On the agenda this week are the opening of a hyper local art exhibition, a film festival that explores architecture's relationship to the natural order, a community market and talent showcase, an artsy display of Houston prowess and a young professionals pity party for a has-been cosmic A-lister.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston opening reception: Right Here, Right Now: Houston
The title of this hyper local exhibition says it all. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston director Bill Arning and curators Valerie Cassel Oliver and Dean Daderko chose to focus on the works of Debra Barrera, Nathaniel Donnett and Carrie Marie Schneider in an effort to bring attention to what's happening right here in Houston, artistically speaking, at the present moment in time.
The skinny: Friday, 6:30-9 p.m.; Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; free event.
Fourth Annual ArCH Film Festival "Architecture Meets Life"
The three-day festival continues on Friday and Saturday with The Human Scale, a film that explores how spaces influence human interaction by looking at urban centers such as New York, Berlin and London; and Biophilic Design, a survey of how buildings should connect to nature.
The skinny: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Architecture Center Houston; $10 per screening.
Project Row Houses' Third Ward Community Market and Talent Showcase
Project Row Houses is one of the most successful arts-centered experiments in which creativity acts as a catalyst for social change and community enrichment. Founder Rick Lowe's vision has surely been noticed: He was appointed by Mayor Annise Parker as one of the co-chairs to develop a cultural strategic plan to bolster local arts endeavors.
You can get a taste of what this Third Ward destination is all about at this relatively new ongoing event. This showcase — a mixture of performances, visual art, installations and hands-on activities — spotlights emerging artists in a family-friendly display.
The skinny: Saturday, 3-7 p.m.; Project Row Houses; free event.
21st Annual TransCanada Theater District Open House
Think of this affair that's held at the Hobby Center, Alley Theatre, Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center and Bayou Music Center as an appetizer to the city's menu of delectable artsy offerings that contributes to the city's national standing as a desirable place to call home.
Hands down the best prices on subscriptions and select single tickets to downtown's performing art presenters are available during Theater District Open House. Check out the day's activities here to plan your outing. How does a free tango lesson sound?
The skinny: Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Theater District; free event.
Houston Museum of Natural Science's Mixers and Elixirs
He was the smallest of the bunch, the little planet that couldn't. Although he enjoyed many years in the company of other official planets, eventually Pluto's true self was revealed: He was a dwarf planet and no longer belonged among the other cosmic A-listers.
The theme for this month's Mixers and Elixiers young professionals brainy fete pays homage to the celestial body with music courtesy of the Space Rockers, drinks and grub from H-Town StrEATs, Coreanos and Golden Grill.
The skinny: Sunday, 7-10 p.m.; Houston Museum of Natural Science: $20.
Biophilic Design, screened as part of the ArCH Film Festival, is a survey of how buildings should connect to nature.
