BBAP is another space that contributes to the "public art" that surrounds Houston's downtown (there…read moreare over 50 pieces in downtown alone!). BBAP hosts about 20 pieces at any given time. One time there was an installation that was a row of shopping carts. So you may definitely feel the "wtf, this is art?" question slowly creeping through your veins and into your voice box until your brain forces you stop so you don't seem ignorant. But it's fun! And I geniunely appreciate the public art all over downtown, and especially along this walking path. It's really lovely that they have been going strong for over 20 years!

Thumbs Up: This is a cute little art house and museum with a unique story behind it…read more Thumbs Up: The staff and volunteer guides are friendly, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the history of the house and its creator. Thumbs Up: Admission is free, though donations to the organization that preserves the property are appreciated and well deserved. Thumbs Up: We were able to see everything in about 30 minutes. If you're looking for an interesting stop that won't take up half your day, this is a perfect little attraction. Thumbs Up: My favorite part was learning that the husband built the entire exterior using discarded and scavenged materials while his wife was away at work. It adds a wonderful layer of personality and humor to an already fascinating place.

The Beer Can House in Houston is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests because it's…read moreso unique to the city. This folk art style house, located in the Rice Military neighborhood, is covered in beer cans, bottles, and pull tabs, making it kind of a Houston landmark. The project was started by John Milkovisch, who, along with his wife Mary, saved empty beer cans for 17 years. While it may not have started as an artistic endeavor, it definitely became one. Ripley's Believe It or Not estimated that over 50,000 beer cans were used, though a more detailed count by a restoration team puts it closer to 30,000. Honestly, I don't know how many cans there are--but the sheer scale and creativity of it make the place undeniably unique and interesting. The Beer Can House is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and admission is free, which makes it an easy and fun stop. Walking around, you can see how every detail is covered in some form of recycled beer material. It's whimsical, creative, and just so quirky. If you're looking for something different to do in Houston, this is a must-see. It's a great mix of folk art, local culture, and a testament to how even the most ordinary materials can be transformed into something extraordinary. Love it!

TOLERANCE Unity in…read moreDiversity Reflecting the Pluralism & Harmony of Mankind Seven Figures Representing the Seven Continents Each Created from Nine Alphabets by Jaume Plensa Take walk to visit the seven abstract human statues sitting on seven rocks hand-picked by Jaume Plensa and imported from Spain. Plensa is one of my favorite artists with his unique style. (He also created the Crown Fountain in Chicago.) The aluminum letters are beautifully welded together to unite the languages that each letter represents. This is so characteristic of Jaume Plensa's work but has another, and even more important, meaning. In Memory of David Ritcheson and All Those Who Are Victims of Intolerance. Who was David Ritcheson? David Ritcheson was a victim of a brutal hate crime. He was brutally beaten, burned, kicked, sodomized and left for dead after his attackers covered his face and body in bleach. He survived that day and endured more than 30 surgeries to repair the physical damages inflicted upon him. The psychological trauma of such a devasting adverse childhood event at the age of 16 is incomprehensible and heartbreaking. He later testified before Congress to try to encourage the passage of stronger legislation for hate crimes. "I appear before you as a survivor," Ritcheson told members of Congress. "I am here before you today asking that our government take the lead in deterring individuals like those who attacked me from committing unthinkable and violent crimes against others because of where they are from, the color of their skin, the God they worship, the person they love, or the way they look, talk or act." Three months later, he committed suicide while on a vacation by jumping off a cruise boat. He was just 18. If you know someone that has been a victim of a hate crime, take a stand. Speak out. Racism. Discrimination. Bullying. Antisemitism. Xenophobia. These don't belong in our, or any, community. Hate crimes as well as feelings of isolation definitely increased for many during the pandemic. For those who maybe contemplating suicide or if you know someone who maybe considering suicide, call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. I hope that this year is filled with more tolerance, more kindness and more acceptance of the diversity that makes our community so rich. Review 1/2023.

I wanted to visit this outdoor art exhibit at night when I saw a post on Instagram about it. I read…read morethe background behind these statues prior to coming here. The artist, Jaume Plensa, made 7 kneeling statues (representing 7 continents) out of metal. When looking closeup, the design of the statues consisted of various interlocking letters and numbers from different languages that came together as one piece. This project was actually sparked by a brutal hate crime that caused David Ritcheson to commit suicide just one year after the crime. The art piece was created by Jaume Plensa to show tolerance of different cultures and the diversity of our city. These illuminated statues are located on the northeast corner of Montrose and Allen parkway. You can't miss them. It was somewhat difficult to find parking nearby. There's a parking lot along Allen parkway that's about a 10 minute walk from the statues. If you find street parking closer than that, you're lucky. Just be sure to bring mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten to death. This was definitely an outdoor art piece worth checking out in Houston.

Very cool unique place to see in Houston. Great photo op and nice story behind the park and the…read moresculpture.

Ever wish you could join Alice and the Mad Hatter for a spot of tea? At Evelyn Park, located in the…read moresoutheast corner of the park that is close to the parking lot, you now can. This amazing and incredibly detailed bronzed sculpture of the story book tea party was created by a local artist, Bridgette Mongeon, and was installed in the park back in April 2019. This structure has a 10 foot table with benches that invite you to sit for a tea party and take photos with Mad Hatter, Alice, Cheshire Cat and the white rabbit. This sculpture has so much detail from the Lewis Carroll's classic tale that you will find yourself wanting to stay as long as you can to see it. For some examples of the details, there is a bottle that says "drink me" kept in Alice's pocket. You will find a mouse in one of Mad Hatter's pockets. There are two buttons on the back of the white rabbit's jacket that has both tweedle dee and tweedle dum on them. There is also 150 hidden items that this talented local artist decided to put within this sculpture (60 of the 150 items are found under the table). I found a lot of interesting hidden items under the table, which includes the white rabbit's house and Humpty Dumpty. If only I lived nearby, I would come back here. On the day that I came here, it had rained earlier and started to rain again. But I still took photos and sat on a wet bench (which left my pants wet, lol) and wished I had stayed longer to find more of the hidden items. I would definitely come back to this sculpture the next time I am visiting the Houston area.

