Inside the MFAH Posts tagged #mfah
“Inside the MFAH” provides perspectives, conversations, and opinions from insiders at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Buns of Steel: Joachim Wtewael and the Human Body December 31, 2015
I noticed that there’s a neat relationship between the front- and back-cover images of the catalogue for the exhibition Pleasure and Piety: The Art of Joachim Wtewael (1566–1638). On the front is a full-length female nude (Andromeda) and on the back, a full-length male nude (Saint Sebastian). What is particularly intriguing is that each figure has one arm raised above the head, exposing an …
Rothko in Reproduction: Dan Fischer’s Graphite Homage December 15, 2015
Does this image look familiar? A photomural based on a photograph most likely taken by Regina Bogat—which shows Mark Rothko standing in front of his 1960 painting No. 7—greets visitors to the exhibition Mark Rothko: A Retrospective. The artwork you see here, however, is a graphite rendering by American artist Dan Fischer, who creates meticulously detailed drawings based on photographs of well- …
Keeping Watch over Their Flocks: Joachim Wtewael’s Shepherds December 9, 2015
You’ll see shepherds throughout the exhibition Pleasure and Piety: The Art of Joachim Wtewael (1566–1638)because pastoral imagery—that is, depictions of shepherds and serene countrysides—was common in early-17th-century painting and literature. Joachim Wtewael’s shepherds, clean and idealized, carry the accoutrements of the pastoral life: a water-filled gourd, bagpipes, floppy hats, and a staff …
Three Questions for Christopher Rothko November 4, 2015
The exhibition Mark Rothko: A Retrospective brought to Houston—its only U.S. venue—a visit from a top Rothko scholar who also happens to be the artist’s son. I talked with Christopher Rothko about the work of his father, the subject of his new book Mark Rothko: From the Inside Out, published this autumn by Yale University Press. 1. Is there something about this exhibition that makes it different …
Rediscovered: Roman Vishniac’s Social Documentary Practice October 14, 2015
Roman Vishniac was one of the best-known photographers of life in Eastern Europe in the years before the Holocaust changed it irrevocably. Through publications, such as his famous 1983 book A Vanished World, his photographs profoundly influenced contemporary notions of that world and way of life. If at times Vishniac crafted a particular story for an image, he did so in order to use photography to …
Noguchi Was Here September 25, 2015
One of the many things we had to plan for in demolishing the Glassell Studio School building was making sure none of the sculptures in Cullen Sculpture Garden would be in harm's way. After pacing out the site, taking measurements, and doing a bit of research, all went smoothly this summer for our crew of six—and we were even rewarded with a little discovery. We knew Jim Love's Can Johnny …
The Art of the Short Film September 14, 2015
Short films have always been part of the Museum's year-round offerings, and our audiences enjoy them very much. Since we have several shorts programs coming up, I've been thinking about short-form filmmaking lately. Many artists, students, and novice filmmakers start out creating shorts. Martin Scorsese memorably interviewed his parents early in his career for a short film, Italianamerican. …
Challenge the Monotony! See This Film August 4, 2015
Attention film fanatics and cinephiles! I invite you to join us for A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, screening on August 14, 15, and 16. • Houston PremiereDo you enjoy the whims of Terry Gilliam, but prefer the aesthetics of Wes Anderson? Are you bored with Hollywood’s dogmatic formula? Have you ever questioned your position relative to your fellow human beings—nay—relative …
Unleash Your Shadow Monster July 30, 2015
If you’ve visited the Museum this summer, chances are you’ve encountered Shadow Monsters, Philip Worthington’s participatory art installation. The artist’s pre-programmed software adds features to visitors’ shadows, which become new creatures with imaginative appendages like eyes, teeth, and fins—morphing the everyday visitor into a momentary monster. Now you, too, have a chance to add your …
He Makes Their Personalities Jump off the Screen July 16, 2015
Albert Maysles passed away in March, but his phenomenal filmmaking lives on at the Museum this summer. Want to meet some of his most flamboyant subjects? Join us for our screenings of Grey Gardens (July 26) and Iris (August 30). Albert Maysles ● About AlbertThe late, great cinematographer/director/producer (1926–2015) and his brother, David (1931–1987), became one of the best nonfiction …
