We wanted to wrap up our trip to Houston with some additional memorable experiences. Despite extensive interaction with the artist (and Huntsville native) David Adickes in Huntsville, we had never visited his Houston art. That changed today!
We visited the “WE HEART Houston” sign that Adickes created several years ago. Although the site was clearly not created with parking in mind, it’s a lot of fun, and we made the most of it, with a LEAP, albeit one that was never perfectly choreographed by the entire group…
…
…but eventually we got a perfectly choreographed standing photo.
Perhaps our starving stomachs had gotten the best of us.
The culmination of our multi-cultural exploration was lunch at Peli Peli Kitchen. This South African fusion restaurant blends the foods of countries which have influenced African development to create flavor-rich dishes. Inspired by India, Holland, France, England, and American food, the menu includes naan tacos, banh mi, salads, and much more.
We tried the South African fajita, the hugenot porkbelly, and the peli peli shrimp tacos. Brian, our most adventurous Ambassador, even tried the braised oxtail. Everyone was impressed with the new types of food! For dessert, we all sampled Peli Peli’s signature sticky toffee cupcake, red velvet cupcake, and gingersnap chocolate cookies.
The end of lunch also marked the end of our Arts and Parks tour in Houston. It was a short weekend for students, but a long LEAP for our education.
With the day winding down, we decided that the sunset and cooler weather would be a perfect setting for us to visit Smither Park. Designed by Huntsville-based builder Dan Phillips, the park consists of a concrete enclosure decorated with the quirky creativity of multiple local artists. Upon arrival, we instantly noticed how extraordinary this park was, but it was not until we got closer did we realize all the treasures within the wall’s artwork.
The first thing we noticed was a large amphitheater in the shape of a fish with its open mouth as the performance area. The inside of the fish was made mostly out of traffic signs and automobile parts.
From there, we followed a dolphin-decorated pathway to the sections of the enclosure. Each section had a different theme with its own unique treasures to be appreciated. The various panels were made with an abundance of media, kitchen appliances, glass, keys, rocks, toys, and nail polish bottles and everything in between. We were amazed to see how certain animals or designs were created by using everyday materials.
The overwhelming theme of the park was the ocean. From the walkway depicting dolphins, birds, crabs, sharks, and boats, to the panels arranged to resemble an octopus or fish, and a bench with a mermaid colorfully pieced together. We took pleasure in finding the hidden artwork and sharing with each other these discoveries.
Of course, among the beautifully constructed park, we were able to find a piece of Sam Houston State University. A few Class of 2013 graduation pins were among the miscellaneous objects added to the park.
While most of the artwork was very colorful and vibrant, there was a particular section that was just one color, white. Because of the contrast, it made this panel stand out from the rest. Professor Mike Yawn expressed this panel as being his favorite because it had the most whole, unbroken pieces of ceramic within it.
As we walked through the park we saw many sections of the wall incomplete. We were excited about how beautiful the sections will become once completed and are considering clues to develop a scavenger hunt much like the one we completed earlier in the day.
A few of us had the honor of being crowned the queen of the tigers.
Others took a break to go kayaking.
And Karla, who was recently told to “Dream Big” on her excellent evaluations from the Texas Legislature, found the message reinforced at Smither Park:
We concluded our visit to Smither Park by relaxing on the bench swings before it was time to head to dinner.
Smither Park was commissioned by Stephanie Smither in honor of her late husband, John H. Smither. The project was part of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art.
We began our tour of the museum with modern art by James Turrell. We entered the Wilson Tunnel and immediately recognized Turrell’s focus on light in his artwork.
But with limited time, we stuck with art since 1850, beginning with works by Monet, Van Gogh, and their contemporaries. We recognized how they used color and form to depict reality in a from alluding to abstraction.
Next, we learned about pointillism art which, somewhat similar to impressionism. Pointillism uses dots of different colors to create an image. We were able to appreciate a more developed form of abstract art with cubism. While pointillism uses color to create its image, cubism uses shapes. The different shapes and colors create different illusions, seemingly showing multiple perspectives simultaneously.
In the modern section, we saw works by Georgia O’Keefe, Alexander Calder, and Jackson Pollock.
Finally, we moved on to the special exhibit: the hyper-realistic work of Ron Mueck.
We found his work to be somewhat bizarre or, as Betty Moody might say, wonderfully weird and intriguing. Throughout the exhibit we found various sculptures with different meanings. For example, when you first see this piece…
…you expect to see a baby in the swaddling. But the title, “The Man in a Blanket,” hints that it is actually a middle-aged man, curled into the fetal position, perhaps hiding from life.
Mueck plays with scale, making sculptures either abnormally large or small. We see average sized people every day, and he gives us something out of the ordinary.
