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    Send me an Angel

    Dream on: With a little imagination, the sky's the limit for public arts inHouston

    Reginald C. Adams
    Jan 12, 2012 | 9:47 am
    • Public Art Campaign: Intern artists create a mosaic mural for the newNeighborhood Centers Inc. Baker-Ripley Center.
    • Public Art Campaign: A gigantic mosaic caterpillar on its way to its new home inBuckboard Park in the Greenspoint area
    • International Mural Exchange: Local artists work on a mural for the Bayou CityArts Festival.
    • International Mural Exchange: Exchange students from Spain work on a mural forEarth Day Festival.
    • Art of Living: Students from the Youth Development Center create ceramic bowlsfor the after-school program fundraiser.
    • Art in Motion: Detail of mosaic columns at the Fannin at West Bellfort METROLight Rail Station. Art design by Reginald C. Adams
    • Art of Living: Students from the WorkSource vocational program work on themosaic mural for WorkSource Northside Center.
    • Art Angels: Super volunteers SaRita Dean, left, and Carson Nunnally, right, giveJean Nunnally a big hug while helping out at the Creative Zone in the Bayou CityArts Festival.
    • Art in Motion: Artist rendering for the West Alabama at Hutchins METRO LightRail Station. Art design by Reginald C. Adams
    • Official logo for the Houston International Mural Exchange

     Editors Note: As part of the celebration of Houston's 175th anniversary, we asked some of Houston's leaders to imagine the city's future. In this essay, Reginald C. Adams, founder of the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH) imagines how the public art scene will look in a decade based on special projects undertaken now.

    Mayor Reginald C. Adams
    State of the Arts Address
    Houston, Texas
    January 1, 2022

    Hello Fellow Houstonians:

    As I reflect on how much has been accomplished and the lives that have been touched since we launched the citywide Public Art Campaign in 2012 I must say it has been an amazing decade for the arts and cultural scene in Houston, Texas. When we initially gathered the city’s top art leaders, culture shapers and art patrons to set out to transform the city into an international public art mecca I’d venture to say that no one could have imagined how much our city would benefit as a result of a commitment to one goal: Bring the arts to all communities within Houston. Let’s take a look at the numbers:

     Cultural Impact

    Since 2012 we have commissioned more than 300 local, national and international artists to create site specific public art projects, programs, workshops, special events, installations, exhibits and seminars in communities across the city.

     Economic Development

    Through public/private contributions more than $310 million has been invested in the local arts community and for every dollar invested we have seen $10 returned through cultural tourism, restaurant revenue, hotel occupancy, mass transit usage and retail shopping. This totals over 3 billion dollars in revenue back into the local economy from arts based programming.

     International Diversity

    We have leveraged Houston’s position as one of the nation’s most internationally diverse cities by partnering with the Sister Cities of Houston program. In 2012 we partnered with the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH) and co-sponsored the International Mural Exchange program. Now in its ninth year, we’ve established mural art exchanges with nine countries. The International Mural Exchange program has strengthened Houston’s role as a major player on the international public art scene resulting in Houston hosting the 33rd International Sculpture Conference.

     Education

    The Houston Independent School District (HISD), the seventh largest public school district, now is the only district in the U.S. that offers mandatory art, music, dance and drama classes by experienced instructors in grades pre-K through 12. Art Residencies in The Schools (ARTS) is a 10-year commitment, funded by the Texas Commission for the Arts and NEA, by HISD to ensure that every child in every classroom has hands-on experiential exposure to the arts.

    This commitment to the arts has resulted in the sharpest increase of graduation rates amongst public school students across the country, 51% in 2012 to 87% in 2022. Math, science, reading and writing scores on all standardized tests have increased on average by 17% from 2012-2022.

     Affordable Housing

    In 2012 the Houston Housing Authority provided housing assistance to more than 60,000 low income families. The HHA partnered with local artists and arts organizations through the Art of Living program which brings multicultural, multidisciplinary art programming to the residents within the housing developments. Over the past 10 years there has been a 23% reduction in renewed applicants for housing assistance which have saved tax payers over $12 million. The vocational training component of the Art of Living has launched 28 micro-enterprises which collectively generate $1,659,000 in revenue annually.

     Film & Entertainment

    The Texas Film Commission caught wind of the blossoming public art scene and jumped on board of the Public Art Campaign by providing funding for the production of the Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary, Community Canvas. The feature film follows eight local artists and organizations over 10 years as they bring public art and shape culture in some of Houston’s most overlooked and underserved communities. The film has now been shown in over 112 film festivals across the globe and has brought an international spotlight to the Houston public art scene. From 2012-2021, 18 independent art films have been produced and filmed in the city, helping to shape Houston into an art film capital.

     Transportation

     METRO has served as one of our leading partners through the Arts in Motion campaign which has commissioned 37 artists to design and produce artistic enhancements for all 18 METRO Light Rail Lines which now connect virtually every corner of Houston. The Arts in Motion campaign has received numerous awards including 2021 Best Transit Oriented Design program by the American Public Transportation Association. One of the most exciting features of the Arts in Motion campaign is the tours of the public art projects throughout Houston.

