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- Cai Guo-Qiang discusses his gunpowder drawing with Albert Chao.Photo by Jenny Antill
- Avalokitesva, Chinese, Northern Zhou dynasty (557-581) to Sui dynasty (581-618),carved limestone, gift of T.T. & W.F. Chao Global Foundation in honor of Mr. andMrs. Ting Tsung Chao, with additional funds provided by the Director'sAccessions Fund
- Ritual Vessel (Zun), Chinese, Shang Dynasty, 12th century B.C., bronze, museumpurchase with funds provided by the Friends of Asian Art
The final chapter of Odyssey
Cai and the golden slippers: The secrets of MFAH's new China Gallery
Oct 15, 2010 | 4:35 pm
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
- Photo by Jenny Antill
Shelby's Social Diary
Cai gunpowder, Buddhist monks and antiquities launch China Gallery at MFAH
Oct 14, 2010 | 3:57 pm
- Cai discusses his finished work with his collaborators.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Cai discusses his finished work with his collaborators.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Curator Christine Starkman observes the installed panels.Photo by Douglas Newman
- A crew of MFAH employees performed two test runs of the installation before"Odyssey" was created.Photo by Douglas Newman
- The installation crew places Cai's panels in sequence.Photo by Douglas Newman
Odyssey Gets Vertical
Explosive aftermath art: Cai's gunpowder mountains are mounted at MFAH
Oct 8, 2010 | 1:36 pm
- Photo by Everett Taasevigen
Boom Boom Pow!
Ignition time: Watch the replay of gunpowder artist Cai Guo-Qiang's artisticexplosion
Oct 7, 2010 | 1:13 am
- Workers put the stencils in placePhoto by Everett Taasevigen
- Cai Guo-Ciang's right hand was covered with gunpowderPhoto by Everett Taasevigen
- Chinyan Wong, from left, and Kelly Ma kept the audience entertained through thelong waitPhoto by Everett Taasevigen
- Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- After the bleachers cleared out, Cai Guo-Qiang was left with his finishedproductPhoto by Stephen Newman
- The crowd packed in for the Cai viewing party.Photo by Caroline Gallay
- Saint Arnold Brewing Company provided a setting that kept the waiting crowd morethan satisfied.Photo by Michelle Watson/LastNightPics.com
Standing-room only
Beer blowup: Saint Arnold draws massive turnout for Cai Odyssey viewing party
Oct 6, 2010 | 10:49 pm
- The Cai explosion was dramatic and quick.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- The smoke filled the Kirby warehouse post blast.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Cai hoped to blow something up by 7, but it wasn't till 8 that the panels wereready for ignition.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
lights, cameras, ignition
The buildup, the wait and the blast: Cai's Odyssey explodes as Houston watches
Oct 6, 2010 | 9:46 pm
- Cai examines a test panel.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- The artist's crew utilizes stones to keep the paper in place during theignition.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- An audience previewed Wednesday's blast.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Kelly Ma of Cai Studio reveals the results of the test ignition.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Cai considers the impression of bamboo on a test panel.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
Cai Countdown Fever
How big is that bang? A preview of Cai's gunpowder art explosion (with audio)
Oct 6, 2010 | 1:28 pm
- Saint Arnold Brewing Co.Courtesy Photo
- Cai Guo-QiangPhoto by Seiji Toyonaga, Courtesy Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
It's On Fire.
Explosions and beer: Watch the gunpowder artist ignite his masterpiece fromSaint Arnold
Oct 5, 2010 | 6:55 pm
- Volunteers whisk Cai's stencils across the warehouse.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Cai distributes gunpowder to test different effects on Monday morning.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Although he originally was transferring his composition from a scroll, Cai'slayout for "Odyssey" has evolved.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Cai reports that he's impressed with the volunteers' enthusiasm.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
The Odyssey Takes a Swerve
Cai change: Inspired by Houston, gunpowder artist alters his explosive plans toinclude happy plants
Oct 5, 2010 | 5:59 pm
- Volunteers work in batches.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Cai utilizes one calligraphy brush.Photo by Douglas Newman
- A total of 42 panels will line the gallery.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Only Cai Guo-Qiang himself will ignite the drawings.Photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
Ready to explode
From one lone fingerless glove to 11 pounds of gunpowder: Cai's Odyssey innumbers
Oct 4, 2010 | 7:02 pm
- Using suma ink, Cai articulates the naturalistic elements of the drawing.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Cai Guo-Qiang maps the stencils for his gunpowder drawings.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Volunteers collaborate to cut out the shape of Cai's brushstrokes.Photo by Douglas Newman
- The length of the drawing has been described as "vast" and "endless" by both Caiand Starkman.Photo by Douglas Newman
Let the adventure begin
The Odyssey begins as Cai Guo-Qiang touches down in H-Town
Oct 3, 2010 | 9:56 pm
- Volunteers convened on the warehouse bleachers for training.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
- Gallery owner Apama MackeyPhoto by Everett Taasevigen
- Judy Nyquist and Lea WeingartenPhoto by Everett Taasevigen
- The interior of Cai Guo-Qiang's Houston studio.Photo by Everett Taasevigen
Cai's odyssey
Voices of volunteer training: Gunpowder artist's helpers bring art power oftheir own
Oct 2, 2010 | 5:22 pm
- Henry Griffin
- Air conditioning ducts spill out of the MFAH warehouse.
- A contemporary art studio lurks within.
assembling the odyssey
From vacant warehouse to museum setting: Henry Griffin masterminds CaiGuo-Qiang's Houston studio
Sep 29, 2010 | 7:32 am
- Cai Guo-QiangPhoto by Clifford Pugh
- The studio contains a small model of the Museum of Fine Arts new Ting Tsung andWei Fong Chao Arts of China Gallery, where Cai's work will be permanentlyinstalled.Photo by Clifford Pugh
- Cai plans a mountain view at the intersection of two walls. It will be reflectedin the granite floor.Photo by Clifford Pugh
- A gunpower drawing of Mao is featured prominently in the studio libraryPhoto by Clifford Pugh
- Cai has been experimenting with gunpowder techniques to achieve the look of apine tree in the forest.Photo by Clifford Pugh
- Cai and his staff take a break every day for a home cooked meal in the kitchenof his New York studio
Cliff Notes
Live from New York: Cai Guo-Qiang maps out his fiery Houston undertaking
Sep 24, 2010 | 10:42 am
- Su Yue-Mei works closely with two of her assistants, Yuen Oi-Ling and Ma Jia.Photo by Douglas Newman
- The bespoke paper arrives at the MFAH in rolls, and must be flattened before itcan be applied to panels.Photo by Douglas Newman
- A temporary laboratory has been assembled in the Caroline Weiss Law building.Photo by Douglas Newman
- The team rolls out the paper under Andy Warhol's watchful gaze.Photo by Douglas Newman
- The paste begins in powder form, to which Su adds heat and water.Photo by Douglas Newman
- As the paste cools, the team thoroughly cleans the panels.Photo by Douglas Newman
- The paper process is painstakingly precise.Photo by Douglas Newman
- Come Thursday, 42 panels will have been completed by Su and her assistants.Photo by Douglas Newman
cut and paste
The paper person behind the gunpowder artist: Su Yue-Mei's painstakingly precisemission
Sep 22, 2010 | 1:13 pm
the curatorial eye
Curator Christine Starkman illuminates gunpowder artist Cai Guo-Qiang's explosive work
Sep 17, 2010 | 2:09 pm