There's an idea that culture and innovation advance most during times of duress. (Translation: Pain is inspiring.) That's the driving force behind Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's "Matthew Day Jackson: The Immeasurable Distance," an exhibition of sculptures, constructed paintings, objects and videos that Jackson created during a residency at the List Visual Arts Center at M.I.T. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, Jackson has said that while creating the works, he contemplated the purgatory between man's power to create things both damaging and beneficial to humankind. One work, for example, is made from the charred ruins of a crashed car, but is illuminated from beneath by solar power collected outside. Talk shadows and light with Jackson - and new CAMH Director Bill Arning, who originally curated the exhibition at M.I.T. - at an opening reception from 7 to 10 p.m. today. Regular viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Through January 17. 5216 Montrose. For information, call 713-284-8250 or visit www.camh.org. Free.
Fri., Oct. 16, 7-10 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 12-5 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Starts: Oct. 16. Continues through Jan. 17, 2009