    In collaboration with the City of Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, over 80,000 passengers annually are traveling across the city to view and experience the nation’s top public art collection. These tours have been featured on American Roadshow, Good Morning America, Texas Monthly, the Discovery Channel, Bravo Network and PBS, to name a few.

     Parks and Green Space

    Through a unique partnership with the Houston Park and Recreation Department we have installed 82 new murals and sculptures in parks and greens spaces throughout the city. Under the Art in the Park initiative, artists are invited and encouraged to present their wares, perform and produce their crafts during public park hours at selected parks. The Art in the Park program has reduced crime in some of the more under-utilized parks and has spawned a dramatic increase in the usage from all the parks that the program operates in. The program is looked upon as a national model for how the arts can revitalize public parks and green space.

     Volunteerism and Civic Engagement

    Under the umbrella of the Art Angels initiative we worked hand in hand with our volunteer agencies, non-profit organizations and service organizations like the more than 65 Rotary Clubs in Houston. Art Angels has enlisted an army of volunteers to help support and promote the Public Art Campaign. 19,781 volunteers and volunteer groups took that challenge and contributed 1,349,760 volunteer hours for a total estimated savings of $20,246,400. The volunteers assisted in art festivals, project dedications, afterschool art programs and a myriad of other fun and engaging activities that ensured the success of the campaign. We also experienced a dramatic spike in the number of volunteers seeking to serve on the board of directors of Houston’s blossoming nonprofit art organizations.

     Closing

    One thing I learned in my 15 years as president/CEO of the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH) is that with a little vision, dedication, teamwork, focus and creativity we can transform ourselves, our homes, our community and our city through the arts. The City Wide Public Art Campaign has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream and exercise their creativity. That's how we build for the future.

    The City Wide Public Art Campaign was not just about bringing great art to Houston but about- how we help children in our schools reach their maximum potential using the arts-how to bring hope to our inner city communities by celebrating culture and heritage-how to strengthen our transit systems by engaging the public- how can we bolster our creative economy by tapping into local art resources. I am comforted that we can step back and say, “Art made a difference!”

    Creativity is our strength as a society. How we exercise our creativity is our choice. And today, just a decade after the launch of the City Wide Public Art Campaign, it is because of people just like you that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of the arts in Houston is strong.

    Thank you.
    Reginald C. Adams
    Mayor of City of Houston 2022

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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this 4th of July weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 2, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    The 4th of July lands on a Friday this year, which means things will get especially patriotic this weekend.

    We’ve already listed all the fireworks celebrations and restaurant specials that’ll be popping off on Friday. (Don’t forget about the screenings of Independence Day at River Oaks Theatre, Rooftop Cinema Club and Marriott Marquis Houston.) But there are also other must-see events happening this weekend, including a LEGO convention, the second anniversary of a Third Ward eatery, the return of a Stanley Kubrick classic, and an outlaw music festival featuring Willie Freakin’ Nelson and Bob Freakin’ Dylan!

    Thursday, July 3

    Brick Rodeo
    Brick Rodeo is a family-friendly event that features hundreds of custom models and displays made from LEGO bricks. Creators from Texas and around the country will be available to talk about their creations. Fans who want to display their own creations, attend workshops, and participate in all the activities should purchase an All Access Pass. Families and individuals who want to spend a day viewing incredible custom creations, talking with builders, and shopping with vendors should purchase a public exhibition ticket. 9 am (8:30 am Friday-Sunday).

    City Place presents Young Audiences of Houston: Painting with Watercolor Pencils Art Workshop
    This free art workshop, hosted by Young Audiences of Houston teaching artist Judy Malone Stein, transforms City Place’s central waterfront plaza into a classical art studio with easels and other essential supplies. Participants are introduced to the medium of watercolor pencils and will learn basic color theory which includes the color wheel and primary and secondary colors, along with complimentary colors. They will also focus on creating compositions, using traditional visions (portraits, landscapes, still life) as their subject matter. 9:30 am.

    Improv Houston presents Dustin Ross
    Dustin Ross is a NAACP Image Award-winning host, writer, and producer. Fans of The Read podcast may know him as a longtime guest/friend to the show. These days, you can hear him on two pods: The Friend Zone, with co-hosts Hey Fran Hey and Assante; and Holding Court, with Eboni K. Williams. He has also hosted seasons of Bet on Black, REVOLT TV’s competition series, Bet On Black. As an on-air contributor, Ross has appeared on multiple platforms, including MTV, BET, Bravo TV, HBO, FUSE TV, GLAAD, Fox Soul, and more. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, July 4

    Freedom Over Texas
    With an average of 50,000 people in attendance, Freedom Over Texas has become Houston’s annual, signature July 4th celebration. The live, televised event will feature local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice, and will be capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. It also features a unique non-profit component, as the event will donate a percentage of food and beverage sales to the Houston Food Bank. 4 pm.

