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    The Arthropologist

    The Idea Fund gives sophisticated garage art and boy bands with pens a chance

    Nancy Wozny
    Jun 4, 2010 | 1:02 pm
    • From left to right: Sketch Klubb members Eric Pearce, Michael Stovall, CodyLedvina, Nick Meriwether, Sebastian Forray, Russell Etchen, Michael Harwell andLane Hagood
    • New structure for "blueprint2" in progress of being assembled
      Photo by Mick Johnson
    • Pre-existing architectural structure in progress of being disassembled for useas temporary "exhibition" space
      Photo by Mick Johnson
    • A spread from one of Sketch Klubb's zines, with work by Rene Cruz on the leftand a collaborative piece on the right
      Photo by Michael Harwell
    • A still-life from Sketch Klub's New York show featuring a Bart mask, a SaddamHussein pinata and a Bart and Lisa pinata set
      Photo by Russell Etchen
    • Nina Elder and Basket Bob
    • From The IDEAL Fund, detail of "blueprint2," a collaboration between(v)=variable and (jn)=jim nolan
      Photo by Mick Johnson
    • PLAND land
    • Basket Bob's house, current PLAND accommodations

    A reconfigured garage, an barren piece of land, a tag sale are all the terrain of art when it comes to The Idea Fund.

    Art runs on ideas. Without them we get flower paintings and dances with scarves. Thank goodness for The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts who partner with DiverseWorks, Aurora Picture Show, and Project Row Houses to offer direct support to artists through The Idea Fund.

    And we are not talking about same old, been there, done that, ideas. The Idea Fund looks for projects that employ unconventional, interventional, participatory and guerrilla practices. My ears perked up at "guerrilla."

    Ten Texas artists/collectives made The Idea Fund roster, including Potter-Belmar Labs, Sketch Klubb, Bill Davenport, Mick Johnson, DumpTruck, Brett Koshkin, Victor Payan/Sandra "Pocha" Pena, PLAND, Monica Henderson and Wura-Natasha Ogunji.

    I was able to visit with three of the grantees. When I first heard about each project I had to ask, "You want to do what? But once I wrapped my head around their left of the studio box way of thinking about art, I started to get it. Meet some of the idea ones.

     Garage Guy

     Mick Johnson is a painter with sculptural leanings. His project (v) = variable calls for existing architectural structures to be re-configured as temporary exhibition spaces. On Saturday, he presents his first manifestation of the idea using his own garage in his own driveway (1019 Alexander Street in the Heights), which has been transformed into both an exhibition space and art object with the help of Jim Nolan.

    Johnson is affiliated with Minus Space in Brooklyn, NY and has shown his work at PS1 Contemporary Art Center, DiverseWorks and Lawndale Art Center. Nolan shows at Deep Space in New York.

    "I've always had a personal attachment to architectural spaces, especially the places where I have lived," Johnson says. "Even when I make paintings, the space where they are shown has significance."

    Nolan proved a perfect match for his first go around of the concept. "I'm attracted to the way Jim works; he is very formal in his approach, yet he's constantly recycling his work into new pieces," he says. "Some of his works have only existed for a few days."

    The murky line between two and three-dimensional work has always lured Johnson. Nolan and Johnson plan a sound installation inside the structure, but expect a seamless boundary between the art inside and the structure containing it. Seems way cooler than a garage. I can't help wondering what he could do with my entire house.

     Beware thy coyotes

     PLAND stands for Practicing Liberating Art though Necessary Dislocation. It's the brainchild of Nancy Zastudil, Erin Elder and Nina Elder. When the trio became owners of a small parcel of land near the Sangre de Cristo Gorge in New Mexico, their off-the-grid brain gears started to churn.

    "It was a real shift for me," says Zastudil, who quit her job as assistant director of the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Center for the Arts to focus on PLAND. "I found a sense of place and security there. No matter what, I could always go back to the land."

    The fact that the land is devoid of any of the usual amenities like water and electricity doesn't stop these arts pioneers from thinking of the possibilities. The women are now out on the mesa.

    "Being on the land is amazing.The clouds are intense, the stars are bright, time slows down, and everything becomes essential," says Erin Elder. "Every drop of water is important. Every action is premeditated. Plants grow, wind blows, weather changes. Aside from breathing and blinking, it's impossible to take anything for granted."

    It's a particularly exciting time for PLAND because they have just selected their first artist-in-residence. Every day is work and process driven. "Yesterday we picked our resident, designed our house, managed our budget, researched fiscal sponsors, applied to a residency in Australia and another in Berlin, and created a summer calendar of visitors and events," reports Elder.

    The PLAND collective tackle land-based art, a terrain dominated by men, with a feisty spirit. "We find our inspiration in a legacy of pioneers, entrepreneurs, homesteaders, artists and other counterculturalists who through radical and mundane activities reclaim and reframe the American Dream,|" writes Zastudil in the project statement.

    Other than the fact that they fear their cat was eaten by a coyote, all is proceeding as planned for PLAND.

     Everyone needs a few friends

    When the The Sketch Klubb took the stage to talk about their idea they seemed like a mangy boy band with pens. They plan to publish a new book and commemorate it with a Nerd Garage Sale.

    "Think of a Fellini-esque garage sale. We will sell nerdy stuff, unload our extra toys, games, CDs, and computer equipment," Michael Harwell, a Sketch Klubb member, says. "There will also be tables set up for drawing, so you can join us. Oh and our art will be for sale too." Although the event is an actual garage sale, it's also an installation.

    Members include Harwell, Seth Alverson, Rene Cruz, Russell Etchen, Sebastian Forray, Lane Hagood, Cody Ledvina, Nick Meriwether, Eric Pearce, Patrick Phipps, J. Michael Stovall and David Wang.

    The group started when a girlfriend and a wife or two suggested that a bunch of male visual artists trying getting a few friends. Every other Saturday they gather to sketch, visit and hang out.

    "It's a club house of sorts with a no-girls policy," Harwell says. "It's not that girls can't draw or hang out with us, We wanted a place where we can be the dorky uninhibited guys that we are. We don't want to have to worry about anybody's sensibilities when we talk about boobs or butts."

    The all-boys club has been a busy bunch, producing a zine a month. The group includes individuals from Hagood, the 2010 Hunting Prize winner, to guys who just like to draw. Harwell mostly likes putting the zine together.

    "For some the career path of an artist is important, for others not so much," he says. "I just like to draw, to see what happens when I put a pen to a piece of paper."

    Sometimes they work with themes. Right now, it's album covers. Harwell describes their time together as a lively couple of hours.

    "There is a lot of joking and juvenile humor," he says. "Drawing transports you outside of yourself, and sometimes that happens at Sketch Klubb."

    Klubb show/garage sale will take place on July 31 at The Joannex, 1401 Branard, from 7 a.m. until people quit showing up.

    The future of art may be in the hands of artists like these, who seek to find both bold and practical ways to bring art to our attention. Let's hear if for artful ideas.

    unspecified
    news/entertainment

    weekend event planner

    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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