See the sky through a different light at sunrise and sunset…read more Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell is part of the Skyspace series of monumental, interactive sculptures that can be found throughout the world. These works of immersive art are meant to have the viewer experience the sky and the surroundings. Twilight Epiphany Skyscape is located on a pyramid mound of earth. It is interesting to see the light sequence projected on the concrete "roof." The 40 minute light sequence starts 40 minutes before sunrise and 10 minutes before sunset. Climb the stairs to the second level seats or sit inside the pyramid. Or view the show from outside the pyramid. I think that is the better view. Look at the Moody Center for the Arts calendar to take a guided tour to learn more.

Although I've never experienced a musical performance, wedding or even the light sequence at…read moreTwilight Epiphany, it's still a 5-star experience. As an art head and aesthetic enthusiast I've always wanted a Claes Oldenburg installation or architectural wonder open to the public in my city. Around 2012 my wish was granted! Located on the Rice campus, this spot has provided many a memory. Highlighting art, space and nature, this beautifully constructed, sparsely attended, and (imo) under appreciated spot is truly a standout in the community. I understand how this spot may feel ordinary to some, but between this, Rothko chapel, and Menil, all my aesthetic dreams are answered. Pro tip: This installation requires parking at the Rice Campus, and a short walk so be prepared! If you're visiting someone at Rice, St.Thomas TIRR, or the nearby hospital, it's def worth the stop in.

There was no graffiti at all, entire neighborhood is being renovated and everything's been removed…read more Huge waste of time but don't want anyone else making the same mistake

Whether it's showing out of town guests around or an impromptu photoshoot, Graffiti Park in EaDo is…read moreworth a visit when in HTown. It gives me NYC 5 Pointz (#1) vibes with its colorful array of urban art. This experience is free and is the perfect tub of murals while capturing the city's Urban essence in an area that is changing by the minute. Find a good weather day and enjoy the street parking along Leeland and bring a camera to capture all the colors, convivial designs, and endless homages to mainstream heads and thought provoking concepts. This isn't a place that is often advertised as something people should see, but I think it should be on everyone's itinerary when visiting Houston. The other bonus is that it's rarely ever crowded. On the weekends, this part of town is in brunch mode but it's a quiet place and perfect for the casual tourist, the ever loving art fan, or just someone looking to diversify their social media feed. It is one of my favorite places to go in town. ___________ (#1) R.I.P: https://www.yelp.com/biz/5-pointz-long-island-city?hrid=05Il9SSjbIcv3lSEaHzdIA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

This is sort of an open public art space where they have events from now and then and it's…read moregenerally made to look nice. I was there for their opening and along with hundreds of other people a few months before that helped paint a few of the strips of wood that went on the Trumpet Flower sculpture so there is really a sense of community about it. Having said that, I was a bit disappointed when I went there recently because while I was there, I kept getting approached by panhandlers asking for money or yelling at each other which kind of makes the area not feel that nice. I mean this is downtown in a major city so like every city it's expected but given that not that it's not that busy of an area, it kind of feels isolated so just be aware of your surroundings and especially watch out for the trains.

Interesting and nice walk. Not a lot of art works but there are some pretty interesting things to…read moresee. Best part is that it's free entertainment

This is a cool hidden gem of a park. I love the mosaic art and it looks like Dia de los Muertos…read morecouple, a flower Man, a mermaid, a dog, a snowman, and many more. It's so cool!! While I was here I kept thinking about how much stuff was purchased at the thrift broken up and made to create beautiful unique art. I love it!! The weather was great viewing everything. I love that they placed a willow tree here since they it provides shade. The path is smooth. There are plenty of benches to sit and enjoy. I didn't see a designated parking area and so I parked on the right side, it's located on a packed street with houses on the left side. I had fun at this place!

WOW! Walking through those gates I was not expecting this beacon of mosaic magic! There was SO much…read moreto take in and the mid-November breezy, sunny skies only illuminated the beautiful details lining every inch fo the park even more. I loved most that there were so many folks there: having picnics, learning how to perfect their roller skating skills, and simply gawking at all of the gates covered in artistic, glass, and beaded masterpieces. The live music was a nice surprise, as well as the arena covered in Houston street signs. Every head turn greeted me with original and unique art ond display: speedometers, affirmations of the power of love, and even dancing mermaids and skeletons engaged in intense conversations. I loved it all! Glad that the winters are mild enough to enjoy this park all year long.

What a fun experience! I took my six year old granddaughter and the two of us had a wonderful time…read more Each room was a different experience and my granddaughter grinned ear to ear the whole time. Mickey, Megan and Simmi were most hospitable and so fun to visit with. The experience took an hour and easily could have taken longer. All the thumbs up on this one!

My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the color factory…read more They have free taffy throughout the event. Each room was exciting - although for the price the staff could make the experience a little better for the children. More interactive in my opinion. I do not recommend purchasing the scavenger hunt, that was a waste of money for the 'prize' the kids get at the end. It wasn't an interactive experience for the kids - there wasn't any guidance at all from the staff. Being able to get all of the photos for free with the barcode was a sweet deal and having the photo booths in each room was the best part!