"Pennone: The Pole of Soap"

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Photographer Paolo Visone's exhibit "Pennone: The Pole of Soap" documents a rather offbeat competition held annually in Pozzuoli, a small city on the southern coast of Italy. Every August 15, three little flags are attached to the end of a 90-foot-long flagpole that's been coated in grease and soap. Competitors attempt to snatch the flags - without falling off the pole, of course - which isn't easy for them, but lots of fun for spectators. (If you're wondering, pennoneis the Italian word for flagpole.) 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Through March 5. Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney. For information, call 832-393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org. Free.
Mondays-Sundays. Starts: Feb. 17. Continues through March 5, 2010