Perhaps most poignant is a young male, peering into a mirror at his reflection…
…with all the questions that young people have about themselves, their future, and the world around them.
He also did a self-portrait, which served as the exhibit centerpiece.
At the beginning of the exhibit, they warn visitors that some nudity is shown, and they weren’t lying! This piece, titled “Man in a Boat,” features a fully nude male, and captured the attention of some of our LEAPsters…
(The warnings were probably more directed at a subsequent piece not pictured here.)
Mueck also explores the idea of sacrifice, depicting a young African-American male as a victim of violence and a large fowl, hanged upside down in a variation on the crucifixion scene.
The final and largest sculpture was found at the end of the exhibit; it was a very large newborn baby girl. This work was one of the larger pieces, signifying the great blessing of a new born child.
When we completed viewing–and reflecting on–the exhibit, we returned the way we came. As before, we traversed Turrell’s tunnel, but it had changed colors…
…and this was appropriate, we thought, because we had changed, too.
A key part of our “Arts and Parks” tour of Houston was “Hermann Park. Named for George Hermann who, in 1914, deeded 285 acres for use as a park, the park is now the “central park” of Houston.
For good reason: it has many hidden treasures, and we set out to find them. The LEAP Ambassadors have participated in many different activities but for the first time they were tasked with completing a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt included 19 clues that led to different sculptures, landmarks, and pieces of art around the park.
One such work of art was Enrico Cerrachio’s “Sam Houston,” which marks the entrance to the park.
This interested us not only because we attend Sam Houston State University, but also because there is discussion that a group named “Antifa” wants the statue to come down. We don’t think that’s going to happen, but it might have added an urgency to our efforts to get multiple photographs.
We began our tour collectively, going to the Japanese Gardens.The gardens are not only picturesque, but they helped reinforce a theme of our trip. Houston has a large and thriving Asian population, and with visits to these Japanese Gardens, the Asia Society, and a top-notch Japanese restaurant, this culture’s contributions were a key component of learning in our trip.
We divided into three teams: (1) Brian and Kaitlyn or, as they are sometimes known, “Braitlyn”, (2) Christina, Bianca, and Lizette, and (3) Karla, Makayla, and Beatriz.
The rules were simple: 1) we had 3 hours to reach our goals, (2) we were not allowed to use google, and (3) we photographed our presence at site for proof of “discovery.” Our goals were to: (1) efficiently cover a 445 acre park, (2) learn as much about the park is as possible–and by extension, the potential of all parks; (3) and to have fun!
Some of the clues included “Unlock your destiny” which referred to Atropos Key, a sculpture by Hannah Holliday Stewart.
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Atropos refers to one of the three Greek “fates,” who spin, measure, and terminate a person’s life. Atropos, incidentally, was the sister who held the shears; that is, she decided when to cut the thread.
Another clue was “Don’t twiddle your thumbs, but Twaddle on the top of the Mount with Seeds, Trees, and People” which referred to Randy Twaddle’s Seeds, Trees, and People, located on top of the Centennial Gardens Mount.
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One of our clues was: “Sit down with Jesus.” What we were supposed to look for was a granite bench crafted by Jesus Moroles…
What we found was…
We think we were both correct.
We also saw Trojan Bear by Jim Love…
…Dillidiidae by Sharon Engelstein….
..and many others.
We also learned about Scottish poets…
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…Mexican Presidents…
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We also discovered a sculpture of Oliver Twist by Trace Guthrie.
We mention this, because Mr. Guthrie did a sculpture of Sam Houston outside of Austin Hall on SHSU’s campus. We’re sure no one is taking that one down!
We also saw a zoo-like assortment of animals…
Indeed, Bianca did a pretty good Dr. Doolittle impersonation!
In looking for animals, we even saw an engagement proposal…!
We also had a chance to ride a train…
…and go out on a boat…
Despite the appearances of relaxation, however, some took the competition seriously…
With all the sprinting, we occasionally needed to cool off…
…But, in true LEAP Center fashion, we still had time to help small children…
Living close to one of the largest cities in the US, it is always tempting to visit the hustle and bustle of Houston. With 375 developed parks under the City of Houston Parks Department and an established art community in the city, the LEAP Ambassadors planned a weekend itinerary full of parks and art museums. To kick off our weekend, we gathered old and new friends to join us in our visit to of one of Houston’s newest marvels.
In the dark, mysterious cavern, a group of around 30 people waited in anticipation for one of Houston’s most unique art performances.
The LEAP Ambassadors were meeting other SHSU alumni that had previously been either a LEAP Ambassador or Junior Fellow at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. As special guests, Mark Burns and Betty Moody accompanied us throughout this expedition.
