Project Row Houses highlights and supports local residents through Strategic Art Plan
Artist installations, interactive historic tours and cooking lessons engage Third Ward community
HOUSTON – July 11, 2018 – Project Row Houses continues supporting local artists through the Strategic Art Plan with current summer initiatives. Funded by Houston Endowment, the Strategic Art Plan works to collaborate with organizations based in the Third Ward and individuals active in the community to present public art engagement opportunities for the public.
“Our summer initiatives through the Strategic Art Plan highlight the voices and perspectives of those in the Third Ward community. As our home, it is important Project Row Houses cultivates independent change agents in the community through engagement, art and direct action.” said Eureka Gilkey, executive director of Project Row Houses.
Project Row Houses occupies a significant footprint in Houston’s Historic Third Ward. Launched in advance of Juneteenth 2017, the Strategic Art Plan works directly with other Third Ward organizations to support the well-being and wealth building of residents in the community. The arts offerings are an essential component of the nationally recognized community ecosystem which exists in Houston’s Third Ward. Project Row Houses has proven that encouraging art is an essential component of a sustainable, healthy neighborhood.
“The current Strategic Art Plan initiatives showcase the history of the Third Ward, while uplifting residents and providing an opportunity for neighbors to participate in activities which address the needs of their community,” said Ryan Dennis, curator and programs director of Project Row Houses. “We will continue to water our roots in the Third Ward as we add new programming and shine light on those in our neighborhood.”
Current Strategic Art Plan projects and initiatives include:
Yoga with Letty
Artist: Leticia Contreras
Dates: July 7, 21; August 18, 25
Location: 3409 Emancipation Ave.
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Yoga with Letty is a series of free yoga classes led by artist and creative practitioner Leticia Contreras. The light-hearted beginner lessons introduces the community to vinyasa flow, a style of yoga which involves synchronizing breath with a continuous flow of poses. Through this, participants learn how to quiet the mind and bring ease to the body during these tumultuous times while connecting with others.
Free Market Square
Organizer: Cedric Douglas
Dates: Every 3rd Saturday
Location: 2301 Elgin St.
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Free Market Square is a community marketplace in the heart of Third Ward that highlights its culture, entrepreneurship and artistic performance throughout the year. The market aims to reignite the historic legacy of our community and add to the strength, vibrancy and self-determination of the Historic Third Ward.
Dear Mama
Artist: Ashura Bayyan
Dates: June 8 – August 12
Location: Martin Luther King Community Center, 2270 Sampson Street
Time: Noon – 6:00 p.m.
Following the 2nd annual Mothers’ Day art festival on June 5, the Dear Mama exhibition opened to the public on June 8 at Project Row Houses, Community Gallery. A combination of photography, painting and performance, all works are in dedication to mothers everywhere.
Third Ward Fresh
Organizers: Nathan Keibler and Marilyn Maples
Dates: June 9, 16; July 14, 21; August 11, 18
Location and time varies
Third Ward Fresh aims to address the lack of access to fresh produce in the Third Ward through a series of cooking lessons and community plotting/painting sessions in partnership with “One Seed, One Block.” Activities will be held at Free Market Square and other locations in Northern Third Ward.
Emancipation Avenue Bus Stop Tours
Artist: Naomi Mitchell Carrier
Dates: July 14, 21, 28; August 4, 11, 18, 25
Location: Eldorado Building, 2310 Elgin St.
Time: 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
The Bus Stop Tours share a complete history of African-American Texans through storytelling at six stops along Emancipation Avenue. At each incremental period in history, each stop shares stories from significant events through reenactment. To register, please visit https://bit.ly/2N1MWXW.
Beautiful, Still
Artist: Colby Deal
Location: Eldorado Building, 2310 Elgin St.
Time: 24 hours
Unveiled on June 19, the photographic project captures and creates a rendition of the Third Ward community and its landscape. The image will be on view at the Eldorado Building and smaller vignettes will be placed around the Third Ward for public interaction.
All Strategic Art Plan initiatives are free to the general public. For more information on current and upcoming programs, please visit https://projectrowhouses.org/strategic-art-plan/.
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Contact: Jennie Roberts, Elmore Public Relations, 713-524-0661, jennie@elmorepr.com
