"La Virgen de Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas"
You don't have to be among the faithful to enjoy the Museum of Natural Science's "La Virgen de Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas," which runs through September 5. Yes, the exhibit focuses on the Catholic icon, the Virgin of Guadalupe believed to have appeared in Mexico in 1531, but rather than debating her validity as a religious figure the exhibit examines her importance to the Americas and the social and political environments that have surrounded her story. She's been a symbol of hope from the time of the Aztecs to today's low-riders. You've got to admit, that's longevity.
The exhibit starts in 8th century Spain, moves through the Spanish conquest of the new world, picks up with Juan Diego, the Aztec peasant who saw the apparition, and ends with Pope John Paul II's canonization of Juan Diego in
Highlights in the exhibit include an authorized copy of the Sacred Original Image of the Virgin of Guadalupe (you'll have to go to Mexico City to see the original). There's also a page from the Nican Mopohua, a 16th century document detailing the story of the Virgin and her apparition to Juan Diego. It's written in the Aztec language. (The original Nican Mopohua is in the New York Public Library; what you'll see at the museum is the title page.)
There are lots of related artifacts, examples of the Virgin's image being used as everything from an expression of religious devotion to a political symbol, from a representation of Mexican nationalism to a pop culture icon.
You're welcome to take a selfie in front of the image of the Virgin, but please note there's no flash photography inside the exhibit at all. Oh, and no selfie-sticks allowed in the museum so you'll have to make due with your arm.
If you'll have kids with you during your visit, plan on stopping at the McDonald's inside the museum lobby. (We admit to eating quite a few Happy Meals there ourselves over the last few years.) If you're looking for a more grow-up situation, try Lucille’s (5512 La Branch, 713-568-2505) which is within walking distance. And if you're willing to drive, there are several more choices just minutes away from the museum.
The museum's uber-popular summer camps are in session until August 12 so expect the already well-attended complex to be especially bustling. Until then, the best times to visit are mid-morning and mid-afternoon so as to avoid the drop-off and pick-up crowds. If you don't want to wait until the end of camp, Saturdays and Sundays are always good times to visit.
The museum's parking lot provides covered parking (pay the $10 parking fee inside the museum at the ticket booth during your visit). There are also open-air parking lots surrounding the museum ("open-air" is a nice way of saying "in the freakin' hot blazing sun").
Tickets are timed. The museum is semi-flexible about visitors missing their entry time but because of the large number of visitors, it's not an all out free-for-all. If you miss your scheduled entry by less than an hour, you may have to wait until the next bunch of people gets in. Miss your scheduled entry by more than an hour and you might be redirected back to the box office. By the way, being late for timed entry is just flat-out rude. We suggest you be on time.
Regular visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until August 21; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily after August 21. The "Virgen de Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas" exhibit continues through September 5. The Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. For information, call 713-639-4629 or visit www.hmns.org. $35.
"H·O·P·E: Paintings by Samuel Bak” at the Holocaust Museum Houston
Samuel Bak had his first art exhibition at the age of nine. It was in 1942 and he was living inside one of the Jewish ghettos of what is now Lithuania under German occupation. The Nazis were committing unspeakable atrocities in the region, including mass murders (Bak's four grandparents and father were among hundreds killed in a nearby forest) but Bak, then as now, found the impulse to create irresistible.
Some 33 of his recent paintings are seen in "H-O-P-E: Paintings by Samuel Bak," on display at the Holocaust Museum Houston through September 11. Rather than grim depictions of the heartbreaking loss and pain Bak experienced first hand, the images seen in "H-O-P-E" are beautiful, dream-like paintings focused on elements of strength and perseverance.
As the name implies, each of the paintings includes the letters h, o, p, e. Hidden among scenes of ruin, destruction and dehumanization, the letters are sometimes fully formed and clear; sometimes fractured or partially hidden.
Bak is now based in Massachusetts and is seen as a pioneer in art created in reaction to the Holocaust and one of the most important artists of his generation.
You can see "H-O-P-E: Paintings by Samuel Bak" 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The Holocaust Museum Houston is open daily and the exhibit continues through September 11. Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline. For information, call 713-942-8000 or visit hmh.org. Regular museum admission is $12; admission is free every Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m.
"Michael De Feo: Crosstown Traffic" at Rice University Art Gallery
Closing out our list of must-see exhibits this summer is "Michael De Feo: Crosstown Traffic," which is on display until August 28. Rice University Art Gallery commissioned the installation for its annual Summer Window series. The gallery is technically closed during the summer, but rather than leave its huge floor-to-ceiling windows completely empty, a "view-from-the-outside-only" work is installed every year.
This year's "Crosstown Traffic" echoes De Feo images seen on New York City bus stop kiosks. He took fashion advertisements, added his own colorful elements and returned them to the kiosks. The altered images were so successful, De Feo has since hit the fashion world big time and created similar images for industry giants such as Neiman Marcus.
Check out a short documentary about the making of "Michael De Feo: Crosstown Traffic" by Mark and Angela Walley of Walley Films online at the Rice University Art Gallery homepage.
Regular viewing hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through August 28. 6100 Main. For information, call 713-348-6069 or visit ricegallery.org. Free.
