In the John M. O'Quinn Gallery, curator Paul Middendorf brings the group exhibition SOUTHERN/PACIFIC to its first stop in Houston. Middendorf, the 2010 Big Show juror, has selected work by artists from Houston, Marfa and Portland.

In the Mezzanine Gallery, recent UH MFA graduates Jeremy DePrez and Francis Giampietro present collaborative work made in response to a recent residency in Japan.

In the Grace R. Cavnar Gallery, Joel Hernandez' photography exhibition Mexicanos confronts the artist's memories of Mexico.

In the Project Space, Mark Ponder explores an unsatisfactory use of celebration to cope with death in contemporary funeral rituals for his installation, A Time to Celebrate. Jess Forster uses reclaimed and natural materials for his installation in the Mary E. Bawden Sculpture Garden.

An opening reception will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with artists' talks beginning at 6 p.m. The exhibitions are on view through Sept. 24.

Also kicking off the 2011-2012 season is the mural "Famous Monsters" by Daniel Anguilu. The mural is on the north exterior wall through June 2012.