Arte Stories

Today, the East End District announced the adoption of a Cultural Arts Strategic Plan that will provide a framework for cultivating the cultural landscape of Houston’s East End over the next ten years. Created by Houston-based art advisory firm Weingarten Art Group (WAG), the plan is the result of seven months of research, analysis and community outreach to East End residents, business owners, artists, cultural activists, historians and more. The plan was made possible by a grant from the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and was officially adopted by the East End District Board of Directors on November 19, 2020.

Houston-based Midway, the privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, today announced a new public mural installation on the site of its 150-acre East River development in east downtown. Midway tapped local multidisciplinary artist David Maldonado to create the Houston-themed piece. At 60’x20’, the East River mural marks the artist’s largest work to-date.

Feeling restless at home and wish you could safely visit some interesting spots around Houston? A new website, HoustonMuralMap.com that launches July 15 helps people do that. “Couch-surfers can take a fun discovery tour online, by clicking on murals that interest them on the map to see a photograph and learn about the artist,” said Elia Quiles, a principal of UP Art Studio, the firm that created the site. “People can drive around to see them too, by using the website to create their own DIY tour. It’s fun to take others in your household on a drive to see some colorful murals in person.” Nearly all installations can be viewed from the car; on the street, people should wear a mask and social distance.

The BioArt Bayou-torium, created by artist Henry G. Sanchez, is a science lab and art studio housed in a shipment container overlooking Buffalo Bayou in Houston’s 2nd Ward. This socially engaged, bio-art based project invites the general public to make art by investigating nature with the aid of science tools and provides bilingual pontoon boat tours of the nature and history of the bayou.

The Andar Conmigo exhibition hosted in Alexander Arzú’s personal studio located inside of Art Square Studios (2315 Commerce Street, Suite 17) will run from April 4th – 6th, 2019 from 4pm-8pm each day for free, with the artist and curator present. There are opportunities for private viewings for purchase through Eventbrite.

Talento Bilinque de Houston (TBH) has placed an open call for artists of ALL mediums. Their gallery for the month of April will follow the theme of “Expressions in Afro Latinx Identity." This month-long exhibit is an exploration of self-identification as a person of the Afro Latinx community.