Tremendous turnout at OBA Think tank, Tuesday December 3rd

What a tremendous turnout we had at our OBA Think tank on Tuesday December 3rd at the Rothko Chapel!

We had over 80 participants from all walks of Houston’s diverse communities including visual artists, curators, musicians, poets, rappers, community members, scholars, students and professors, gathered together to discuss with Monte Laster, the founder of the OBA project, and theTFAA team, how to leverage local creative assets.

HGOco’s director shared this with us:

“I wanted to commend you for the wonderful program last night.  I could not stay for the last ½ hour, but enjoyed myself immensely for the incredible discussion.  Houston has incredible “power” through the arts.  We can be a world leader in how we create programs through collaboration to allow Houston communities to “raise their voice”.

An award-winning film maker, author and interactive multimedia producer added:

“I am so honored to have been a part of last night’s exciting Think Tank and I am thrilled with the possibilities! I am keen to work with your program.”

An esteemed cultural leader in our community echoed these enthusiastic sentiments by saying:

” It was very inspiring to see so many familiar faces as well as hearing about all the great work taking place in communities across Houston and France.”

And these are just a few of the comments we received supporting the potential of this truly original, collaborative and boundary-breaking project.

Stay tuned for more…This is just the beginning.

 

“Open the Door” To Jazz & Blues at Worhals – Saturday November 16, 2013

Open the Door to Jazz and Blues at Worhals

Saturday November 16, 2013- 8:00PM-2AM

2016 Main St 77002

The Texan-French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA) and Harambee Art Gallery invite you to an evening celebrating the past, present, and future of jazz and blues. Two renowned musicians from France, Aymeric Avice and Benjamin Sanz, and famed local Houstonians, including Milton Hopkins, Jewel Brown, Joe Carmouche and Woody Witt will perform in a musical encounter that promises to bring out jazz in all of its colors.  The event will take place at Worhals, one of Midtown Houston’s trendiest hot spots.

The event is part of TFAA’s citywide “Open-The-Door” public art project that was launched earlier this year and includes 60 doors in 19 Houston neighborhoods. Amongst them is Charles Washington and Jesse Lott’s door in Emancipation Park that pays tribute to blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkins and artist Bert Long.

Preceding the evening concert, there will be a symposium on the history of jazz and blues in Houston with a panel discussion led by Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown. The event will be held at the Harambee Art Gallery, 3903 Almeda St., from 2pm-4pm. Be sure to join us and learn why Houston played such a prominent role in the evolution of jazz.

Meet some of the Artists:

Aymeric Avice is a trumpet player, composer, and founding member of internationally renowned bands Jean Louis, BonyFish, OSSO, Catapulte, Radiation 10, and AVICE DE PROCEDURE. He has collaborated with prestigious musicians such as Christian Vander, Charlie Haden, John Betsch, Fantazio, Luc EX, Andre Minvielle, the HUSSAIN Brothers, Brice Wassy, Denis Charolles and more recently with American experimental rock group, Tortoise.

He received the best soloist “Selmer” award at the 2005 Saint-Germain-des-Pres Jazz Festival, Paris, France. He was also awarded the first prize of the jazz and improvised music department of the CNSMDP, France’s most prestigious music conservatory.

Benjamin Sanz is a drummer and composer who has lead several projects influenced by jazz and African musical forms, such as the Benjamin Sanz Quintet. For seven years he organized and presented a jazz and world music jam session at La Miroiterie (Paris, France), a venue for musical encounters and sharing of knowledge that was supported by great musicians such as David Murray, Bobby Few, Ernest Dawkins, Sabir Mateen and others.

His polyrhythmic styles focus on improvisation and spontaneous creativity, and leans towards strong time signatures and consistency of the overarching sound. His training was strongly shaped by his encounters with accomplished musicians and his travels. He has performed in Europe, Africa and the U.S with musicians such as David Murray, Byrd Lancaster, Roy Campbell, Lobi Traore, Safiata Conde, Oliver Lake and many others. He has just released a hip hop album with New York jazz funk collective Black Rock Coalition called Divine Pocket Bouncers. His extensive knowledge and practice of black music and improvisation have made Benjamin Sanz an increasingly sought-after “sideman”.

Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown two of Houston’s legendary blues artists. Milton Hopkins was the lead guitarist for B.B King from 1971-1980 and the linchpin of the local blues community for many years. Jewel Brown is a jazz and blues singer who was a part of Louis Armstrong’s ensemble for five years in the early 60’s. They released a joint album in May 2012 under the Austin based label Dialtone “Milton Hopkins with Jewel Brown”.

Joe Carmouche is one of Houston’s most in demand performers. He is a guitarist who has performed for President Obama’s 2013 inauguration day and has performed with Joe Sample, Ronnie Laws, Michael Henderson, Everette Harp and many other established jazz artists. He also teaches music theory and guitar at MacGregor Elementary School in Houston. He was twice nominated Best Jazz Artists at the Houston Press Music Awards and received a certificate of congressional recognition from congress woman Sheila Jackson Lee in honor of his musical accomplishments. He has released three CDs and received the best jazz album award for “A touch of Jazz”.

Woody Witt, saxophonist, is a composer, performer and educator. His fresh ideas and original approach to improvisation and composition have earned him a place to perform with some of the top names in the industry. Woody has established himself as a notable musician in the area and has performed with the Houston Symphony Exxon-Mobil Pops Series backing artists including Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers and Tony Bennett. He is also the manager/artistic director of one of the city’s only jazz clubs, Cezanne. Dr. Witt is a full time instructor at Houston Community College and is an affiliate artist at the University Of Houston Moores School Of Music. Woody holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the prestigious university of North Texas where he taught saxophone and jazz methods. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston in 2000.

For ticket information, please contact TFAA at: 832 755 1470

Tickets may only be purchased through eventbrite.com:

https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8918580715

Thanks for your Support at the HFAF

Karine HFAF

Wow! what a turn out TFAA’s booth had at last week-end’s Fine Art Fair! Thank you to all those who stopped by our booth and showed so much interest in our projects.

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And a special thank you to all those who signed up to volunteer for our various openings and to those who expressed an interest in sponsoring some of our upcoming events and projects. We can’t wait to meet you and get you involved with us.

Cedric Craig C

In the meantime, stay tuned to our events by liking us on facebook and checking in on our website. We have many exciting events lined up for the fall and we want you there!

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TFAA sponsors Zineb Sedira: Lighthouse in the Sea of Time at the Blaffer Museum

From Saturday Oct. 5 to Thursday Oct. 17, 2013, discover Zineb Sedira for the first time in the United-States, at the Blaffer Art Museum. (For more information about Zineb Sedira, visit her personal website here)

 

A public reception will be held on October 4, 2013, from 6-9pm

Location: Blaffer Art Museum The University of Houston,

4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas 77004

She presents Lighthouse in the Sea of Time, a series of video installations and photographs documenting the artist’s journeys to two lighthouses in Algeria: Cap Caxine just outside the capital city of Algiers and Cap Sigli in the more remote Berber region of Algeria called Kabylia. Built and maintained by France when Algeria was a colonial outpost, the buildings transferred to Algerian control following the Algerian War for Independence (1954-62).

Lighthouse in the Sea of Time frames the quiet poetics of watching, guarding, and taking care that envelop the lighthouses as historical sites. Through an interview with a lighthouse keeper and careful attention to visitor logbooks and technical equipment in the lighthouse archives, Sedira demonstrates the subtle ways that monumental historical struggles continue to resonate in the present moment.

(For more info, visit the Blaffer Art Museum website HERE)

TFAA’s partners Ars Lyrica invites you to its new event: Menu Plaisirs!

Menus Plaisirs kicks off the Ars Lyrica Houston 2013-2014 Season of Discoveries.

Where? at the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall.

When? September 22, 2013 at 6 pm.

Use the promotional code FRENCH reserved for TFAA members and GET 15% OFF on your ticket!

This fanciful look at the musical pleasures of European ancien régime focuses on the music of the French Baroque master Marc-Antoine Charpentier and features tenors Eduardo Tercero and Aaron Sheehan and baritone John Buffett.

