I arrived in the afternoon on Wednesday to Pearland, just south of Houston. These were my hosts, my old friend Carlos and his wife Melissa:
I have known Carlos since 1977, my first year at Ball State. Carlos didn’t stay, but we stayed in touch over the years, and I am glad I was able to connect to these two while on this trip. The first night there, we went out to eat at a barbecue place in Pearland (what else would you do in Texas?), called Central Texas Barbecue. Very good eats and not expensive. Sorry, forgot to take any photos. I had two meats and two sides and then shared a side with Melissa. Finished the meats, but not all of the sides. Very filling and satisfying. Here is the website if you want to check it out: https://centralbbq.com/
Later that night, Carlos took me to a Micro Theatre event. Carlos is on the Board of the Landing Theatre Company. Here’s the concept: give the playwrights a setting and ask them to write a short play for the setting. In this case it was a living room. It was performed in the living room of an Air BnB in the Heights in Houston. The title of the play is “The Visit”. Two actors and a Stage Manager. Seating is limited to 18 because of the size of the venue. Interesting concept. Good play and good acting.
The next day, I relaxed in the morning while Carlos tended to some business. Later, we went to lunch at another barbecue place (hey, it’s Texas), Killen’s. Per Carlos, this place is very famous. I had never heard of it.
The wood the use for smoking. Hickory, Mesquite, and Oak (probably Post Oak).
We had a Fred Flintstone sized Beef Rib, some Pork Ribs, and Brisket with Green Beans.
Oh, and Fried Mac and Cheese. Decadent.
On to the rest of the day. We had plans to meet someone for dinner in the Heights, so we killed some time at museums. First, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts – another Sculpture Garden. You may recognize a similarity of this first sculpture to “Cloud Gate” (aka “The Bean”) in Chicago. That’s because they are by the same sculptor, Anish Kapoor. This one is titled “Cloud Column”.
Some more sculptures:
The Light Tunnel:
There was a stop at Buffalo Bayou. Bayous in Texas are what we in Indiana call Creeks or Canals. Houston has made the correct decision to beautify the area around the Bayou and create trails along the Bayou leading all the way to downtown Houston. As you can see, the water is clear and the area attracts wildlife.
Next, the Art Car Museum! Houston has an Art Car Parade every year and this museum is dedicated to that Parade. There are past winners on display, as well as other art dedicated to the automobile.
There is one photographer on display that find painted tires of all kinds all over the place and photographs them. Here is an example:
Another finds art in decaying finishes on cars:
Another artist has created the myth of Nomadic Fungi (or is it a myth?). He claims this fungi is growing and destroying our cars. I’ll let this speak for itself:
Check out these cars (and one bicycle).
Then dinner with another friend my Ball State days. This is my old friend John. Although John an Carlos were at BSU at the same time, they did not know each other.
After dinner, while driving around The Heights, we found this display:
Carlos then took me to an area of Houston that was developed specifically for artists. Old industrial areas, including an area that was used for rice processing into artist studios. Hundreds, possibly thousands of studios that I will have to visit on a return trip. Here is what Carlos called the “Art Wall” in just one of those areas.
That was my last night in Houston. The next day, it was time to move on to Austin, and the reason for this whole trip.
On the way to Austin, I encounter more art at a little village market and gas station on 290 in Carmine, Texas. Many of you know I like elephants, so I had to take this.
