It's the weekend and we've got lots to do, so let's get to it. On Friday, Art Attack will be at the "2012 HCP Print Auction Exhibition," along with hundreds of other photography fans. Individuals and organizations from around the world donate photos for the Center to auction. Some of the images were made by masters, others are from up-and-comers. Among the pieces this year is Jackie Summer, a wonderful shot of the then-Mrs. Kennedy by Jacques Lowe. The 1960 color image shows a young, elegant Jackie in a simple sleeveless dress, her hair blowing in the wind. She's looking evenly into the camera, with just a hint of a smile playing on her full, pink-lipsticked lips.
There's an opening reception at 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday. Regular viewing hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Through February 23. 1441 West Alabama. For information, visit www.hcponline.org or call 713-529-4755.
On Saturday, we'll be at the screening of Waste Land, Lucy Walker's documentary about life in Rio de Janeiro's municipal garbage dump, ironically named "The Garden," where poor trash pickers called catadores work and live in and among the mountains of Rio's garbage.
The close-knit community is the star of Waste Land, which just happens to be on the short list for Best Documentary nomination in the Oscars. A man named Zumbi lends out his library of discarded books, Irma cooks for the community from found food, Tião runs a co-op and daycare center. They're on the lowest rung of Brazil's social ladder, but their interaction with found-object artist Vik Muniz, who literally turns their junk and them into art, fills their lives with hope. The fact that he shares profits with them ain't so bad, either.
See Waste Land at 8 p.m. Brazilian Arts Foundation, 1133 E. 11th Street. For information, visit www.brazilianarts.org or call 713-862-3300.
On Sunday, Art Attack is going all out -- outdoors, that is. We'll be at Cleveland Park to tag along with the Bayou City Outdoors Hiking in Houston group. There are dozens of trails and nooks along the bayou, which the group explores at an easy to moderate pace. It's a six-mile route that includes a bat viewing area, outdoor art sculptures, and lots of animals in their natural habitat. (We're not promising you're going to see an alligator, but hey, it's possible.)
Start hiking at 8:30 a.m. Cleveland Park, 4100 Memorial Drive. For information, visit www.bayoucityoutdoors.com or call 713-524-3567.
D. L. Groover contributed to this post.
