Art Mart

Treasured Houston art market puts fresh twist on holiday shopping

For the last 13 years, Fresh Arts in Houston has been putting on the Winter Holiday Market, also affectionately known as WHAM. As this year's WHAM approaches on November 16-18 at Winter Street Studios, here are all the important things you need to know before you go.

What is WHAM?
It's an arts market that fosters professional growth, connects art lovers to creative makers, and supports artists across a variety of disciplines. It's a grassroots initiative that has since grown to generate over $1 million in sales for the Houston arts community, with more than 600 artists participating in the event.

How much does it cost to attend?
Nothing! WHAM is free and open to the public on Saturday from 11 am-8 pm and Sunday from 11 am-4 pm. Parking is free, and all your purchases will be tax-free.

But what about Friday?
That's the preview party and happy hour from 6-10 pm, and you'll definitely want to buy a $15 ticket to attend ($20 at the door, and free for Fresh Arts members). You'll get early access to the shopping, lite bites, festive live entertainment, and an open bar featuring drinks from Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co., Dripping Springs vodka, and Austin Eastciders. Oh, and be sure to wear an ugly Christmas sweater if you have one — that's the theme on Friday.

What sorts of items will I find at WHAM?
Shoppers can browse handcrafted items from a variety of mediums, including paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, clothing, soaps, and more from emerging and established independent artists.

Which artists will be featured?
Michael Leanes Design (furniture), Claire Drennan Knits (textiles), Studio Leep (sculpture), Kathrine Zeren (men's fashion and home goods), Domestic Papers (paper goods), and Outspoken Bean (poetry). Jewelry artisans will include Modern Artifacts, fLuxe Jewelry, Cindy Schulze, Brenda Grands Jewelry, and Panache by B. There will also be fine artists such as Angela Fabbri, Tony Parana, Lenora Palacios, Joel Anderson, and Rene Victor.

I heard a rumor that this is the last year for WHAM. Is that true?
Yes, so you'd better be sure not to miss it. Fresh Arts is shifting focus to provide a deeper level of support for artists through new programs such as an annual Artist Summit, which will provide skill-building tailored to the evolution of the local arts economy.

What if I still have questions?
Head to WHAM's website to learn more about Fresh Arts and to see the full list of WHAM artists. The event is made possible by Houston First, Fresh Arts, and Visit Houston.

What if I want to make a weekend out of it? Got any hotel deals for me?
You bet — Omni Houston Hotel is the official hotel of WHAM, and it's offering a staycation package that includes luxurious accommodations for stays November 16-18, a $25 food and beverage credit, tickets to the WHAM preview and Ugly Sweater Party on November 16, and an exclusive offer for Mokara Spa. Remember, this is subject to availability, and is not applicable to groups, conventions, or in combination with other savings or discounts. Taxes and gratuities are not included.

Winter Holiday Art Market brings together independent artists with art-loving shoppers.

Photo courtesy of Fresh Arts

Winter Holiday Art Market brings together independent artists with art-loving shoppers.

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Documentary News

Netflix series Waco: American Apocalypse debuts with newly unearthed footage

Waco: American Apocalypse

ATF agents at Waco compound in 1993.

Netflix has a new series on the tragedy that took place in Waco three decades ago: Called Waco: American Apocalypse, it's a three-part series documenting the standoff between cult leader David Koresh and the federal government that ended in a fiery inferno, televised live, with 76 people dead.

The series debuts on March 22, to coincide with the 30-year anniversary of the event which took place from February 28 to April 19, 1993.

It's an oft-told tale and not the only new release to try and exploit the 30-year anniversary: Jeff Guinn, former books editor at the Fort Worth Star Telegram, just came out with a book in January, also described as definitive, called Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage.

Waco: American Apocalypse is directed by another Texan: Dallas native Tiller Russell (Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer), who obtained never-before-seen videotapes of FBI negotiations, as well as raw news footage and interviews with insiders.

Those insiders include one of David Koresh’s spiritual wives; the last child released from the compound alive; a sniper from the FBI Hostage Rescue Team; the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit Chief; journalists; and members of the ATF tactical team who watched colleagues die in the shootout against the heavily armed members of the religious sect.

The FBI videotaped inside the hostage negation room, thinking they'd be there maybe 24 hours, not 51 days.

"These are video cassettes that were sitting in somebody’s closet for 30 years, that show the mechanics of hostage negotiations in an intimate setting - not the hostage negotiation scenarios you see in films, but a team of people grinding, day in and day out, for 51 days," Russell says.

He also procured footage from Waco TV station KWTX, who had a reporter embedded in the initial gunfight.

While the standoff was broadcast live on TV at the time, much of it was out of camera range. The film uses 3D graphics to recreate the details of the compound.

Russell acknowledges that the tale of the cult leader who was also a pedophile, the debate over the right to bear arms, the constitutional limits of religious freedom, dredge up painful conversations that continue today.

"It cast a long shadow, pre-saging the Timothy McVeigh bombing in Oklahoma, the shooting at Colombine, and a growing distrust of government, but I think it's important to reckon with our past so we don't repeat mistakes," he says.

"So much of what’s roiling in culture today can be traced to Waco, a story about God and guns in America with all these children at the center whose lives were determined by the adults around them," he says. "There was no playbook for what happened, everyone was out on a limb, and people made mistakes. But almost everybody was trying to do their very best."

"I think this is a story that's often recalled in politicized terms, with finger-pointing on who screwed up and how did we get here, but there's a profound humanity to it all," he says.

Watch the trailer below:

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