Photo Friday: vintage Hugh Walther
: Photo Friday : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-29-2014
Photo Friday: Aerial view of Jennings, Louisiana, 1955, by Hugh Walther
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Galveston’s Rosenberg Library Museum
: Destinations, Galleries & Museums : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-23-2014
It’s no secret that Galveston Island is rich in history. The best known cultural attractions are without a doubt architectural—such as The Bishop’s Palace. And for connoisseurs of fine art there is a multitude of art galleries downtown. But I must admit that I had no idea that there is actually fine art available for viewing in a museum setting. The Rosenberg Library isn’t just a repository for books. Born in Switzerland, Henry Rosenberg immigrated to Galveston in the 1840s and got crazy rich. When he died in 1893 he left almost a million dollars to charity, including $400,000 to …continue reading
Photo Friday: John Sherman
: Photo Friday : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-22-2014
Warm Up by John Sherman
Artists Jeffrey Lipsky & Filthy Fluno
: Artists : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-21-2014
Artist Jeffrey Lipsky is a white Jewish man with a mustache, cap, and jeans. He has exhibited paintings in galleries and museums around the world and has been featured in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Brooklyn Rail, Art Calendar Magazine, and a string of others. Artist Filthy Fluno is a short plump black man with a mammoth afro, designer suit, sneakers, and 3D glasses whose artwork looks exactly like Lipsky’s. Surrounded by beautiful women and eccentric characters, he is founder of the esteemed art community Artropolis. He has been featured in innumerable important galleries and museums, and …continue reading
Second Life & Jake Wikifoo
: Artists, Lifestyle : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-18-2014
Jake Wikifoo, whose most distinctive physical attribute is a prominent proboscis, is an artist and art gallery owner (Galerie Wikifoo & Wikifoo Art Museum “WAM”) who lives in the city of New Toulouse—in a spectacular mansion across the lane from the Governor’s mansion. Behind Wikifoo Manor’s sprawling oaks, ornamental iron gates, fluted columns, and pink brick sheath is housed a world class collection of original art. Aside from art collecting, Jake’s interests include drunken carousing, boating, travel, architectural design, and hunting zombies. Mr. Wikifoo is an avatar who lives in the world of Second Life. Second Life is an online …continue reading
Photo Friday: Johan Swanepoel
: Photo Friday : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-15-2014
Elephant Affection ©Johan Swanepoel / Stockfresh
Ghost Bikes
: Lifestyle : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-14-2014
The other day while driving around Montrose, discussing “LOVE” signs, a friend suggested that I write a post on Ghost Bikes. My reaction was initially a bit tempered, not sure if the topic of Ghost Bikes relates to art but also concerned it might be a bit somber. “But everyone in Houston is talking about Ghost Bikes,” she countered. Ghost Bikes are memorials for bicyclists who are killed on the street. We have probably all seen them—the installation is assembled with a bike painted all white, chained to a street sign at the site of the accident, and is accompanied …continue reading
Spreading LOVE in Houston, artist Wiley Robertson
: Artists : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-10-2014
About three years ago while walking the dog through a weird alley in Montrose I came upon a small plank of wood with “LOVE” painted colorfully on it. I picked it up and hung it on my wall. Then my friends and I started noticing “LOVE” paintings on 2 x 4s nailed high upon utility poles around inner-city neighborhoods. Friends would tell me about a new sighting and vice versa. I was fascinated; and wondered who was doing it. I asked a few hipsters who was responsible—one actually answered, “I thought it was you!” Three weeks back I saw a …continue reading
Amy Evans at Kiehl’s
: Artists : Written by Troy Broussard :
Thursday evening I attended a reception for artist Amy Evans at Kiehl’s. Her brightly colored paintings on wood are on indefinite display. Her work is unusual. Considered a surrealist she strives to document moments in time, mostly from her imagination and beginning with a specific object such as a vintage package. When the package or product is rendered in combination with other seemingly mundane objects such as bobby pins, combs, fabrics, or jewelry they are transformed into portraits, illustrating a woman who is part of the artist’s narrative. And while the paintings are “surrealist-inspired” Amy is represented by Koelsch Gallery, Houston’s most …continue reading
A Vegetarian in Cajun Country
: Food & Beverage, Lifestyle : Written by Troy Broussard : 08-09-2014
During my great “swamp artist” adventure (aka midlife crisis) in Louisiana a few years back, one of my close friends planned a visit from Texas. I met Willem Overwijk several years back when he was new in Houston by way of Amsterdam. Recruited to the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Overwijk’s specific area of proficiency, in layman’s terms, is cancer immunotherapy and vaccines research, tumor immunology, with specific emphasis how immune cells can be manipulated to destroy cancer. It’s wildly complex, technical, intellectual, and important. At any rate, he is tall and handsome, gregarious, exceedingly meticulous, a bit eccentric, …continue reading