This summer, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is presenting Ernesto Neto: SunForceOceanLife, a major commission and one of the largest crochet works to date by the renowned Brazilian artist. Over the course of three weeks, a team of a dozen people constructed a labyrinth of interior pathways for visitors to explore, all while suspended 12 feet in the air. Ernesto Neto: SunForceOceanLife, the seventh installment of the Museum’s summer immersive art series, will be on view through Sunday, September 26, 2021 in Cullinan Hall of the Caroline Wiess Law Building.
“Ernesto Neto has captivated audiences around the world with his multi-sensory, structural environments—each one unique in nature and its visitor experience,” said Gary Tinterow, Director, the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, MFAH. “We are delighted to bring this monumental, one-of-a-kind piece to our Museum and into our collection. It exemplifies our ongoing commitment to Latin American art and presentations of immersive, contemporary installations year after year.”
SunForceOceanLife is a spiraling, structural marvel that highlights the cyclical relationship between the sun and the sea to produce life on earth. This massive installation fills Cullinan Hall with yellow, orange, and green materials that are hand-woven into a myriad of patterns and sewn together in a spiral formation. At nearly 30 feet x 79 feet x 55 feet, the structure is suspended from the ceiling and spirals outward from the center of Cullinan Hall to form one point of entry and one point of exit: the former at the entryway to the pavilion and the latter at the rear of the piece facing the south wall. As visitors enter, they will follow a path through the interior passages to its center. Each crocheted section is filled with soft, plastic balls underfoot that move with each step, forcing visitors to focus on their inner balance and the stability of their own bodies.
“A structural feat, this site-specific piece for Cullinan Hall takes inspiration from the artist’s long-term study of and commitment to the art, culture, and traditions of various cultures that form Brazil,” said Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham Curator of Latin American Art and Founding Director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA), MFAH. “Neto transforms crochet, a popular Brazilian craft, taught to him by his grandmother and typically executed by women on a small, delicate scale, into massive structures that float several feet above the ground.”
“SunForceOceanLife is about fire, the vital energy that enables life on this planet,” said artist Ernesto Neto. “Every time we complete one crocheted spiral with the polymer string used in this work, we burn both ends with fire in a gesture that evokes meditation, prayer, and other sacred rituals. I hope that the experience of this work will feel like a chant made in gratitude to the gigantic ball of fire we call the sun, a gesture of thanks for the energy, truth, and power that it shares with us as it touches our land, our oceans, and our life. SunForceOceanLife also unites the disciplines of art and culture with biology and cosmology; it directly engages the body as does a joyful dance or meditation, inviting us to relax, breathe, and uncouple our body from our conscious mind. The sensation of floating, the body cradled by the crocheted fruits of our labor, brings to mind a hammock: the quintessential indigenous invention that uplifts us and connects us to the wisdom and traditions of our ancestors.”
TICKETS: $25 adults, $20 youth 13-18 years, FREE children 6-12 years
Admission & Guidelines
• Tickets include Museum general admission.
• Advance tickets are strongly recommended.
Before getting tickets, please read these guidelines carefully:
All ticket holders may explore this special site-specific installation at ground level, which is wheelchair accessible. Guests may opt to enter the sculptural work’s pathways, which are suspended in mid-air. In addition to adhering to the Museum’s pandemic safety protocols, guests need to observe the following to enter this exhibition:
• Sign a waiver—available on the website and on-site.
• Confirm they are able to walk without assistance.
• Wear socks; no shoes or bare feet allowed.
• Be at least 3.5 feet tall (42 inches).
• Confirm they are age 6 or older.
• Have one adult for every two minors between the ages of 6 and 12 in the group. Adults must accompany children at all times.
• Access the pathway without babies, including in carriers or strollers.
• Use sensible judgment at all times when on the pathway, especially if using cameras, smartphones, etc.
• Only small cross-body bags may be worn; purses and bags over the shoulder and back are not allowed. A locker will be provided to you and individuals in your party.
• Avoid wearing loose jewelry, which can potentially tangle with the surfaces of the pathways.
