today and Tomorrow Collided with Stephen Fox” 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston 77006). Architectural historian Stephen Fox speaks in conjunction with CAMH's current exhibition "Olivia Erlanger: If Today Were Tomorrow."

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FRI 07.19.2024

🎨 RECEPTION + ARTIST TALK “Fiebre” 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Silos at Sawyer Yards-Bay 200 Gallery (1502 Sawyer St., Houston 77007). On view thru August 17, 2024 is an immersive installation entitled Cancionero by artist and organizer Aime Rosales.

🎨 ONE NIGHT ONLY “Summer Slashers: An Art Tribute to Horror” 8:00 PM to 12 midnight at Hardy & Nance Studios (902 Hardy St., Houston 77020). Insomnia Gallery presents its annual art show with works by artists that pay tribute to the horror genre.

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SAT 07.20.2024

🎨 OPENING "Collaborations and Bootlegs: 10 Years of F Magazine" 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Josh Pazda Hiram Butler (4520 Blossom St., Houston 77007). On view thru August 24, 2024 are works by nearly 30 artists.

🎨 ART EVENT "Summer Jam 2024" 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University (6100 Main St., Houston 77005). Art activities, games, and an indoor farmers market -- something new on every corner that completely transforms the building.

🎨 ART EVENT “Summer Block Party + Closing Reception” 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Art League Houston (1953 Montrose Blvd., Houston 77006). Music by Ice House Radio and the last chance to see the exhibits by Noel Maghathe, Paola de la Calle, and Jack Marilla plus artisan vendors!

🎨 OPENING RECEPTION "Gathering At Dawn" 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mitochondria Gallery (2220 Commerce St. #D, Houston 77002). On view thru August 3, 2024, this group exhibition celebrates the transformative moment and the soft hues of the first light of dawn when hope and possibility emerge.

🎨 ART EVENT “Moon Party” 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Menil Collection (1533 Sul Ross St., Houston 77006). Celebrate this historic day in 1969 when astronauts first stepped on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission with this lunar-focused event, which includes an outdoor stargazing soundtrack provided by Peter Lucas, NASA footage projections, telescopes to view the full moon, and a special appearance by Dr. Gary H. Kitmacher, Communications and Education, NASA Johnson Space Center.

SUMMER NIGHTS AT MFAH

Every Saturday in July 2024

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

1001 Bissonnet St., Houston 77005

Dodge the heat in the 68-degree galleries, enjoy a cocktail, visit your favorite artworks in all galleries, and listen to live music by Houston ensembles during Summer Nights 2024 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH). Curators on hand to talk about art. Entry is FREE for museum members; $40 for non-members (includes one complimentary drink). 

FREE CALENDAR LISTINGS! Promote your Houston art events by visiting melissarichardsonbanks.com/events and clicking "Submit Events" to enter information about your event.

WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN MY E-NEWSLETTER? To give me time to review and consider for inclusion, you must submit your events through my website two to four weeks in advance AND a representative from your organization must subscribe to my e-newsletter. Please understand that I cannot include every single event at every art venue throughout Houston. I do my best! And, remember, this weekly e-newsletter is solely a passion project for me as I like to keep a list of what I really want to see.