Arts & Culture

Best 2013 Museum Exhibitions To Look Forward To In Houston

December 24, 2012 7:00 AM

India, Lidded Cup and Saucer, c. mid-17th century, gold with champlevé and painted enamels, The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait. (credit: mfah.org)

Hosting one of the country’s largest and most beloved museum districts, Houston always has something interesting and educational for its museum patrons to enjoy. Due to the prestige and international connections that many of the museums have, Houston is also treated to wonderful traveling exhibitions that promise to inspire the whole family. Don’t miss out on the best exhibitions coming to your city in 2013.

Yinka Shonibare’s The Swing (credit: menil.org)

The Menil Collection
1515 Sul Ross St.
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 525-9400
www.menil.org

Date: Dec. 2 to March 17

This multi-media exhibition, “The Progress of Love,” is being brought to Houston by the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, St. Louis, The Menil Collection and the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos. This exhibition explores the way this Western society has historically looked at love through the media, popular culture and cultural organizations. Love, which covers a wide variety of relationships, including the love of one’s self, will be a must-see for all Houstonians who have ever felt this touching, ever-human emotion.

(credit: Health Museum/Facebook)

The Health Museum
1515 Hermann Drive
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 521-1515
www.mhms.org

Date: opens March 9

If you’ve ever wondered exactly what is living in your backyard, in the park or flying above your head every time you go outside, take the chance this spring to see some examples of the creepy crawlies that live in Houston at The Health Museum. These larger-than-life, robotic bugs make lifelike buzzing, humming and other noises like actual bugs. Not only will you be able to see what these bugs look like up close, but museum patrons may participate in educational activities about the insects’ behavior and habitat.

(credit: hmns.org)

HMNS
5555 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
www.hmns.org

Date: Oct. 26 to March 31

Many people have heard of the Mayan calendar, which was set to end and renew this month. Come learn about the Maya, how its people became so advanced in their calendrics and other scientific endeavors, and what you can expect for 2013 based on what the world has learned from the Mayan people. The Mayans lived in the Yucatan through Guatemala, residing in tropical rainforests and grassy plains and building large monuments that now hold clues to the past. Also included in this exhibition is the evolution of the Mayan kingship and politics, the development of its written language, and three millennia of astronomy and timekeeping.

India, Lidded Cup and Saucer, c. mid-17th century, gold with champlevé and painted enamels, The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait. (credit: mfah.org)

MFAH
1001 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 639-7300
www.mfah.org

Date: Jan. 26, 2013 to Jan. 26, 2014

Islamic masterworks from Kuwait’s renowned al-Sabah Collection will come to Houston as the initial phase of a continuing partnership with a famous Islamic cultural institution. This collection, currently in private hands, is one of the most impressive groupings of Islamic art across the globe. The historic partnership between the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah begins a historic dialogue of knowledge, exchange of pieces and partnership of working history. This exhibition will feature exquisite Mughal jewelry, beautiful illuminated manuscripts, ceramics and other architectural pieces that show off more than a millennium of art in the Islamic world.

Doctor Zhivago, 2010; Design Firm: Pantheon Books (New York/New York); Jacket Designer: Peter Mendelsund (credit: printingmuseum.org)

Museum of Printing History
1324 W. Clay St.
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 522-4652
www.printingmuseum.org

Date: Nov. 15 to Jan. 12

For nearly 100 years, the American Institute of Graphic Arts 50 Books/50 Covers competition has recognized excellence in the design and production of books. Bookworms and artists alike may enjoy this year’s exhibition of the book entries into the AIGA Houston Chapter’s competition. This is a juried exhibition and includes book covers (both new and reprints) that were designed for the previous year’s printing schedule. Explore sizes and genres of book covers to look at, including trade and reference books, young adult fiction and museum publications. Anyone who is interested in modern graphic design won’t want to miss out on this exhibition.

Gillian Kruse is a freelance writer living in Houston. She graduated from Rice University with a great love for all performing and visual arts. She enjoys writing about arts and cultural events, especially little-known ones, to help Houstonians learn about what’s going on in their city. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.