Kachow! The Woodlands Children’s Museum is saying goodbye to summer and hello to the new school year with its annual Shake Your Summer Sillies Out event, featuring a final visit with the CARS movie characters.
On Saturday, August 7, 2021, museum guests will have an opportunity to get up close for a photo meet and greet with the famous racecar who loves going faster than fast, Lightning McQueen. His trusted tow-truck friend Tow Mater and the Tipping Tractor they met in the pasture will also visit. The replica vehicles will be available at the museum from 10:00am – 3:00pm.
“This summer, we have been delighted to feature the CARS characters at several of our events. Due to their popularity, we are providing them one more time before the end of summer,” stated Angela Colton, the museum’s Executive Director. “It is truly magical to see a child’s excitement when they get to meet – in real life – a television hero.”
The annual Shake Your Summer Sillies Out event will also feature the musical talents of Mr. Tom on-stage inside the museum, and children will be able to take part in a collaborative car-themed art project in The Muse art bar. Outside, families can stay cool with a delicious snowball available for purchase from Cheri’s N’awlins Sneaux Bawls.
Guests are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase tickets for this popular event at www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org. If space permits, a very limited number of tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the event. Each ticket will be for a timed session in an effort to provide families with a safe and enjoyable experience. Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members. Ticket prices include admission to the museum and a visit with the CARS characters.
Summer hours for the museum are Tuesdays and Thursday from 10am – 2pm, and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10am – 4pm. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The Woodlands Children’s Museum is located in the Panther Creek Village Center at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77381. Tickets and additional information can be found at www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org and by following the museum on Facebook @TheWoodlandsChildrensMuseum and on Instagram and Twitter @TheWoodlandsCM.
Are you looking for an environment where your student can continue working through an online curriculum of your choosing and still have the support and guidance of a certified teacher? At Teleos Academy, students can complete their daily online schoolwork in a technologically advanced classroom, with full professional IT support and the skilled guidance of a caring, certified teacher. You choose the online academic program that works best for your student, and Teleos will be there to support, guide and nurture them. Your student will also have the opportunity for regular socialization activities that will allow them daily peer interactions.
Please join Telos Academy for an open house! Come explore the state-of-the-art classrooms, where each student will have access to their own technology and cyber security support.
Teleos Academy Open House
Monday, July 26, 2021
5:00pm-7:00pm
18 Augusta Pines Dr (Augusta Pines golf course) East Wing Suit 16E
Email:
Visit the website at: teleosacademy.com
Friendswood Development Company, which is best known for developing some of Houston’s signature master-planned communities including Fairfield and Kingwood, will host the Woodtrace Wilderness Kids Triathlon presented by Village Builders on Sunday, August 15, 2021 in its Tomball-area community of Woodtrace, located in Pinehurst, TX. The race, a USA Triathlon-sanctioned event, will have two designated start times: 7:30 am for ages 5 to 10 and 8:30 am for ages 11 to 15. The swim will be 100 yards for ages 5-10 and 200 yards for ages 11-15; bike ride will be 2.35 miles for 5-10 and 4.7 miles for ages 11-15; and run will be 1 mile for 5-10 and 2 miles for 11-15.
Emerging indie pop artist, Eiffel Taylor, released her debut single “Tell Me Something” today on iTunes and all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, as well as Amazon. The full-flavored and energetic coming-of-age song was written by Taylor and produced by MJ Music Group.
A native of The Woodlands, Texas, the sixteen-year-old talented musician, singer, and songwriter boasts a spirited, cultured voice with hints of rawness. "Tell Me Something" is the first single off Taylor’s upcoming, untitled debut EP. Lyrics are punchy and expressive, and the song’s melody is dance-club worthy. The track conveys an unmistakable awareness of self-confidence, tenacity, and grit.
“I felt empowered writing this song,” says Taylor. “The lyrics came to me months before my sixteenth birthday, just when I was starting to really recognize all the promise my future has in store for me. I wanted to compose something assertive and inspiring for both myself and others – young and old - who are getting in touch with their creativity and starting new adventures.”
