The art exhibit “Objects of Devotion,” currently on view at The Menil Collection, asks the question: Is it art, or is it a sacred object? The exhibition’s name offers a clue as to the stance the museum took when assembling the works. The pieces, which range from a ninth-century vessel used by the Mayans during chocolate-drinking rituals to part of a 16th-century altarpiece, are objects various peoples used in the practice of their faith and beliefs. The pieces were used as an expression of devotion, but not always thought of as sacred themselves. (Except for a few die-hard chocoholics, not many of us would see drinking chocolate as a religious ritual these days.) All of the works come from the Menil’s permanent collection, and many have never been seen before at the museum, giving longtime fans a peek into the collection’s vaults. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. Through October 31. 1515 Sul Ross. For information, call 713-525-9400 or visit www.menil.org. Free.
Wednesdays-Sundays. Starts: Aug. 12. Continues through Oct. 31, 2010
This article appears in Aug 12-18, 2010.