Public Events at Houston Museum of Fine Arts

When:
• The Art of Adornment: Fashion in Classical Antiquity at noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, and 26
• The Art of Warfare in the Ancient World at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays, June 3, 10, 17, and 24; and at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Daily Life in Classical Antiquity at noon Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18, and 25
• Death, Burial, and the Afterlife in Classical Antiquity at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18, and 25
• Reflecting Antiquity: The Classical Revival in European Art at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 5, 12, 19, and 26; and at noon and 2 p.m. Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Art History 101: 20th-Century Modern and Contemporary Art at 7 p.m. Thursdays, June 5, 12, 19, and 26
• Diana: The Goddess of the Hunt at 7 p.m. Thursdays, June 5, 12, 19, and 26; and at
1 p.m. Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Dionysus: The God of Wine at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 5, 12, 19, and 26; and at 1:30
p.m. Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Explore the MFAH: Mythology 101 at noon Fridays, June 6, 13, 20, and 27
• Top Picks at 11 and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21, and 28
Where: Tours begin in the Beck Building lobby
Tariff: Free with museum admission
Information: Museum information at 713-639-7300 or www.mfah.org

Artful Thursday: The Murder Notebook
When: Thursday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Details: Presented by artist and author Jonathan Santlofer
Tariff: Free with museum admission
Information: Museum information at 713-639-7300 or www.mfah.org
 

Tours in July

When:
• Explore the MFAH: Sports and Leisure in Art at noon Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 (Law Building lobby)
• Exhibition Tour: End Game—British Contemporary Art from the Chaney Family Collection at 10 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; at 7 p.m. Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, and 31; and at 1 p.m. Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26 (Law Building lobby)
• The Best of the MFAH at noon Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 (Beck Building lobby); and at 11 a.m. Saturdays, July 5, 12, 19, and 26 (Law Building lobby)
• Art History 101: American Art at 7 p.m. Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 (Beck Building lobby)
• Museum Highlights at noon on Friday, July 11
• Exhibition Tour: In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet tours at noon Fridays, July 18 and 25 only; and at 3 p.m. Saturdays, July 19 and 26
• Family Tour: Seeing Sounds at 11 a.m. Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26 (Beck Building lobby)
• Spotlight Tour: The Ancient Americas at noon and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26 (Law Building lobby)
• Spotlight Tour: The Arts of Asia at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26 (Law Building lobby)
Where: Tours begin in the Beck or Law Building lobbies.
Tariff: Free with museum admission
Information: Museum Information at 713-639-7300 or www.mfah.org

Artful Thursday: Opera Preview: An Inside View of Porgy and Bess
When: Thursday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Details: Panel discussion and performance excerpts presented by Houston Ebony Opera Guild
Tariff: Free with museum admission
Information: Museum information at 713-639-7300 or www.mfah.org
 

Tours in August

When:
• Exhibition Tour: In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet tours at noon Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19, and 26; at noon Thursdays, August 7, 14, 21, and 28; and at 11 a.m. Saturdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 (Beck Building lobby)
• Exhibition Tour: Houston Collects: African American Art at noon Wednesdays, August 6, 13, 20, and 27; and at 1 p.m. Saturdays, August 9, 16, 23, and 30 (Law Building lobby)
Exhibition Tour: End Game—British Contemporary Art from the Chaney Family Collection at noon Fridays, August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29; and at noon Saturdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 (Law Building lobby)
Family Tour: Color Exploration at 11 a.m. Saturdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
(Beck Building lobby)
Where: Tours begin in the Beck or Law Building lobbies.
Tariff: Free with museum admission
Information: Museum information at 713-639-7300 or www.mfah.org

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Bayou Bend and Rienzi
Bayou Bend is the American decorative arts wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located at 1 Westcott Street, five minutes from downtown Houston. Housed in the former estate of the late Houston philanthropist and collector Miss Ima Hogg, the collection is displayed in period room settings that trace the evolution of style in America from the colonial period to the mid-19th century. One of the nation's premier holdings of American art and antiques, the collection comprises more than 5,000 works, including furniture, paintings, metals, ceramics, glass, and textiles. The gardens comprise 14 acres bounded on three sides by Buffalo Bayou. They are made up of natural woodlands and formal gardens featuring imported and native plants. Bonnie Campbell is the director of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. For information, the public should call 713-639-7750 or visit www.mfah.org/bayoubend.

