Artful Weekend*Classic to Revolutionary

A Duo of Houston Must-Sees

By Catherine D. Anspon // Jan 23, 2015

Photography Mike Herrera

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A Texas bird nest, perfectly rendered in bronze. Ludwig casts her delicate works at Ken King Foundry in Houston.

At Jim and Ann Harithas' Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Wayne Gilbert received his due in 2015, included in "Degrees of Separation."

Mary Jenewein's dioramas and charcoal drawings confront American issues.

The Station's "Degrees of Separation," begins with two in-your-face murals by Empire.

At the Station, Mike Hollis may very well be one of the state's very best painters.

Artful Weekend, indeed. Our two top stops vary from the ethereal to the extremely avant-garde.

Mel Chin's video installation is captivating, and provides a moment of contemplation. Plan to spend some time to decipher its message. — Mel Chin’s video installation is captivating, and provides a moment of contemplation. Plan to spend some time to decipher its message.

At Moody Gallery, Lisa Ludwig’s “Nests” offer meditations on Mother Nature (through February 14). The exhibition by the very private artist, one of the staples of the gallery’s stable, asks the viewer to slow down and take in the details — and differences — each avian makes in its tiny twig works as casas. One larger wall sculpture enters into new terrain: It features beautiful branches and offers a promising new director for a future show.

In contrast, the Station Museum of Contemporary Art takes up the banner of activism with five hometown notables presented alongside Mel Chin’s always prescient work (one of five Chin roundups around town). Intriguingly installed, it’s provocative, confrontational and possesses a great sense of urgency — all hallmarks of director/founder Jim Harithas’ vision (through May 1). Don’t miss the final gallery: Sin Huellas’ immersive installation demands us to consider immigrant rights. It recreates life at an immigrant detention center, alluding to one in our own backyard, at the Joe Corley facility in Conroe.