Painting by Numbers

FRI 9/3

In most people’s minds, math and art don’t mix. Creative types diss mathematics
as the stuff of accountants — banal, but necessary. But think about it: The
Greeks used math to create human likenesses. Poetry is ruled by meter. And all
shapes are geometrical. Maybe it’s time to give math its artistic due. German-based,
Rice-educated sculptor-collage artist Thomas Vinson is doing just that with
the work in his new “home-run” exhibition, opening this week at Gallery Sonja
Roesch. The objects he has created are bold and unapologetic tributes to pure
mathematics. Large, colorful and imposingly physical, each piece dominates and
comments on the space it occupies, which Vinson likens to the way a baseball
slugger prevails over his surroundings when he whacks a dinger.

Vinson has an architect’s eye for the interaction between art and its environment.
He once created a series of billboards in Frankfurt under the title “Why Must
the City Be So Dull?” The same question is being posed to Houstonians, who can
check out one of his anti-eyesores this month at the corner of Westheimer and
Mandell. Opening reception: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, September 3. Works on view
through October 30. 2309 Caroline. The billboard will be up through September
30. For information, call 713-659-5424 or visit www.gallerysonjaroesch.com.
Free. — Scott Faingold

Fiddlin’ Around
Kick off your shoes at the Village Bluegrass Festival

We’ll admit that bluegrass isn’t as dope as electronica, hip-hop or, hell,
polka. But damn if it ain’t catchy. Before you start hatin’, consider the Beverly Hillbillies theme, the “Dueling Banjos” twang from the backwoods
film Deliverance or even the main tune from O Brother, Where Art Thou?: “I am a ma-yaaan of constant sor-row!” See? Catchy. This weekend, you and
yer kinfolk can toe-tap at the Village Bluegrass Festival. Take in some bluegrass
and gospel music, drop the young’uns off at the kiddie rides and gnaw on everyone’s
favorite country treat: good ol’ sausage on a stick. Kick off yer shoes and
stay awhile, and if you find yourself really getting into it, just remember
to keep it more Beverly Hillbillies and less Deliverance, if ya
catch our drift. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, September 4 and 5. Traders
Village, 7979 North Eldridge. For information, call 713-890-5500 or visit www.tradersvillage.com.
Free; $2 parking. — Steven Devadanam

Breast Augmentation

TUE 9/7

Carolyn O’Neil wants you to love your breasts. She wants you to adorn them,
to enjoy them. At this point we should mention that we’re talking chicken breasts. O’Neil will be at Central Market to turn simple breasts into lemon
caper, tomato garlic and taste-of-Thai chicken entrées, all recipes from
her new book, The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous! A sort of
Carrie Bradshaw of dieting, O’Neil says women’s diets should be smart and stylish. “Everyone knows that overdoing the belts, baubles, bangles and beads
ruins an outfit,” she says. “The same goes for designing our meals.” You can
stay, er, abreast of this culinary couture at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 7.
3815 Westheimer. For information, call 713-386-1700 or visit www.centralmarket.com.
$60. — Steven Devadanam

Beat It

SAT 9/4

There’s something innate in our nature that makes us want to build something beautiful only to ultimately destroy it. You can examine this inner quality at the Orange Show’s piñata workshop. Guest artist Velia Treviño will teach you the history of the stuffed ornament and how to make your own. Take your kids, a buddy or a baseball bat, and beat the stuffing out of your creation at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 4. 2401 Munger. For information, call 713-926-6368 or visit www.orangeshow.org. $10. — Steven Devadanam