Rienzi is the European decorative arts wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located at 1406 Kirby Drive, and was a gift to the museum from noted Houston philanthropists Carroll Sterling Masterson and her husband, Harris Masterson III, in 1991.Located on 4.4 acres of property on Buffalo Bayou, in the heart of River Oaks, Rienzi is close to downtown Houston and is just minutes from the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Rienzi houses European works from the 18th and 19th centuries including English furniture, European paintings, small objects of art, and an impressive collection of 18th-century Worcester porcelain. Evocative of an Italian villa, yet with overtones of Georgian England, Rienzi is bounded by formal gardens and surrounded by lush woodlands replete with azaleas and magnolias. Katherine S. Howe, curator of decorative arts at the MFAH, is the director of Rienzi. Admission to Rienzi is by reservation only. For information, the public should call 713-639-7800 or visit www.mfah.org/rienzi.

Note: At Rienzi, many programs during the months of June and July will be part of “A Great Read at Rienzi” (Storytime Tours, Family Art Workshops, and others TBA). Rienzi is closed in August.

Early Music Southwest: Concert of Music from Restoration England
When: Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 3 p.m
Where: Rienzi, 1406 Kirby Drive
Details: Early Music Southwest presents a concert of music from Restoration England in honor of the 300th anniversary of the death of John Blow, the English organist and composer who wrote a small number of services, over 35 odes, over 100 anthems, and pieces for string ensemble, organ, and harpsichord. Music by Henry Purcell, Daniel Purcell, and Thomas Arne are also included on the program. Concert performers are David Stevens, tenor; Laurie Stevens, Baroque violin; and Christina Edelen, harpsichord. A wine reception and an opportunity to tour the house and gardens follows the concerts.
Tariff: $20 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 713-639-7800
Information: Rienzi information at 713-639-7800 or www.mfah.org/rienzi

Rienzi Storytime Tours
When: 10 a.m. Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18, and 25 and July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
Where: Rienzi, 1406 Kirby Drive
Details: The interactive tours, featuring stories related to works of art, introduce children to the magic of art and literature in an intimate house museum setting. Tours are geared for children ages 4 to 8. A parent or guardian must accompany the child.
Tariff: Free to the public. Reservations are required.
Information: Rienzi information at 713-639-7800 or www.mfah.org/rienzi

Bayou Bend’s July 4 Celebration
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, July 4, 2008
Where: Bayou Bend, 1 Westcott Drive
Details: Activities and performances related to Independence Day theme celebration
Tariff: Free to the public
Information: Bayou Bend information at 713-639-7750 or www.mfah.or/bayoubend


Family Art Workshops at Rienzi
When: 1 to 4:40 p.m. Sundays, July 6, 13, 20, and 27
Where: Rienzi, 1406 Kirby Drive
Details: Family members of all ages are invited to make their own art inspired by Rienzi's collection.
Tariff: $5 for adults, free for children ages 12 and under.
Information: Rienzi information at 713-639-7800 or www.mfah.org/rienzi

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The Glassell School of Art
The Glassell School of Art offers a variety of classes, workshops, and educational opportunities for students diverse in age, interests, experience, and needs.

Founded in 1979, the Glassell School serves as the teaching wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Nearly 100 classes and workshops are offered in all media—from painting and drawing to jewelry making, photography, and art history. Classes are held at the Studio School for Adults and at the Glassell Junior School. The Junior School is the only museum facility in the country dedicated to art classes for children.

The Core Artist-in-Residence Program is a nationally acclaimed postgraduate fellowship. Established in 1982, the program is designed to help artists make the critical transition from their formal art-school training to professional careers.

Joseph Havel is the director of the Glassell School of Art.

For more information, or for a schedule of classes, the public should call 713-639-7500 or visit www.mfah.org.

