For his new installation along Memorial Drive at Waugh, artist Konstantin Dimopoulos stressed that he hasn't painted the trees blue . . . but rather colored them with a natural blue pigment.
"The difference is very important," he explained to CultureMap in a recent onsite interview. "This color is intended to highlight how essential trees are to our environment. But the blue is only temporary and will disappear in a manner of months. We make sure the color will in no way harm the trees."
While the blue trees are captivating for anyone traveling along Memorial, nothing beats walking through the grove itself.
Scores of young volunteers from River Oaks Elementary and the Blaffer Art Museum wandered among the large grove of crepe myrtles, using paintbrushes to cover trunks and branches in blue as the Australian artist mixed the natural pigment in a plastic bucket.
While the blue trees are captivating for anyone traveling along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge, nothing beats walking through the grove itself — which is surprisingly peaceful, even as traffic zips by along the adjacent exit ramp.
Organized by the Houston Arts Alliance, The Blue Trees officially opens Wednesday with an evening reception from 6 to 7:30 at the HAA Gallery (3201 Allen Parkway). The artist speaks at 6:40 p.m. Click here for details and other locations.
Be sure to watch the video above for a closer look at the project with Dimopoulos himself.
Konstantin Dimopoulos, The Blue Trees, 2013, installation at Memorial Drive and Waugh.
Photo by Joel Luks
Konstantin Dimopoulos, The Blue Trees, 2013, installation at Memorial Drive and Waugh.
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.
