New York-based artist Donna Rosenthal creates suits and dresses out of vintage papers taken from romance novels, comics, sheet music and old magazines. The paper clothes hang on steel hangers and represent men and women; text on the breasts of the suits and dresses depicts couples' conversations. For example, one dress reads, "He said he'd never snore." Its suit counterpart responds, "She said she'd let me sleep." Other messages are a little sadder. "He said he'd always take care of me," moans a dress. The suit's answer? "She said she'd always listen to me." The talking clothes are part of the "Way Cool" exhibit at Koelsch Gallery. Also on view are works by Frances Tuchman and Marilyn Lanfear. Opening: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. The exhibit is on view though August 9. 3202 Mercer. For information, call 713-626-0175 or visit www.koelschgallery.com. $10 donation benefits Hope Stone Inc., the nonprofit dance company.
Friday, July 11
Patrick Lichty no likee evil corporations. He's a contributing
member of the YESMEN, an anonymous group of free trade activists who impersonate
World
Trade Organization members. The group views hoaxes -- often perpetuated via the
Internet -- as a legitimate form of activism. It's not surprising, then, that
Lichty, who's also an artist, examines the impact of technology on the self,
society and culture in his work. His art employs printmaking, kinetics, video,
generative music and neon. Today, he presents his "8-Bits or Less" project at
Fire Station No. 3 Gallery. Lichty will also show some materials from his work
with YESMEN and RTMARK, a similar group. And his alter ego, DJ Voyd, will be
playing electronic music. 8 p.m. 1919 Houston Avenue. For information, call 713-412-5120
or visit www.microcinema.com. $5.
Saturday, July 12
Bonjour, là, Bonjour, by Quebec
playwright Michel Tremblay, depicts just about every dysfunction you could think
of: drug
abuse,
eating disorders,
adultery, incest. In the play, presented by Dos Chicas Theater Commune, our protagonist
returns to Canada after a stay in Europe, where his family -- including a widowed
father, two maiden aunts and four sisters -- focuses on him to the point of suffocation.
If you get off on envy, hatred and betrayal, you'll be entertained by Bonjour,
là, Bonjour. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through August 2, with pay-what-you-want
shows at 8 p.m. Monday, July 21, and Monday, July 28. Helios, 411 Westheimer.
For information, call 713-201-0193. $10; $6 for seniors and students.
For its seventh anniversary celebration, Bobbindoctrin Puppet
Theatre is
setting up a Puppet Kissing Blackmail Photo Booth. If it's your idea of a good
time, you can make out with one of the Bobbindoctrin heroes, such as Ivan the
Fool or Cruel Frederick, and then buy up your own or someone else's blackmail
photos. At the event, the company will be premiering The Edge of Space,
its first toy theater production. And Rotten Piece, Two Star Symphony and the
Sexy Finger Champs will provide the tunes. 9 p.m. Super Happy Fun Land, 2610
Ashland. For information, call 713-880-2100. $15.
Sunday, July 13
Horror movies are more bearable when they have a sense of humor. Spanish director Álex
de la Iglesia's 1995 film Day of the Beast takes place in Madrid.
A Catholic priest named Father Ángel learns that the devil will be making
an appearance on Earth on Christmas. So he tries to be as evil as possible in
hopes of finding the devil. This is where the comedy comes in; in his attempt
to attract Satan, the priest goofily steals some luggage and pushes a mime down
some stairs. When it came out, Day of the Beast won six Goya awards, which are like Oscars but Spanish. The film will scare you and make you laugh at the same time. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12; and today. Rice Cinema, entrance no. 8 (off University Boulevard at Stockton Drive). For information, call 713-348-4882 or visit ricecinema.rice.edu. $5 to $6.
Monday, July 14
Chinstrap penguins are cute, but they're some tough little dudes. So named because
of the rows of dark feathers that form lines under their chins, they hang out
together on icebergs in the middle of the ocean. They're considered to be the
boldest penguins around and are the most likely to get into brawls with other
penguins. The animals' aggression, though, is countered by their reasonable,
progressive breeding policy. The males and females take turns sitting on the
eggs while their partners are out feeding. Ten of them have set up camp at
the Aquarium at Moody Gardens. See them frolic and fly underwater today. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. One Hope Boulevard in Galveston. For information, call 1-800-582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.com. $6.95 to $14.25.
Tueday, July 15
For a small fee, you can party with the Sugar Bayou Band. Two of its members, Bob Oldreive and Joe Lindley, formed the Houston country rock band Dogtooth Violet in 1973. They opened for greats including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. Now they've gotten together with April Rapier to form the Sugar Bayou Band, which plays acoustic music influenced by folk, swing, Celtic, bluegrass, Cajun and South American traditions. Today, they celebrate the release of their first CD, Nowhere But Gone. 9 p.m. McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk. For tickets, call 713-528-5999. $10.
Wednesday, July 16
Here's an event to crash. Walter Donald Kennedy, co-author of The South Was Right!, has come out with a new book: Myths of American Slavery. His point seems to be that Southerners weren't the only folks involved in the slave trade, and that Northerners were racist, too. This information hardly seems revolutionary and doesn't do much to absolve the South of its sins. Today, the Southern activist and former commander of the Louisiana Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans reads from his new book. Show up and ask him some questions. 4 p.m. River Oaks Bookstore, 3270 Westheimer. For information, call 713-520-0061. Free.
