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Houston’s Vibrant Heritage
By : Garland Fielder
Well known as a powerhouse in the visual arts, Houston’s art scene nevertheless surprises many by its multicultural appeal. For those savvy enough to make the most of the city’s cultural history, Houston is a mecca. A great example of this mixture of aesthetics and ethnic authenticity is Casa Ramirez FolkArt Gallery, a veritable institution of Latino culture nestled in the inviting Houston Heights neighborhood.
The gallery’s roots trace back to 1985, when owner/operator Macario Ramirez began his journey as a curator of the ethnic arts in Houston. It has been in its current location since the early ’90s. Today, Ramirez and wife/co-owner Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez oversee the vast undertakings the space is known for in the community. While passionately showcasing various artists—some international in prominence, some emerging—the couple also dedicates much of their time to community outreach and awareness programs. Indeed, the vibe of the entire space is geared more toward a market bazaar-cum-learning center rather than tony gallery. The mood is didactic in a hospitable way: Education about the vibrant Latino culture, especially that of Mexico, Texas and the Southwest, is the primary focus of the varied artifacts on display.
This sense of sharing and educating is personified in Macario Ramirez himself, a man dedicated to the celebration of his heartfelt pride in his culture. A brief conversation with Ramirez can reveal generations of artistic endeavors. Ramirez defines himself not only as a gallery owner, but also as a hands-on community activist with specific immigration rights concerns. At home in a picket line as much as at an opening, Ramirez takes his passions where they will do the most good. He relishes Houston’s established Latino culture, but never ceases to bring more awareness to the often overlooked demographic.
An appreciation of art that celebrates its heritage is evident throughout the gallery space. Noted Mexican-born artist Daniel Lechón is but one example. After earning a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Lechón moved to the United States in 1968, where he has continued to showcase his art. In 1988, the artist’s work appeared in the Texas Art Celebration ’88 and the East End Show. His colorful and finely executed works, such as his commission for the Kenedy Ranch Museum, tell the stories of the Southwest’s flavored past, mixing cultures and characters into a richly illustrated fresco. Smaller works on canvas by Lechón can be viewed (and purchased) at the gallery.
Another artist Casa Ramirez presents to the Houston community is painter Laura López Cano, whose works are more playful in their content. Her palette is full of vibrant colors depicting various figures that range in emotion. Swirling feminine motifs pervade the artist’s work, which often references such historical figures as Frida Kahlo in spirit. Original paintings by the artist as well as giclée prints can be found at the gallery. Other notable artists on view at Casa Ramirez include Chuy Benitez, whose panoramic portraits of domesticity have gained a local following, and Agapito Sánchez, a long time chronicler of the Texas music scene. Both of these artists were showcased in FotoFest 2010 Biennial, an established Houston tradition that brings in photography aficionados from all over the world. Casa Ramirez was one of 140 participating galleries in this year’s festival.
While the gallery showcases many contemporary visual artists on the walls, ample shelf space is given to less assuming works steeped in the folk art tradition. The vast array of traditional Latino collectibles are typified by an impressive collection of “Catrina” figurines—traditional female skeletal forms adorned in a celebratory fashion that are used on the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) annual celebration. This particular tradition is especially fitting for Casa Ramirez in that the ethos of the space is grounded in a celebration of ancestry, both local and generational. Along these lines, the gallery sees itself as re-educating second- and third-generation immigrant descendants to the ways and heritages of their own past.
A sizable classroom in the back of the gallery plays host to various hands-on demos exhibiting traditional folk art techniques, as well as educational seminars that highlight community awareness. A large number of books and other learning materials can also be found at the gallery. An annual Latino Book and Family Festival is but one example of the type of programs offered at Casa Ramirez.
Wandering about the space, it’s easy to get lost in the colorful depictions of Latino tradition, as well as discover newer aspects of that culture’s impact on the current Houston community.
Casa Ramirez FolkArt Gallery
241 W. 19th St., Houston, Texas 713.880.2420
casaramirez.com
Where to Stay
With its unbeatable location in downtown Houston, Alden-Houston is the perfect boutique hotel for business and leisure travelers alike. Each of the hotel’s 97 spacious guest rooms feature a full work area with complimentary Internet access, residential-quality bedding and linens, and granite-walled bathrooms with glass enclosed showers; suites include bathtubs for two.
Business travelers can take advantage of Alden’s proximity to Houston’s legal and business districts, as well as the George R. Brown Convention Center, while the hotel itself offers three meeting and function rooms.
But it’s not all work in Alden or the Space City. The hotel’s location also puts you right in the heart of Houston’s primary entertainment venues, such as Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, Discovery Green Park, Houston Downtown Aquarium and a plethora of restaurants and bars.
If you’re hungry, you need not look any further than Alden’s award winning *17 restaurant. The menu features delicious treats like duck confit, deconstructed beef Wellington, Australian lamb rack and pan-seared salmon. The truffle mac n’ cheese is a delightfully elegant spin on a classic. For a more casual environment, a+ bar and grille serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in a sleek yet relaxing setting.
aldenhotels.com
How To Get There: American Airlines & American Eagle provide service to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport & William P. Hobby Airport.
Book your trip today! Visit www.aa.com, call American/American Eagle reservations at 1-800-433-7300, or call your travel agent for more information.
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