'Unbelievable' art sale

Longtime Houston arts nonprofit unveils 'unbelievable' pop-up auction in lieu of annual gala

Find pieces such as The Girl by Tony Paraná at the pop-up.

Image courtesy of Tony Paraná/Fresh Arts

According to figures by locals who study this sort of thing, galas account for some 15 to 20 percent of Houston nonprofits’ revenue. So it’s understandable that groups having to pivot during COVID are scrambling for support.

One local arts organization, Fresh Arts, has canceled its Unbelieve-A-Ball scheduled for January 22 due to omicron, but has reimagined a way for area fans to enjoy some art and support the nonprofit.

A So Unbelievable Auction Pop Up will run from January 22 through January 29 and will run in place of the Fresh Arts gala. The hybrid fundraiser allows art aficionados to browse and bid on more than 50 works of art and one-of-a-kind experience packages in all price ranges.

“While we were excited to be back together for the Unbelieve-a-Ball this month, our concerns for the safety and health of our community have to take precedence,” Marci Dallas, Fresh Arts executive director, tells CultureMap. “We hope that Houstonians will join us for A So Unbelievable Auction Pop-Up—either virtually or in-person—to support the work of Fresh Arts so that we can continue to nurture the city’s vibrant arts scene.”

Those who wish to bid on the auction items can do so either online or in-person at participating exhibit spaces around the city, such as Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co, MKT Bar at Phoenicia Downtown, and the Arts District Houston Welcome Center at Winter Street Studios, per a press release.

Expect offerings from local artists such as Outspoken Bean,Tony Paraná, Renee Victor, and more. All funds raised at this auction will support Fresh Arts and local artists.

Those planning to attend the ball, don’t ditch those outfits: Fresh Arts plans to host a 20th birthday party later this year.

fundraisers galas

taking center stage

Stage adaptation of iconic Black movie Jason's Lyric to debut in Houston

Courtesy of Jason's Lyric

Most of the movie's cast will appear in the play.

Next year, Houston writer/producer/director/promoter Je’Caryous Johnson will be bringing another beloved Black movie to the live stage.

Jason’s Lyric will join New Jack City and Set It Off in the lineup of ‘90s Black-movie favorites that Johnson has adapted for the stage. The 1994 made-in-Houston drama stars Allen Payne and a pre-Will Smith Jada Pinkett as young lovers trying to maintain a relationship as conflicts and obstacles keep getting in the way.

Jason’s Lyric Live will go on a nationwide, 22-city tour, premiering right here in H-Town on Thursday, February 13 — just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“Houston is my home, and bringing Jason’s Lyric Live to life here first is my way of paying homage to the city and its people who inspired this story,” Johnson said in a statement. “This is more than a play; it’s a love letter to the community.”

Payne will reprise his role as Jason, with actress/model Eva Marcille stepping in Pinkett’s role as Lyric. Naughty by Nature rapper Treach, who played Lyric’s criminal big brother Alonzo in the movie, will also return to the role for the stage production. Tyrin Turner (Menace II Society), K. Michelle (Love & Hip Hop), and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Welcome Back, Kotter) will round out the cast.

"Jason’s Lyric is one of the films that defined my career as an actor,” Payne said. “To bring it to life on stage for audiences who loved the movie — and a new generation experiencing it for the first time — is an incredible honor."

Marcille is also psyched for the show, taking on the role that Pinkett memorably brought to life. "Lyric is a character who embodies resilience and hope, and I’m honored to bring her story to life on stage,” Marcille said.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, December 13, at 10 am. For a full list of dates and ticket information, visit the website.