A pre-concert lecture on Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s theatrical music will be given by Professor John Powell of the University of Tulsa at 5:15 pm. Inspired by the French court’s “Cabinet of Royal Pleasures,” this fun-loving program offers exquisite though rarely heard works from the musical world of Louis XIV, showcasing the various sides of Louis’ musical entertainments, from the chapel to the chamber and the theater. The program also includes some music by non-French composers, since Louis’ court was the model for virtually all other important monarchs during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Use the promotional code FRENCH reserved for TFAA members and GET 15% OFF on your ticket!

To buy your tickets, click HERE

Meet TFAA and get FREE VIP PASSES for the Houston Fine Art Fair!

Next September 19-22, the Houston Fine Art Fair will take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center (Houston, TX 77010), and guess who is going to be there? TFAA, of course! Come & meet us on our booth!

TFAA also has a special gift for you! Get FREE VIP & DAY PASSES for the HFAF by clicking on the links below.

DAY PASS gives you access to:

Any 1 day of the fair September 20-22

Show schedule

Friday Sep 20, 11am-7pm
Saturday Sep 21, 11am-7pm
Sunday Sep 22, 11-6pm

The VIP PASS gives you access to:

The Opening Preview on Thursday September 19, 7:30-9pm benefiting Houston Business Volunteers for the Arts Program of the Houston Arts Alliance. Entry into the coveted VIP Lounge (except for private events), access to all discussion/panels held at the fair and admission to additional VIP events.

Show schedule

Thursday Sep 19, 7:30-9pm
Friday Sep 20, 11am-7pm
Saturday Sep 21, 11am-7pm
Sunday Sep 22, 11-6pm

Thursday September 19, 6-7:30pm – Houston is Inspired Sneak Preview hosted by Houston Arts Alliance.

 

Dominic Walsh: A show in New-York inspired by Camille Claudel’s life

Information:

Date: Thursday, August 8 & Saturday, August 10 at 8pm.

Location: Joyce Theater in New-York

Tickets: between $10 & $39 and can be purchased by calling 212-248-0800 or on Joyce.org

 

Next August 8th, Dominic Walsh’s dance company from Houston, TX is coming back to New-York with a new show inspired by the tragic life of Camille Claudel, a French sculptor.

Camille Claudel, muse and wife of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, she today inspires Dominic Walsh. Dominic Walsh, main dancer and director of the Dominic Walsh Theater in Houston, TX, is fascinated by the artist’s movements and how she passes on anxiety. He has been dreaming about creating an abstract dance show based on both Rodin and Claudel’s lives. This is how the show was born, honoring the French artist’s life. Camille Claudel will be played by Danielle Brown.

 

For more info about Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, please visit their website dwdt.org

 

 

 

 

Rivette X2 at The MFAH: Celine and Julie Go Boating & Le Pont du Nord

The French filmmaker Jacques Rivette, who turned 85 earlier this year, will be highlighted next weekend and the week after at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Indeed, two of his most beautiful movies (including Le Pont du Nord that has never been released in the US), will be showed at The MFAH.

Several shows will be available to the public (Ticket purchase available here: Rivette X2) :

Le Pont du Nord (in French with English subtitles)

Saturday, July 13th at 7 p.m. | Sunday, July 14th at 5 p.m.

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Celine and Julie Go Boating (in French with English subtitles)

Friday, July 19th at 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 20th at 6 p.pm.

Sunday, July 21st at 4 p.m.

 

 

Jacques Offenbach’s La vie parisienne at Houston Miller Outdoor Theater

JUNE, 8th 2013

 

8:30 pm

 

The vocal stars of tomorrow delight audiences in Offenbach’s spoof on the cultural melting pot that is Paris. High-jinks and Can-Cans assure a memorable evening at the theater.

Ticket required for the covered seated area.

Free tickets are available (4 per person over age 16 while they last) at the Miller Outdoor Theater box office the day of the performance between the hours of 10:30am-1pm. (If tickets remain at 1pm, the box office will re-open one hour before show time to distribute the remaining tickets.)

 

As always, open seating on the hill.

Have a great time!

Miller Outdoor Theater’s website : milleroutdoortheatre.com