Taylor continues to improve her singing and songwriting craft by performing original songs at private events throughout the Greater Houston area. Other creative talents include playing guitar and piano, ballet, choreography, beats-making, and vocal arranging.
For ongoing updates on new music and performing dates, visit www.eiffeltaylor.com.
Buy on Amazon Here.
Buy on Apple Music Here.
Stream on Spotify Here.
Connect with Eiffel Taylor:
IG: @official_eiffeltaylor
www.eiffeltaylor.com
A variety of fun, family-friendly activities, ranging from live music, children’s stories and themed trivia nights to photography and fitness classes plus classic movies under the stars, are on tap for the remainder of summer on and around The Plaza at north Houston’s City Place. City Place Plaza is located at 1250 Lake Plaza Drive, Spring, TX, 77389.
Masters of useless facts are put to the challenge during Summer Trivia Nights, which take place at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The July 13 edition will call on the world of wizards with Harry Potter themed trivia. Old school audiophiles will be tested with ‘80s and ‘90s music questions on July 27. The August 10 edition will feature Disney films. And dragons and white walkers will get their moment to shine on August 24 with a Game of Thrones night. Participants will have the opportunity to win prizes and enjoy specials from neighboring restaurants. Costumes are welcome.
Bi-weekly series Friday Night Live! pairs local musicians with extended happy hour specials starting at $4 from Plaza restaurants 6-9 p.m. July 9 features rock and country band the Kelley Peters Trio. July 23 will be a can’t-miss for classic rock and country fans with Kyle Mathis. August 6 showcases the classic rock and pop tunes of Felix Luna.
After a long paddle from the Pacific, Disney princess Moana lands at City Place Plaza on July 8 at 6 p.m. for Children’s Storytime. She will share stories about Tamatoa, Hei Hei the Rooster, and Chief Tui and take photos with her fans. Costumes are encouraged. Children’s Storytime will return on August 8 - check the City Place events page for the special guest star.
Family Movie Night brings classics blockbusters back to The Plaza. Dinosaurs come alive with the earth-shaking Steven Spielberg favorite Jurassic Park on July 16. It’s a throwback to summers on the baseball diamond with coming-of-age tale The Sandlot on August 20. Fill a picnic basket full of goodies from City Place restaurants, lay down a blanket and get ready for the sun to go down. To reserve a group spot, RSVP to
Enjoy the lazy evenings of summer at The Plaza’s Sunday Strolls series, featuring live music and activities on the green from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy world music from the Rom Ryan Duo on July 18. Smooth jazz act LA Sax heats up the night on August 1. Pop and R&B group the Keith Vivens Duo cap off the week on August 15. And Bill Solley and Kim Prevose send off the season on August 29.
Photographers of all skill levels are invited to join the Houston Center for Photography on Saturday, July 24 and August, 28 at 10 a.m. for complimentary, monthly classes at City Place. The July theme is “Natural Light Photography” – how to harness the sun to create well-lit photographs outdoors. August’s class “Macro Photography” will engage participants to explore small details through close up compositions. All camera types are suitable. Space is limited; to reserve visit https://hcponline.org/education/cityplace-photography-workshop/.
City Place Plaza is home to a variety of fitness programming. Camp Gladiator showcases HIIT every Monday and Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Join the group for a special community run on July 29 at 6 p.m. Fit4Mom Stroller Barre welcomes new mothers and their little ones Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. A yoga/mediation session is featured every Saturday at 10 a.m. Yoga/meditation is always complimentary, while Sphere, Camp Gladiator and Fit4Mom Stroller Barre are free for the first session with memberships available for ongoing attendance.
Stay and play at the AAA Four Diamond Houston CityPlace Marriott. Specially-priced Staycation promo rates are priced from $143 per room, per night and include 20% off food and beverage, plus a late check out time. In addition to a prime location directly on The Plaza, amenities include an infinity pool overlooking City Place Park and SwitcHouse Plates & Pours, a popular spot with shaded patio for breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour. At the nearby Residence Inn Houston Springwoods Village, the Snacks On Us package offers overnight rates starting at $144 with a $10 snacks credit.
