Art handlers carefully hung a tapestry of Picasso's Guernica at the MFAH on Friday, marking the first step towards the museum's anticipated Picasso Black and White exhibition opening on Feb. 24.
The rare rendition of the iconic antiwar painting was created in 1955 by master weavers Rene and Jacqueline de la Baume Dürrbach, who worked closely with the artist himself to translate the original 1937 canvas into wool. For the tapestry, Picasso replaced the harsh black-and-white of the painting with a warmer palette of sepia tones.
After hanging at the United Nations for several decades, this woolen Guernica gathered considerable attention in 2003 when it was covered with a blue curtain as Colin Powell made his case for the Iraq war in front of the Security Council. The tapestry left the U.N. in 2009 for London's Whitechapel Gallery and has been on long-term loan to the San Antonio Museum of Art since 2012.
For more on Guernica and its wooly cousin on view at the MFAH, watch the video above.
Art handlers unveiled a rare and notorious Picasso tapestry at the MFAH on Friday.
Photo by Joel Luks
Art handlers unveiled a rare and notorious Picasso tapestry at the MFAH on Friday.
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
