If you squint through the swarm of lunch hour crowds at the Allen Center, you'll likely spot dedicated exhibition spaces full of work by international artists. But finding time to closely examine those pieces? That would mean taking precious hours out of your workday.
But you can't use that excuse anymore: FotoFest, Houston's nonprofit photographic arts and education organization, is introducing "Really Short Tours" as a way to engage building employees with the artwork over a midday break.
"FotoFest Discoveries," an exhibition supported by Arts Brookfield featuring 15 contemporary artists and spanning four galleries (in One, Two and Three Allen Center and at 1600 Smith), will open on Monday and run through Sept. 27. FotoFest's curators promise to fill you in on a few key photographs and get you back on your way in 10 minutes tops.
When else will you have the chance to sip a smoothie while seeing the effects of coal mining in China through the lens of Ian Teh? Or learn about albinism in Africa from the perspective of European photographer Patrick Gries on the way to snag a sandwich? FotoFest spokesperson Vinod Hopson tells CultureMap that there's something for everyone in this lineup.
"Discovery is a value of ours — discovering artwork and ideas, taking people out to discover the city," Hopson says. "Art in a corporate space is part of that."
FotoFest will hold two opening receptions for the show, at noon on July 17 at Two Allen Center and at noon on July 22 at 1600 Smith. "Really Short Tours" will start at noon on July 18 at One Allen Center; Aug. 1 at Two Allen Center; Aug. 15 at Three Allen Center; and Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 at 1600 Smith.
Ian Teh, Miners. Datong, Shanxi, 2006 - 2008. From the series Dark Clouds.
In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.
Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).
Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.
Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.
Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.
Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.
Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.
Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.
