Unapologetic bragging

Yesterday I got to tour the Treasure Rooms at the Menil. Well, four out of five of them. They are even more amazing and magical than I expected.

My host was a friend and former Carnegie student who now works at the Menil. I often remind students that they're there 10% for their education and 90% for my entertainment. That holds true after graduation as well.

About that Kara Walker piece

If you've been to the Menil recently, you've surely seen the giant Kara Walker silhouette piece now up in the newly rehung Modern and Contemporary gallery. (If you haven't been to the Menil recently, now is a really great time to go!)

I saw a friend yesterday who works at the Menil, and I asked her what exactly the collection owns: the actual paper silhouettes? The stencil? The right to reproduce the work?

She explained that the Menil owns the stencil used to make the work; when it's removed, they don't have to preserve the thin paper attached to the wall. However, not just anyone can remake the work using the stencil. They had to get one of Walker's assistants to come to Houston to "make" the work for the space. Apparently it was a bit of a budget buster, but everyone agrees it's worth the cost to have such an amazing work on display.

Here is a similar work from Walker, if you're not familiar. This isn't the same one as at the Menil.

Piano in Texas

(photo)

Sometimes we need an outsider to tell us what our familiar home space is really like. So please read this funny interview with Renzo Piano, enthusiastic Texas lover. (Piano is the superstar architect who designed, among other things, the Menil Collection building in Houston. His addition to the already-perfect Kimbel Art Museum in Fort Worth opened last week.)

The student becomes the teacher. Literally.

CVHS graduate and first-year teacher Rachel Vogel writes about taking a few of her students to the Menil. It's a great read, both because it's a great story and because Rachel is a great writer. (She was one of the 11 students in my first-ever Art History class. They really helped shape the class and what it's become. Thanks again, Rachel!)

Menil/Fiesta Project

Showing for two days next week: paintings based on visits to the Menil Collection and Fiesta Mart.

Follow-up on Picasso attack

The Houston artist vandal who spray-painted a work by Picasso at the Menil Collection was sentenced to two years in prison. He's already served five months, and expects to get parole soon and go back to UH to finish his degree. Put in context of college antics and not art or vandalism, this is actually pretty good.
  "Duuuude, I went to Florida and got so wasted! What did you do?"
  "I made a criminal and misguided artistic statement that resulted in damage to a Picasso. I was in the national news. I then fled to Mexico, turned myself in through international diplomacy, and sat in jail for a bit before getting a BA. That's what I did."

The Twombly Gallery. No, not that one...

It seems Houston won't be the only city with a space dedicated to showcasing works from Cy Twombly. There's a new space in New York, just down the street from the Met, that will house the Twombly Foundation and its collection.

Catch them while you can

The Byzantine Frescoes at the Menil are going to be returned to Cyprus.

Renzo Piano

The Menil Collection is Renzo Piano's first American building. This was his big splash last year. And this is his latest.