The words of the alleged tagger

The latest on the Menil Picasso vandalism: Sifting through rumors, allegations &motivations

Pablo Picasso, Femme au fauteuil rouge (Woman in a Red Armchair), 1929, TheMenil Collection, Houston
Photo by Hickey-Robertson, Houston
In broad daylight, a man entered the Menil surrealist galleries and stenciled abull and bullfighter image onto a 1929 Picasso.
fused00828/YouTube
Among his Facebook images, Landeros has "conquista" artwork on view.
Uriel Landeros/Facebook
Alleged vandal Uriel Landeros, whose name is listed along with the eyewitnessvideo of his now-infamous tag, appears to have nothing to hide, keeping hisFacebook pictures active and even posting a report of the Menil vandalism.
Uriel Landeros/Facebook

Rumors and allegations are flying this week as the Houston Police Department continues its investigation into last Wednesday's attack on Woman in a Red Armchair — a 1929 Picasso painting at the Menil Collection that was tagged with a spray-painted stencil of a bull and bullfighter along with the word "conquista."

After KPRC Channel 2 first reported the incident Sunday evening, a 24-second eyewitness video of the vandalism has racked up more the 100,000 hits on YouTube. Uriel Landeros, the stencil-artist whose name is posted on the video as the alleged tagger but who has not been charged with a crime, appears to feel little need to keep a low profile and has even posted the KPRC story on his Facebook page.

The witness showed CultureMap a typed version of the vandal's original statement.

According to a Monday afternoon email circulated among faculty and staff at the University of Houston, a student from the university has been linked to the crime. HPD's ongoing investigation as well as federal privacy laws prevent UH officials from commenting at this time.

On Tuesday, CultureMap spoke with the cameraman who shot the eyewitness video. He stressed that he had nothing to do with the attack, in spite of what several news articles had suggested. After shooting the video and immediately posting it on YouTube, the eyewitness said he unexpectedly bumped into the tagger-artist several days later and asked him about the incident. The vandal gave him a hand-written letter detailing his artistic motivations.

The witness showed CultureMap a typed version of the vandal's original statement, which read:

I dedicate this to all the people out there who have suffered for any injustice of every kind. To those abused by their loved ones. For those abused by their government. For those who were abused by organized religion. And to Picasso from artist to artist. The beast is meant to be conquered. Picasso loved bullfighting because he knew at the end of the dance, someone had to die and on the day it was his turn."

The Menil Collection expects the painting to be fully restored and has since released an official statement from museum director Josef Helfenstein.

"We are shocked and saddened by this unfortunate incident," he says. "It threatened the public’s ability to enjoy a wonderful painting and violated the bonds of trust that enable museums to share great works with their visitors. We are cooperating fully with the Houston Police Department in its efforts to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice."

UPDATE: Click here to read The Menil Picasso vandal plot thickens: Police seek suspect; Crime Stoppers offers reward

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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.