The Cistern is an 87,500-square foot underground reservoir much in resemblance to the ancient Roman cisterns in Istanbul. This city reservoir was constructed in 1926 to provide fire suppression and store drinking water. In 2007, it was put out of commission when it sprang a leak that was never located or contained.
Three years later, this historical landsite was about to be demolished. However, around that same time, the Buffalo Bayou Park Partnership was working on the Buffalo Bayou Park project when they happened to discover the cistern. They acquired a $1.2 million grant from the Brown Foundation to remodel the space and repurpose it for art installations.
With its 18-inches of water and its 221-25ft tall columns, this imposing structure was the perfect medium for the art installment that Fernandez had in mind. With the help of the a-cappella Slovenian choir, Perpetuum Jazzile, she orchestrated an installation that appeals to sight and sound alike.
With snaps, hand slaps, stomps, and drumming, the Perpetuum Jazzile were able to emulate the sound of rain. With the accompaniment of a light show that danced across the stern columns, she created a space that emanated the sense of being in the middle of a rain storm.
Thunder and lightning struck, as well as wonder and amazement while in the cistern. With old and new friends to enjoy it with, Rain -as the installation is appropriately titled- was a wondrous experience.
The Cistern, located just outside of downtown Houston, also served as a wonderful spot for a reunion photograph!
Following our tour of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, our group met at Black Walnut Café. There, past and present Ambassadors visited with each other while specials guest Betty Moody joined the reunion. Sampling a number of meals such as the Doc Krazy turkey burger, a french dip sandwich, and the spicy jalapeno chicken pasta, we enjoyed the meal almost as much as the pleasant conversation.
Before the evening ended, LEAP Ambassadors thanked our graduating members- Alex, Megan, and Jessica- with well wishes and gifts. Megan, Alex, and Jessica will all be heading to different law schools in the fall.
Additionally, we made sure to thank Ryan Brim, who graduated high school this semester and will pursue an engineering degree at the University of Arkansas. Most amusing from this gift giving, was Ryan’s college-prep present. It consisted of a shower caddy with travel sized shampoos and soaps. Participating in ten years of LEAP events and trips, for the past few years he has used our hotel lodgings to save on toiletry expenses by collecting shampoos and soaps. A peculiar habit indeed, it is certain that Ryan would rather not have his secret revealed in such a public setting.
Dinner continued with a myriad of conversion. From table to table, alumni shared advise with current students, a dedicated art gallery owner shared her work experience with engaged listeners, while other students mingled with each other on future job opportunities. Enclosed in the room was the resonant sound of joyful conversation that could only come from friends happy to se each other.
As conversation receded, the evening ended as alumni and guests headed home. For the LEAP Ambassadors, we were thankful for our visit with friends and headed to our hotel to prepare for the rest of our Houston Arts and Parks Tour.
With only one more month to go in the legislative session is flying by, with the month of April flying by faster than Representative Stickland can call a parliamentary inquiry. Nonetheless, I have been able to explore and venture out into a city as diverse as it is weird. The best part of all is that I can work in one of the most historic sites in Texas, the Austin State Capitol.
I have the honor of working for Representative Armando “Mando” Martinez (we are both named Martinez, but we are not related!). An outstanding public servant, he happens to live and represent the city near my hometown.
He is a veteran at the capitol with more than 7 sessions under his belt and holds the position of Deputy Whip and Vice Chair of Transportation. It’s been a pleasure working for him this session, and I have had the chance to learn a lot while also being inspired by his hard-work and perseverance.
Because most of the staff come from the Rio Grande Valley, the area our office represents, we are all at home in the office. It is a good thing too because I can spend up to 18 hours in the Capitol office in a given day. My office hours start in the morning before the sun is up and end until the moon is high in the starry sky. Even though work days are long, I enjoy the hours since that is the time when there is a lot of peace and quiet.
As part of Representative Martinez’s team, my duties entail various responsibilities. My primary function is to manage Representative Martinez’s schedule and act as the office steward. To briefly explain this last duty, my desk is the first one that everyone sees. This position makes me in charge of greeting and helping people get to where they need to go. Apart from these responsibilities, I prepare bill booklets, analyze bills that go on the floor, and conduct research on Representative Martinez’s committees. Through these duties, I have witnessed the process by which a bill becomes a law, beginning in its infantile stage as a booklet, to being presented on the floor, and hopefully evolving into a law.
It has been a great experience to work at the Capitol because I have been on the front row seat while legislation is in the making. Not only did I see how the budget was passed last month in March, but in April I got to see the passage of SB4. On that April evening, the House Floor did not adjourn until 3:30am, which was unprecedented this session, unless you count budget night. It was a truly informational experience where we got to see more on how a bill can become a law.