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MFAH Films
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s film program is the largest of its kind in the southwestern United States. MFAH first began screening films in the 1930s, and the Brown Auditorium Theatre, located in the Caroline Wiess Law Building and designed by the Bauhaus genius Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, opened in 1973. The auditorium immediately distinguished itself by having stadium seating 20 years before such design became the standard for American movie theaters. Marian Luntz, the film program director and curator of film and video at MFAH since 1990, continues the program’s tradition of showcasing a broad range of classic and contemporary Hollywood films, foreign language films, and premieres of independent films—many by local artists. Often, critics, scholars, and filmmakers come to the showings as visiting speakers to give audiences a deeper understanding of movies and moviemaking.

A bimonthly film calendar, featuring listings and descriptions of all upcoming films, is available, free of charge, to the public. To subscribe to this free publication and/or a weekly film e-blast, call the film information line, 713-639-7515, or e-mail film@mfah.org. The film calendar can also be seen on the museum’s website: www.mfah.org.

Film descriptions and a complete schedule can be found below.

Brown Auditorium Theater Box Office
General admission is $7. MFAH members, senior adults, and students with ID receive a $1 discount. Unless otherwise indicated, Film Buffs members are admitted free. Children 5 and under are admitted free. The MFAH Films box office can accept payment by cash, check, and credit cards. Tickets may be purchased in advance. Advance sales are available at the box office, online at www.mfah.org, or at Membership or Visitor Services desks in the Law and Beck Buildings during museum hours. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. for weekend evening screenings and 30 minutes before the show time for other films.

Korean Cinema Now (and Then)
Outstanding recent and classic films from Korea are presented to complement the MFAH’s ongoing Korean Art and Culture Initiative, which was launched last December with the opening of the Arts of Korea gallery.
• Woman on the Beach (South Korea, 2006) is directed by Hong Sang-soo, who has been called the “most Frenchified of contemporary Korean directors.” The film tells the story of a blasé film director idly pursuing two women at a deserted seaside resort, only to have the balance of power unexpectedly shift. (Saturday, May 31, 9 p.m.; and Friday, June 6, 7 p.m.)
• Kim Tae-sik’s Driving with My Wife’s Lover (South Korea, 2007) is about a meek, middle-aged man who becomes convinced that his wife is having an affair and decides to confront the suspected lover. (Saturday, May 31, 7 p.m.)
• Lee Joon-ik’s The King and the Clown (South Korea, 2006) has been called Korea’s Brokeback Mountain. Two clowns sentenced to death endeavor to amuse the King in a desperate bid for their lives, but the King begins to desire more than a laugh from one of the clowns. (Sunday, June 1, 7 p.m.)
• If You Were Me 2 (South Korea, 2005) is a series of short films about human rights issues, created by South Korea’s National Commission on Human Rights. (Saturday, June 7, 7 p.m.)
• Our School (South Korea, 2007), directed by Kim Myung-joon, is a documentary about third- and fourth-generation ethnic Koreans living in Japan, following students through a year in school as they try to find their place. (Sunday, June 8, 7 p.m.)
• Shin Sang-ok’s classic, A Flower in Hell (South Korea, 1958), is considered a turning point in Korean cinema. The story of two morally ambiguous brothers fighting over a prostitute amid black-market corruption shocked audiences, presenting a bleak look at postwar Seoul. (Saturday, June 14, 7 p.m.)
• The Marines Who Never Returned (South Korea, 1963), a film directed by Lee Man-hee, humanizes marines fighting in the Korean War. (Sunday, June 15, 7 p.m.)

Diva
With Jean-Jacques Beineix’s first film, Diva (France, 1981), he created the new New Wave and invented the cinéma du look. This critically acclaimed ’80s sensation about a postman obsessed with an opera soprano is full of chaotic chase scenes and dubious characters. Diva stars Frédéric Andréi; real-life opera star Wilhelmina Wiggins Fernandez; Richard Bohringer; and Thuy An Luu. (Fridays, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.; June 20 at 7 p.m.; and June 27 at 7 p.m.)

Alice Neel
Alice Neel (1900-1984) redefined portraiture through stark, sometimes searing, paintings of friends, lovers, family, and famous intellectuals and artists like Andy Warhol. Her colorful and compelling works truthfully portray the gamut of human society in 20th-century New York. The documentary film Alice Neel (USA, 2007), created by the painter’s grandson, captures Neel’s bohemian life. The first screening, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, will be introduced by filmmaker Andrew Neel. Additional show times are 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28 and Sundays, June 22 and 29.

