Gallery Knowledge
White wine time! Your ultimate guide to the fall art season's opening weekend
Get ready for some white wine, folks . . . this weekend marks the official start of the fall art season.
"This is always an exciting time for us — like our school year's starting up again," says Kerry Inman of the renowned Inman Gallery.
Inman opens its doors Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. with a show titled Paper Space, an exploration of drawings and other works on paper by sculptors like Louise Bourgeois, Dario Robleto and Alexander Calder.
"We've borrowed a number of these works from other galleries across the city," she explains. "Houston has such a collegial network of galleries. It's so wonderful that we get to put on exhibits like this."
This being opening weekend, Inman's group exhibit is but one of roughly 20 intriguing shows starting Friday and Saturday. Here's a quick quick rundown to help navigate the maze of kickoff receptions:
FRIDAY
Be sure not to miss the other galleries at Isabella Court (3900 block of Main). Art Palace feature an exhibition looking at the symbol-laden work of Texas artist Eric Zimmerman. A few doors down, gallerist Devin Borden unleashes a show by found-object manipulator Andy Coolquitt, while the David Shelton Gallery — newly-relocated from San Antonio — presents a group exhibit from its strong stable of artists.
The galleries at 4011 Montrose have a trio of events from about 6 to 8:30. Anya Tish opens a show of gravity-defying metalworks by British-born sculptor William Cannings, who will be in attendance. Acclaimed London-based abstractionist Donny Rolph will be at Barbara Davis, while Wade Wilson offers an homage to Cy Twombly from Iraqi artist Nazar Yahya.
Also at 4011 Montrose is a special pop-up show from the artists of Box 13. Party starts at 6:30 p.m.
Down the street at 6 p.m., the Glassell School of Art begins the academic year with an exhibit of videos organized by the Core Residency Program. Around the corner on Alabama, the Houston Center for Photography has a pair of openings with curator remarks at 5:30 p.m.
From 6 to 9 p.m., Art League Houston will launch exhibitions for painter Aaron Parazette and patrons Judy and Scott Nyquist — the League's 2012 Texas Artist and Patrons of the Year, respectively.
Later in the evening from 8 to 10, DiverseWorks has a preview party at its soon-to-be-former digs Downtown for a fascinating exhibit by Israeli-born video artist Keren Cytter, who will join the festivities.
SATURDAY
From 6 to 8 p.m. on Colquitt west of Kirby, Moody hosts an artist reception with Sante Fe's James Drake while the crafty Goldesberry Gallery celebrates its final show before owners Nancy and Oliver Goldesberry retire. A few blocks away on Richmond, the McClain Gallery joins the aforementioned Aaron Parazette from 5 to 7 p.m. for the launch of a new group show titled In Plain Sight.
Nearby in Rice Village, the Deborah Colton Gallery presents Plastic Fantastic, a multi-artist sculpture exhibit dedicated to the work of plastic pioneer Harry Anspon.
Other Saturday evening shows are spread throughout the city . . .
In Midtown from 5 to 7 p.m., Gallery Sonja Roesch kicks off a show of bright, architecturally-inspired works by Berlin artist Dieter Balzer. The Archway Gallery on Dunlavy is throwing a reception for a wood sculptor and a watercolorist from 5 p.m. Winter Street Studios has a 6 p.m. opening for Houston's Dixie Messner, whose fresh photographic work might provide a perfect cool-down to two days of nonstop art.