Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, renowned for its extensive collection of American decorative arts and paintings, honors founding director emeritus David B. Warren and his passion for American material culture with its fourth biennial symposium on American Material Culture and the Texas Experience. This year's topic is "Itinerant and Immigrant Artists and Artisans in 19th-Century Texas."

Schedule:

Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. - Opening Keynote "The Arts in Early Texas: A Cultural Crossroads"
Presented by Ron Tyler, former director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. A reception follows the talk.
Location: Brown Auditorium Theater, The Caroline Wiess Law Building, MFAH

Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m. - Welcome and Opening Remarks
Bonnie Campbell, director, Bayou Bend, and Jennifer Hammond, director of education, Bayou Bend.
Location: Brown Auditorium Theater, The Caroline Wiess Law Building, MFAH

Oct. 26, 9:45-11:45 a.m. - Morning Presentations

• "Settlers, Artisans and Immigrants: Evolution and Cultural Continuity in the Building of South Texas," presented by Mario L. Sanchez, historical architect and historian with the Texas Department of Transportation.
• "Have Camera, Will Travel: Itinerant and Immigrant Photographers in Early Texas," presented by David Haynes, author of Catching Shadows: A Directory of 19th-Century Texas Photographers and formerly with the Institute of Texan Cultures.

Location: Brown Auditorium Theater, The Caroline Wiess Law Building, MFAH

Oct. 26, 1-3:15 p.m. - Afternoon Presentations

• "Special Report: The William J. Hill Texas Artisans & Artists Archive," presented by Margaret Culbertson, director, Kitty King Powell Library and Study Center at Bayou Bend, and Marie Wise, project manager, William J. Hill Texas Artisans and Artists Archive.
• "The Search for Early Texas Silversmiths," presented by D. Jack Davis, professor of art, emeritus, and former Dean of the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas.
• "Thomas Allen's Sketches of Texas 1877–1879," presented by Heather White, art historian, formerly with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Location: Brown Auditorium Theater, The Caroline Wiess Law Building, MFAH

Oct. 26, 4:30-6 p.m. - Reception
Attendees are invited to join the speakers for light refreshments at Bayou Bend. The house, including the Texas Room, will be open. Shuttle buses will be provided to take guests from the MFAH to Bayou Bend and back.
Location: Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. - Study Trip
"Focus on Texas Paintings: 1850–1900," presented by Ali James, curator of the Texas Capitol, with commentary from Bonnie Campbell, director of Bayou Bend, and Seth Alverson, assistant curator of the Nau Collection. During this in-depth survey of the leading artists working in Texas in the second half of the 19th century, seminar participants have special access to a private exhibition of 19th-century Texas paintings and drawings, comprising works selected from a major collection of Texas art formed by Houstonians Bobbie and John Nau. Included are many never- before-seen works by Thomas Allen.