Focusing specifically on the extraordinary art collection of local nephrologist and entrepreneur, Dr. Hervy Hiner, this exhibition will comprise works in a variety of mediums by some of the great African-American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. As a collector, Dr. Hiner has been amassing the high quality works that grace the walls of his home and popular local restaurant, Suga’s Deep South Cuisine. Among the artists featured in this exhibition are: Edward Bannister, Romare Bearden, John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett, Robert Duncanson, Joshua Johnston, Jacob Lawrence, Edmonia Lewis, Norman Lewis, Hughie Lee-Smith, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.
Artist Hans Molzberger divides his time between Rhineland, Germany and Houston and began creating art in 1982. He is a self-taught sculptor who works primarily in ceramics to create large-scale installations. These installations are narrative and provide visual commentaries on issues of the holocaust. Molzberger is currently adjunct professor of 3-D art at Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas.
Each year AMSET invites community members to “Go for the Gold” at this most popular and entertaining event. This year, we've spiced it up a bit with a Cajun theme.
For the ticket cost of $100, participants receive admission, a delicious Cajun-style dinner and cocktails for two along with one entry into the most exciting drawing in town. Three lucky ticket-holders get a chance to win unbelievable prizes in gold, magically turning $100 into $10,000 for the first place winner in a reverse drawing where the winner is the last ticket drawn. Proceeds from Go for the Gold benefit the museum’s exhibitions and education programming. Call (409) 832-3432 for tickets.
Rusty Scruby defines his work as sculpture but he exchanges ideas between math, music and art to create a common language to unite the three. He uses a series of repetitious photographs (or drawings or sheets of plastic) that he cuts, folds and weaves to create highly textured wall sculpture. He employs his engineering techniques to render surfaces that represent waves, ripples or bodies of water. Color, pattern and images are used to express musical harmonies, melodies and themes. This exhibit will feature his latest development; totally three dimensional sculpture that will be suspended from the gallery ceilings.
This exhibition is the final body of work of one of Houston’s leading artists, Virgil Grotfeldt, who lost his 16 year battle with cancer in February 2009. The number 274296 was Grotfeldt's patient number at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The exhibition is comprised of 16 oil paintings on MRI scans of Grotfeldt’s brain at the center. It is organized by Houston Baptist Univeristy, where he was an assistant professor in art and artist in residence.
Get ready for the beach with activities including sand art, designing beach balls and paper folding activities related to Rusty Scruby’s exhibition Playing in the Sand. Admission is free and open to the public.
Don’t miss this bi-annual, exciting live auction event giving you the opportunity to bid on and purchase fine interior decorative art items created by local artists. Past auction items have included clocks, serving trays, carts, chairs, birdhouses and birdbaths. Call (409) 832-3432 for more information.
AMSET dedicates its summer exhibition show to groupings from the permanent collection. This summer visitors can view a range of styles of artwork by women artists.
This retrospective exhibition features the colorful and joyful paintings and collages of Beaumont artist and life-long resident George Wentz. He began drawing and painting at age five and continued developing his artistic interests and talents in high school while studying under the highly popular Beaumont artist Herman Hugg. Wentz’s artistic style is defined as gestural and abstract expressionist with colors and vivacity reminiscent of the French post-impressionists. In addition to the hopefulness and joy that emerges in Wentz’s paintings, is the personality of the artist himself that is described by many as child-like and jovial.
In celebration of summer flowers, families will make flower paintings with thick luscious paints in vibrant hues, create tissue flowers and decorate flower pots to take home. This Family Arts Day will help children and their families further explore artist George Wentz’s artwork. Admission is free and open to the public.
AMSET’s annual anniversary gala is always a spectacular and memorable evening. In 2010, the museum will celebrate its 23rd anniversary with fine dining, entertainment, surprises and much more. Call (409) 832-3432 for reservations.
Making its much anticipated return as an annual fall fund-raising event, is AMSET’s Art of Beer. This foam-filled and adventurous event gives Southeast Texans the opportunity to sample a few new brews and learn things about beer they might have never known. Also, always included is a delicious dinner and lively entertainment. Call (409) 832-3432 for tickets.
Artist Sedrick Huckaby is most inspired by his family, his faith and his African-American heritage. He creates “quilt paintings” as a way to celebrate both his grandmother’s craft as well as the artistic legacy of the African-American quilting tradition. Huckaby reproduces in thick, impasto paint the actual quilts produced by his grandmothers as backdrops for many of his portrait paintings of family and friends. Among many other awards and achievements, Huckaby was the recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 2008.
“Eat a Bug!” Family Arts Day is one of AMSET’s most popular events, where children and their families are tempted to try the creepy, crawly delicacy of fried crickets. Hands-on art activities focus on the many cultures of our region and the main gallery exhibition. Visitors will learn about Day of the Dead and make Latin American crafts such as sugar skulls, cut paper designs and tissue flowers. Entertainment includes Latin American music and dancing. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.
Admission is FREE!