celebrating freedom

Country music stars and fireworks headline Houston's July 4 festival

The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas

On May 30, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced what the city has planned for this year’s Independence Day celebration — also known as Shell Freedom Over Texas — going down this Fourth of July at the Eleanor Tinsley and Sam Houston Parks on Allen Parkway.

The big draw this year will be performances from several country stars. Headlining the Shell Main Stage will be chart-topping and multi-platinum country-pop recording artist Russell Dickerson. Seasoned veteran Jo Dee Messina will serve as a featured artist, while Mississippi trio Chapel Hart will be a featured artist.

Of course, several other attractions will put attendees in a celebratory mood:

Allow yourself to be swept away by the music and atmosphere in the relaxing Bud Light Bayou Bash beach area, while enjoying a perfect view of the main stage and spectacular fireworks finale.

At the Dr Pepper Flavor Zone, cool off in the shade with a refreshing Dr Pepper float from the Dr Pepper Parlor, and sample many of the tastings offered in this family-friendly zone.

At the All-American Kids Zone, Lego will be joining the festivities with an experiential activation that is sure to keep both kids and adults engaged. The area also offers lots of new free games, an arcade, and rides, plus face painting and plenty of interactive educational activities

And Liberty Park will feature Symbols of Freedom as a reminder of the historic roots of July 4. The five military branches will be represented by Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and first responders. They are available to take pictures with military assets and participate in booth activities.

“I invite everyone to join me at Shell Freedom Over Texas as we celebrate our nation’s birthday and pay tribute to the men and women who have made great sacrifices to ensure our freedom,” Mayor Whitmire said in a statement. “I thank Shell and other sponsors for their support of this time-honored tradition. Freedom Over Texas offers something for everyone. Bring your family, friends, and patriotic spirit for an afternoon of family-friendly festivities, live entertainment followed by a spectacular Texas-sized fireworks show.”

Admission is $10 per person online and at the gates. Children 5 and under are free. For more information, go to the Freedom Over Texas website.

a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia

Sarah Sudhoff created "The Reading Brain" in honor of her son.

Photo by Rose Tylinski

"The Reading Brain" replicates neuron activity in a dyslexic brian while reading

No, "The Reading Brain" isn't the title of a B-horror film from the 1960s. It's a brand new installation at the Houston Health Museum that explores dyslexia.

The piece was created by Houston-based artist Sarah Sudhoff, in partnership with Dr. Guinevere Eden, Director of the Center for the Study of Learning at Georgetown University. Hanging from the ceiling of the Health Museum, it uses light-up colored circles to represent the frontal lobe activity of a dyslexic person while reading. MRI scans of dyslexic brains formed the foundation of the light activity. Sudhoff's own son has dyslexia, and she had to adapt her homeschooling of him to account for his neurodivergence. As much as 20 percent of the American population is dyslexic.

"The Reading Brain" grew out of a similar exhibit at the DoSeum in San Antonio. "Beautiful Minds: Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage" challenged visitors to see dyslexia not as a learning disability but as simply a different way some human brains work. The exhibit featured videos, stories, and art work by dyslexic individuals that show how they succeed and create, as well as a selection of brain puzzles used to teach dyslexic people.

“Even though your brain works differently, it still lights up and is beautiful to watch, a wonderful machine you have. It just means you have to navigate and pivot a little differently,” Sudhoff said.

Sudhoff's innovative bridge between science and art is a permanent part of the Health Museum's MindWorks exhibit. Like "The Reading Brain," MindWorks maps out thinking processes through light and hands-on activities. The exhibit will close on January 5, meaning visitors have a very short time to see Sudhoff's piece.

The Health Museum is a hidden gem in Museum District located a block away from the Children's Museum. It houses a variety of exhibits about the human body, such as a giant plastic colon that kids love to run through. Since opening in 1969, the museum has helped Houstonians and visitors from around the world learn about the way the body works as well well as public health protocols. As the only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum in the Houston Museum District, it has a high educational pedigree despite it's colorful and often whimsical offerings.

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a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia