Abhidnya Ghuge, “Our Lives are Green.” Courtesy of Galveston Arts Center

 

This week presents a number of unique arts events, including a live music and dance performance at Nicole Longnecker Gallery and opening receptions at the Houston Center for Photography, Samara Gallery and the Galveston Arts Center.

 

Wednesday, July 12

 

Artist Town Hall: How to Get Your $#!+ Together at MECA Houston

From 6:30 to 9 pm, Art Takes Action Houston will host an artist town hall meeting at MECA (1900 Kane) that will feature a panel of organizers from the activist community. Panelists, which include Maria Jimenez, Daniel Cohen, Elle Church and Andrea Greer, will discuss ideas, strategies and their experiences with community activism and protests. The event will also feature a performance by Stephen Wilson and Matthew Ramirez of local zine Found Me and beer from Saint Arnold’s Brewery.

 

Thursday, July 13

 

Performance — Group Acorde at Nicole Longnecker Gallery

At 7 pm, Nicole Longnecker Gallery (2625 Colquitt) presents a collaboration with Group Acorde to present a live music and dance performance in the gallery space. Performers Roberta Paixao Cortes, Thomas Helton, Lindsey McGill and Seth Paynter will draw inspiration from the setting and audience to produce an intimate performance for all in attendance. Tickets are $20 at the door and there is an additional performance on Friday at 7 pm.

 

Friday, July 14

 

Elysia Crampton

Elysia Crampton Lecture and Paraspace Books Event at Private Eye Gallery

From 5 to 8 pm, Private Eye Gallery (1540 Telephone) is hosting an event featuring an exhibition curated by Paraspace Books, as well as a lecture at 6 pm by experimental electronic musician Elysia Crampton. Crampton, who is known for exploring Latinx culture, queer identity and South American spirituality, will speak on the “legacies of abolitionist feeling and resistance through an elaboration of Andean notions of spacetime, specifically from an Aymara cosmopraxis.” The exhibition from Paraspace Books will feature works by Ángel Lartigue, Maureen Penders, S Rodriguez El x Shopnonhuman, and syncletica.

 

Opening Reception — 35th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition at the Houston Center for Photography

From 5:30 to 8 pm, the Houston Center for Photography (1441 West Alabama) will host the opening reception for the institution’s 35th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition. Juror Dr. Rebecca Senf, Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography in Tuscon, selected 50 artists from 210 entries submitted from across the globe. Juror remarks begin at 6 pm, and there will also be an artist talk on Saturday at 11 am as part of the programming for the exhibition, which will be on view through August 27.

 

Maria Bordelon-Nelson, “Mixed Couple”

Opening Reception —  Maria Bordelon-Nelson: Carved and Woven Souls at Samara Gallery

From 6 to 8 pm, Samara Gallery (3911 Main) presents the opening reception for Carved and Woven Souls, a solo exhibition from Houston-based artist Maria Bordelon-Nelson. The exhibition features many of her sculptural works, which incorporate delicate movements with textural finishes and color. The exhibition will be on view through August 12.

 

Performance — Improvised Music featuring Joe Hertenstein at Vinyl Edge

From 7 to 9 pm, Vinyl Edge (239 W 19th) is hosting an evening of improvised music with a performance by New York-based percussionist Joe Hertenstein, who will be accompanied by Danny Kamins on saxophone and Victor Hernandez on bass. The performance is free to attend and beer will be provided.

 

Saturday, July 15

 

Artist Talk — Current Residents Vivian Chiu and Jenna Wright at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

At 3 pm, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (4848 Main) will host talks with the institution’s current resident artists Vivian Chiu and Jenna Wright, who will discuss the artistic process of working as craft artists and will explore the artists’ works of art, influences, processes, and materials. After the talks, patrons are encouraged to speak with the artists and explore their studios.

 

Eric Pearce. Courtesy of Galveston Arts Center

Opening Reception — Abhidnya Ghuge: Changing Perspectives and Burning Bones Press: Collective Pulse at Galveston Arts Center

From 6 to 9 pm, Galveston Arts Center (2127 Strand) is hosting the opening reception for two exhibitions in conjunction with PrintHouston. Abhidnya Ghuge’s exhibition Changing Perspectives  transforms disposable paper plates into immersive installations using wood-block printed patterns inspired by Indian henna designs, the microscopic world, and the current cultural landscape. Burning Bones Press, a printmaking studio in the Heights, presents Collective Pulse, a cross-section of many of the members of the artist collective featuring a variety of print media, including etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, screen prints and monoprints. The exhibitions will be on view through August 20.