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June 1, 2009

Houston, Texas: The Menil Collection; things to do


The Houston Menil Collection museum complex is located on a residential cul de sac. Founder Mrs. Menil, who according to a guide “was deeply protestant and deeply rich,” was able to keep control of the neighborhood by buying up properties and then renting them out. The tranquil green zone features arts-and-crafts cottages throughout--all painted a unifying Rothko grey. It is quite a surprise to find all these striking museums within easy walking distance of each other in a residential area.
1515 Sul Ross, 713-525-9400. W-Sun 11-7. Free. 

Holding one of the most influential private art collections of the 20th century, The Menil Collection museum opened in 1987 to house the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. It is the “mother ship” of this “campus.” Renzo Piano designed the naturally lit, scored-concrete building (he also designed the striking new San Francisco Academy of Sciences), which houses Byzantine, tribal, and modern contemporary art. Though it is a small museum, it has an enormous collection, and the art is in constant rotation.
1409 Sul Ross St., 713-524-9839. Daily 10-6. Free. 

Providing a meditative interfaith environment, the Rothko Chapel features a grey ceiling and mottled light-grey walls hung with gigantic black paintings by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. Concentrated, very bright natural light streams in through an eight-sided center opening in the ceiling. Add to this mottled-black asphalt tile floors, seating on contemporary black chairs with stainless-steel legs, and a simple sand-yellow brick exterior, and you have a spectacular space in which to reflect. Performances and special events are scheduled regularly.
4011 Yupon St., 713-521-3990. W-Sun 11-6. Free.

This fortress chapel sanctuary displays two of the largest, most important examples of 12th and 13th-century Byzantine wall paintings found outside the orthodox world (the frescoes are on loan from Cypress). Rough-hewn stone and steel is used outside and inside the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, and a hanging space features frosted glass that glows. In a spare presentation, only a few pieces of ancient art are set dramatically against the modern architecture; think black and white juxtaposed with the color of ancient frescoes.




More things to do in Houston.

Great ideas for travel adventures in the U.S.


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