    Ensemble Theatre presents The Tap Dance Kid
    Over at The Ensemble Theatre, The Tap Dance Kid is about a 10-year-old African-American kid named Willie who doesn’t want to be a lawyer like his well-to-do strict father, and dreams of becoming a dancer like his talented Uncle Dipsey, an aspiring Broadway choreographer. The final production in the theater’s 2024-25 season, this musical is filled with imaginations of stardom that keep us tapping along. Through Sunday, July 27. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    Dan Electro’s presents The Broken Spokes & Oliver Penn 4th of July Party
    Freedom, music, and a 4th of July Party will be going down at Dan Electros. The show will feature a performance from traditional Texas country band The Broken Spokes, a well-seasoned outfit that’s put in the time honing their craft in honky tonks across Texas,. Also performing will be Rhode Island-born, Houston-based country singer Oliver Penn, who has shared the stage with Charley Crockett, Shakey Graves, Randall King, The California Honeydrops, and Shinyribs. 9 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Graveyard Shift: Attack the Block
    Guy Fawkes Night in London is a time for fireworks, fooling around, and an occasional surprise or two. But when vicious extraterrestrials decide to crash the hellraisers’ holiday, a time for making merry quickly turns scary. Writer-director Joe Cornish also ensures it’s frequently humorous as well. This frisky, vigorous 2011 spoof — propelled by an insistent electronic score by Steven Price & Basement Jaxx and a star-making lead turn from John Boyega — shows a similar sensibility in its breezy blending of goofiness and gruesomeness. 10 pm.

    Saturday, July 5

    Rado Market 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
    Chef Chris Williams’ market and cafe at the historic Eldorado Ballroom will celebrate its two-year anniversary with a celebration that’s free and open to the public. The event will include complimentary champagne during the first hour, food specials from chef Jaden Gaines, and live music from a DJ for the first two hours. Guests can also browse and shop from a curated lineup of local vendors offering various products for sale, including Posh Body, Ambrosia Nectar, 77 Stash, and Juxx. Patrons can also enter two raffles featuring Radiant Aura samples and other giveaways. Noon.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
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    Winnie’s presents Labubu Face Tattoo Korean Corn Dog Karaoke Party
    Never has an event’s name been a more complete description of what’s happening at the Midtown sandwich shop/cocktail bar on Saturday. Artists from Rodeo Tiger will be tattooing Labubu, the must-have accessory that feels destined to become the Beanie Babies of 2025 ($25 minimum, $50 for both sides, and $100 for full face custom work). While you wait, snack on a Korean corn dog created by chef Jennifer Hoffman. Karaoke starts at 8 pm. 1 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Barry Lyndon
    This weekend, catch the 50th anniversary screening (in glorious 35mm!) of Stanley Kubrick’s lavish, Oscar-winning 1975 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 18th-century novel. Forced to leave Ireland after killing an English officer in a duel, young Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) seeks his fortune as a soldier in Prussia, as a spy, and then as a gambler living among the elite of Europe. He changes his name and marries an aristocrat (Marisa Berenson) for her wealth, but will he finally gain the acceptance he seeks? 5 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Kings Harbor Waterfront Village presents “Fireworks on the Pier”
    Looking for a post-4th of July throwdown this weekend? Kings Harbor Waterfront Village in Kingwood will have its annual “Fireworks on the Pier” celebration, a patriotic evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities include family-friendly games like Connect Four, a balloon artist, face painting and bubble stations for kids. Local restaurants will be serving up a variety of delicious food and drink options throughout the evening. A dazzling fireworks show over the pier will begin around 10 pm. 7 pm.

    Movies at Miller: Wicked
    We know there is a lot of y’all who can’t wait for Wicked: For Good to drop in multiplexes this winter. Before that happens, head over to Miller Outdoor Theatre and revisit the Oscar-winning Broadway musical adaptation that set it all off. In the magical Land of Oz, Wicked covers the first act, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good Witch. The audience is encouraged to come in costume. 8:30 pm.

    Sunday, July 6

    Eldorado Ballroom presents Ball N’ Parlay
    Dubbed “A 1st Sunday Vibeout,” Ball N’ Parlay is a vibrant, Third Ward day party that’s going to be held outside the legendary Eldorado Ballroom. They’re really hyping this one up, calling it “the Sunday you’ve been waiting for, where music, community, and culture meet.” We’re just psyched that some of our favorite DJs will be doing live sets, including DJ Elevated, Maiya Papaya, Alist, and DJ Bloom. 3 pm.

    Outlaw Music Festival
    If you grew up going to Cactus Music and picking up the latest issue of No Depression, looking for the latest in outlaw country releases to scoop up, a fest full of iconic, guitar-strumming banditos will be making a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this weekend. The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. 4:05 pm.

    CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
    As of this writing, we don’t know who will be playing in the final match of the soccer championship known as the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, going down this weekend at NRG Stadium. What we do now is that the winners will be determined on Wednesday night, when the semifinal matchups – the USMNT vs. Guatemala and Mexico vs. Honduras – will take place. This also marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in the state of Texas. 6 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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