Celebrate Museum of Fine Arts First Phase Campus Redevelopment Project on Sunday, May 20th with Festive Community Event

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The stunning transformation of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston campus redevelopment project was worth the wait

 The community is welcome to the big celebration

In the spirit of community and collaboration, celebrate the opening of the new Glassell School of Art; The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza; and the BBVA Compass Roof Garden with an energetic afternoon of music, dance, and art. Join the fun with activities and programs for all ages, all afternoon. Enjoy bites from the day’s food carts: Popston, Spicy Dog, Cupcake and a Smile, and Moon Rooster!

Highlights include:

CREATE

  • Custom Poems with Inprint Poetry Buskers (12 noon–3 p.m.)
  • Print & Play: Art-Making Activity for Our Youngest Artists (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Wearable Flower Brooches: Art-Making Activity for Families and Children (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Reflective Handheld Sculptures: Art-Making Activity for Everyone (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Story Booth (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Outside the Box: Creativity Challenge (12:30–4 p.m.)
  • Fashion Collages with Houston Community College (12 noon–4 p.m.)

ENJOY

  • Walking with Docents (12:30, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 p.m.)
  • Storybook Picnic with Houston Public Library (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Play Garden Quest III: The Legend of Stella (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Project aDOORe with HISD (12 noon–4 p.m.)
  • Lemonade Stand (12 noon–4 p.m.)

LISTEN: 

  • Performance with Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble (12 noon)
  • Performance with Craig Hauschildt (12:30 p.m.)
  • Performance with Aperio (2 p.m.)

WATCH

  • Ballet Folklórico Performance with MECA (1 p.m.)
  • Performance with METdance (3 p.m.)

ABOUT THE FIRST PHASE

The inauguration of the Glassell School of Art and the BBVA Compass Roof Garden, designed by Steven Holl Architects and The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza, designed by Deborah Nivens & Associates debuts on May 20, 2018.  The BBVA Compass Roof Garden, a sloping, walkable green roof offers dramatic views of the Sarofim campus.

The entire campus is slated to be completed in 2020. The fundraising campaign is nearly 90 percent achieved. Nancy and Richard Kinder have issued a $25 million challenge grant to reach the $450 million goal.

The two new buildings, which include a new conservation center and a landscape plan, opens a public gateway to the entire Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim Campus creating a gorgeous dramatic new greenspace.

The public plaza, fountain, amphitheater and roof garden also includes Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Column” and Eduardo Chillida’s “Song of Strength.” The 14-acre redevelopment is currently the largest cultural project under construction in North America. Classes in the new Glassell School building begin June 4 with their summer sessions.

“We hope our citizens quickly grasp this new destination in the city. The art school and are more closely linked than ever before. The entire project is a testament to Houston’s historic legacy of city building through arts and culture philanthropy, which the Kinders exemplify. This is a hub for all things cultural,” said Gary Tinterow, MFAH Director.

MFAH Chair, Richard D. Kinder said this project will transform the Museum and contribute to the broader momentum in the city.

“With this initial opening, the public finally has an opportunity to experience some of the spaces that Steven Holl, Chris McVoy, and Deborah Nevins have developed in reimagining, with the Museum’s leadership, the public’s experience of the Museum and its role in the life of Houston,” said Kinder.

For more information, go to www.mfah.org/calendar/celebrating-community-opening-day/201805201200PM.

photos by V. Sweeten

 

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