top Texan talent

Multi-talented Med Center performers score Texas' highest arts award along with Lone Star State legends

The stars at night are always bright here in Texas, but they were particularly brilliant recently in Austin as some of our biggest superstars gathered to receive the Texas Medal of Arts. The biennial ceremony recognizes extraordinary achievements in the arts, with recipients representing a diverse selection of Texas cities (from Houston to Austin, Brownsville, El Paso, Dallas, and beyond) and a wide range of mediums — film, fashion, music, choreography, literature, architecture, and more.

Notably, an innovative Houston group took honors with some Lone Star State legends.

Taking place at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the 2023 TMAA honorees walked the red (well, purple) carpet before the event — including Miranda Lambert, Luke Wilson, and Taylor Sheridan. Representing Houston were the acclaimed members of the Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine.

Emceed by Elliott Forrest, the evening included a special performances by Miranda Lambert, joined by Jack Ingram and Jon Randall for a selection of songs off their recent collaborative album, The Marfa Tapes. 2023 TMAA honoree Christopher Cross also performed, backed by the Barton Springs Orchestra; and previous TMAA honoree Ray Benson capped off the evening with a cover of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" for a special curtain call with the night's performers and honorees.

The full list of 2023 TMAA honorees is as follows:

Miranda Lambert (Lindale) - Music/Songwriter
Luke Wilson (Dallas) - Film/Actor
Taylor Sheridan (Weatherford) - Film/Producer
Christopher Cross (San Antonio) - Music
Deborah Roberts (Austin) - Visual Arts
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (El Paso) - Literary Arts
Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine (Houston) - Arts/Health
Juan Miró and Miguel Rivera (Austin) - Architecture
Septime Webre (Brownsville) - Dance
Lela Rose (Dallas) - Design
In Memoriam: Carole Cook (Abilene) - Lifetime Achievement/Musical Theatre

Photo by Taylor Prinsen Photography

Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine.

don't get burned

Talented performers fire up new store and training facility in Houston

Supplies for fire performances to open in Houston in 2025.

Photo by Matt Hellman

Kira Bailey performs with fire fingers.

Have you ever wanted to juggle, swallow, or dance with fire? Houston will soon be home for a place that sells the gear and offers lessons in that art.

Chris and Kira Bailey of the Solar Rain Performance Troupe have been firebending for audiences for more than a decade, as well as running their own online store for tools of the trade, TheOddPropShop. In 2025, they plan to open a combination storefront and workshop for Houstonians to enter and practice the fiery arts.

"Having a physical location allows us to connect with our customers on a more personal level that can’t be replicated online — which is especially important for building props that performers must trust with their lives," the Baileys wrote in an email. "Because of that, we’re building this workshop to become a space to create and test products, and invite our customers in when they want custom-made props. We go through a long trial-and-error with each of our new ideas, often using affordable items from Temu to build our prototypes, and then improve our designs until they’re ready to sell."

The space will be located in Kemah and is scheduled to open in the second half of the year. It will be a combination storefront, living space, and workshop area that will serve aspiring fire performers in a variety of ways. The Baileys will sell their signature fire bubblers, fire jump ropes, and sun wheels that are perfect for both professionals and hobbyists.

The brick-and-mortar OddPropShop will serve as a hub for greater Houston's performance community. Interested first timers will be able to take classes, while established performers can try out new routines and equipment. According to the couple, Houston is home to a significant community of fire artists.

"We wanted to be in a city that not only has a great arts scene and supportive creative community, but is also in a location where we could quickly and easily get the materials we needed to build our props," the Baileys wrote. "Houston was the only place that checked all those boxes. We were also personally drawn to Houston because many of our friends and fellow performers live in the city. In many ways, Houston already felt like home."

In addition to the tools of the fire trade, TheOddPropShop will sell costumes and accessories such as leather and stone jewelry. These small pieces of flair help add to the pagan ambience of the overall fire package.