Family Flick: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
In conjunction with the museum’s Target Free First Sundays, the film department offers Family Flicks free of charge. On Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m., a film by Spirited Away director Hayao Miyazaku will screen. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Japan, 1984) is about a princess who must try to save the Earth from an ecological disaster.

June
1 Sun. 2 p.m. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Family
Flick)
7 p.m The King and the Clown (South Korea, 2006) (Korean Cinema Now (and Then))
6 Fri. 7 p.m. Woman on the Beach (South Korea, 2006)
(Korean Cinema Now (and Then))
7 Sat. 7 p.m. If You Were Me 2 (South Korea, 2005)
(Korean Cinema Now (and Then))
8 Sun. 7 p.m. Our School (South Korea, 2007) (Korean
Cinema Now (and Then))
13 Fri. 7:30 p.m. Diva (France, 1981)
14 Sat. 7 p.m. A Flower in Hell (South Korea, 1958) (Korean
Cinema Now (and Then))
15 Sun. 7 p.m. The Marines Who Never Returned (South
Korea, 1963) (Korean Cinema Now (and Then))
20 Fri. 7 p.m. Diva (France, 1981)
21 Sat. 7 p.m. Alice Neel (USA, 2007), introduced by director Andrew Neel
22 Sun. 7 p.m. Alice Neel (USA, 2007)
27 Fri. 7 p.m. Diva (France, 1981)
28 Sat. 7 p.m. Alice Neel (USA, 2007)
20 Sun. 7 p.m. Alice Neel (USA, 2007)

July
TBA

August
TBA

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Social Events and Fundraisers

The Glassell School of Art Benefit and Auction
When: Friday, May 2, 2008, 7 p.m. to midnight; silent auction closes at 11 p.m.
Where: The Glassell School of Art and Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden,
5101 Montrose Blvd
Chairmen: Barbara Gamson and Eliza Stedman
Theme: Silver – Celebrating 25 years of the CORE residency program
Dress: Cocktail
Details: This grand affair starts with a seated dinner, followed by dancing in the Cullen Sculpture Garden. A live auction of works by current Core fellows will take place, as well as a silent auction.
Tariff: Individual tickets are $100; seated dinner tickets start at $1,000.
Information: Lou Ellen Stansell at 713-639-7523 or lstansell@mfah.org

10th Annual National Alliance of African and African American Support Groups (NAAASC) Conference
When: Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, August 3, 2008
Where: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Details: Now in its 10th year, the Alliance provides a national forum for African-American art collectors and enthusiasts. Houston holds special significance for Alliance attendees as the location of the first conference. John Hope Franklin, author of the seminal work From Slavery to Freedom and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, will provide the keynote address, amidst a weekend of special sessions dedicated to relevant issues faced by collectors and museums.
Tariff: Conference registration fee $270; (Fashion Show Addition $25/Gala Addition $50)
Information: Lou Ellen Stansell at (713) 639-7523 or lstansell@mfah.org

When Fashion and Art Collide
When: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Caroline Wiess Law Building
Benefiting: Five-A Accessions
Organized by: Anita Smith
Details: The designs of Toni Whitaker fashion show and brunch
Tariff: Fashion show individual ticket $100
Information: Lou Ellen Stansell at (713) 639-7523 or lstansell@mfah.org

African American Art Advisory Association (Five-A) Gala and Auction
When: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 6:30 to 11:00 p.m.
Where: Caroline Wiess Law Building
Benefiting: Five-A Accessions
Chairmen: Wendy and Dr. John Codwell
Auction Co-Chairs: Annette Bracey and Regina Drake
Honorees or Honorary Chairmen: Melanie Lawson and John Guess
Details: Five-A was established in 1993 to provide support for the African-American collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The 2008 gala will raise funds for the acquisition of new objects for the collection, and include, for the first time, a live auction of major works by modern and contemporary African-American artists.
Tariff: Gala tickets start at $250; tables start at $2,500
Information: Lou Ellen Stansell at (713) 639-7523 or lstansell@mfah.org
 

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