Successful oil-and-gas businessman and avid art collector John R. Eckel died in 2009, but his generosity as a patron of the arts has continued. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was fortunate enough to acquire his art collection, known as the John R. Eckel Jr. Foundation Gift, and has mounted Spirit of Modernism, an exhibit comprising 75 examples of Modernist American painting, sculpture, photography and design from the collection. The exhibit features some well-known sculpture, like Harry Bertoias gilded bronze work Untitled (Multi-Plane Construction), which stands more than ten feet high. Youll need to do some walking to see the entire Spirit of Modernism exhibit. The works are spread over two galleries, one in the Beck Building and the other in the Law Building. Fans of modern and mid-century design wont want to miss this. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, 12:15 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Through January 29. 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org. Free to $7.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Aug. 20. Continues through Jan. 29, 2011