“Bringing Shadows to Light: Contemporary Argentine Photography” Addressing subjects as diverse as war, the tango and the country’s current economic crisis, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents a good small survey of contemporary Argentine photography. There are pictures of a man’s crude drawings recording the torture he witnessed during the Dirty War (1976–1983). Another image from the period shows a man seated numbly beneath a tree, his eyes, nose and jaw completely covered with bandages. The woman next to him cries out to someone unknown. Meanwhile, a series of black-and-white tango images with a film-noir aesthetic present a moodily romantic vision of the country. An elderly tango master dances with a beautiful young woman; a blurred silver tray of sparkling cocktails balances on a waiter’s arm. Other images in lurid color present a harsh pop/political edge, with young Argentines wearing plastic masks of Fidel Castro and the Statue of Liberty. The show gives viewers an interesting range of artists and their takes on their country, its history and culture. Through July 30. 5601 Main, 713-639-7300.
“Fellowship Series XI: Expositions” CACHH’s fellowship series exhibitions continue to offer up interesting, bite-size selections of work from its grant recipients. This time the featured artists are Beth Secor, Angela Fraleigh and Darryl Lauster. Secor paints family portraits from old photographs; in an accompanying artist’s statement, she relays snippets of crackpot family history that add an extra layer of intrigue to her dour turn-of-the-century faces (e.g., strychnine poisoning). Fraleigh contributed one of her large oil paintings that mix figures with smeared and poured areas of abstract color, but her lesser-known watercolors really upstage it — their loose and fluid unpretentiousness makes the painting seem uptight. Rounding out the trio is Lauster, whose fascination with historical decorative objects and furniture inspires his sculptures. Here he riffs on 19th-century blue-and-white Transferware china. But instead of bucolic scenes, Lauster’s collection of plates depicts events from American history — the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a Klan rally, suffragists, atomic blasts — all ironically edged with charming decorative borders. Through August 3 at Space 125 of the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713-527-9330.
“Out of the Life of Bert Long, Jr.” In Bert Long’s painting Ride the Tiger (2002), the artist depicts himself astride a tiger, naked save for a massive pair of eyeglasses. His long hair and beard flow behind him like a mane as the fiery tiger leaps through a vividly streaked sky. Instead of a hand, Long clings to the tiger with a hook. The tiger has the look of Asian kitsch embroidery, and its eyes stare out at the viewer with hypnotic power. You can’t help but be drawn into the work’s bright vivid colors, bold swaths of paint and surreal imagery. Surrounded by an equally dramatic frame daubed with color, it’s the standout work in the exhibition “Out of the Life of Bert Long, Jr.,” curated by his friend and fellow artist James Surls, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The painting refers to Long’s “ride the tiger” art career. The hook symbolizes handicap — living the life of an artist and being African-American are among the many challenges Long has faced in life. At six foot two and 250 (or so) pounds, Bert Long is a big bear of a man, and like his work, he’s utterly unrestrained — at turns funny, poetic and wildly opinionated. He has lived solely from his art since 1979, when, at the age of 39, he gave up a lucrative career as an executive chef. Long’s show at the MFAH showcases some of his best paintings. Like the rest of his art, they grew out of Long’s experiences with travel, the art world, racism and his personal life. Most of the works have collaged elements, and Long’s frames are heavily decorated and as important as the paintings themselves. The show is by no means a retrospective of Long’s large and eclectic body of work, but it makes you wish it were. Long is a talented artist and a fascinating character. Through August 13 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet, 713-639-7300.
This article appears in Jul 20-26, 2006.