However, my duties do not end at the Capitol. As a LEAP Ambassador, I still participate in many events. For three of the weekends, I traveled to Huntsville in order to participate in the Democrat vs Republican Charity Football Game…
….the Wynne Home Easter Egg Hunt…
and SHSU Founders Day.
And last weekend, I was participated in a particularly interesting event here in Austin.
In the city there’s the AustinBookstore Crawl, which is essentially a scavenger hunt across 13 predetermined bookstores across Austin. To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day in April 29, participants of the event must visit various bookstores and take a selfie with a list of books provided in the event. These pictures are posted on social media in order to enter a raffle with a grand price of $500 worth of book items. All in all, it was a great experience. It challenged me in more ways than one. And even though I do not have a car, I took 7 different buses and walked 3-4 miles to 9 different bookstores. Unfortunately, I did not win, but I did receive a great deal of knowledge and awareness of the bookstores surrounding the area. I even saw a George Rodrigue “Blue Dog” painting in Book People.
Because part of being a LEAP Ambassador is to delve into different cultures, it was rewarding to participate in this community event.
This past month of April has been one of the best experiences I have had in the 2 years of education in Sam Houston State University. I now understand the impact and change caused within myself due to the training I have received as a LEAP ambassador. Not only that, but I have also sought my own exposure to multiple experiences. Even better is that I have been able to expand my family at the Austin Capitol.
Thanks to the ever-alert Glynda Turner, we learned that the Pennybacker Bridge in Austin has a Huntsville connection! Anna Pennybacker graduated from SHSU in the early 1880s (then Sam Houston Normal School) and in 1884 married Percy Pennbacker, for whom the Pennybacker Bridge in Austin is named.
The Pennybacker Bridge is known for its interesting architecture and for spanning a particularly attractive area. In honor of its Huntsville connection and its attractiveness, the LEAP Ambassadors decided to celebrate Anna Pennybacker’s 156th birthday by visiting the site at sunset.
With its hills and waterways, Austin is something of the sunset capital of Texas, but even so, the Pennybacker vistas are impressive.
Indeed, the aesthetic qualities of the area encouraged us to linger and engage….
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…although Alex soon went off to a corner of the cliff for solitude…
…perhaps because his fiancee was playing pattycakes at sunset with one of the other interns…
We also had a little fun with the photography, creating ghostly images…
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All in all, it was a fun way to celebrate Anna Pennybacker’s birthday, and to have some fun and enjoy Austin and nature at the same time!
With SHSU gearing up for finals, the LEAP students didn’t spend a full day in Austin, but with help from veteran LEAP Ambassadors, they made the most of the time they had.
Following a late night (blogs submitted at 1:38am), Megan Chapa, Staci Antu, and Jennifer Holton awoke early to manage visits to the TX Capitol and the LBJ Presidential Library.
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Texas Capitol Building
The visit to the Capitol was immensely rewarding, beginning with a short tour, where we learned that the TX Capitol:
Is the sixth tallest capitol building in the US and is, in fact, larger than the US Capitol;
Is the largest in square footage (the extension alone is 670,000 feet);
has doors so heavy that 17.5 pound door hinges are required.
Of course, a highlight was the “whispering gallery” in the rotunda, where you can stand, speak, and hear your own instantaneous echo.
We also saw the old Texas Supreme Court building, a small room in the Capitol! It’s really no wonder they moved.
It wasn’t all fun and games. Christina Perez, intern for Rep. Jim Murphy, led us on a tour of the Capitol building, where we learned a lot and had some fun, too!
Part of the fun was visiting the offices of the interns with whom we shared dinner the night before. It was a great chance to see their work environment, learning more about how things work, and seeing their passion for their job.
Alex Galvan, Brian Aldaco (who showed off his fancy lobbyist-provided calculator), and Karla Rosales served as office guides.
Christina also took us to the House and Senate galleries, where we watched some of the action on the floor…
…and posed for photos…
…and even got a waiver on the “no-standing” rule for one photograph…
We’re not sure, but we think Megan’s repeated winking at the Marshal may have encouraged him to let us break the rules a bit.
Although it was a short visit, it was a nice counterpart to our previous evening’s stroll around the capitol grounds, and we really appreciate Christina and the other Austin Interns/LEAP Ambassadors providing support of our tour. Although Megan was a veteran of the state capitol and Staci had visited previously, it was Jennifer’s first time, and a great way to experience her first visit to the Texas Legislature.
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LBJ Presidential Library
Again, Megan was a veteran of the LBJ Presidential Library, and Presidential Libraries in general–she’s been to four–but it was Staci and Jennifer’s first time in a presidential library. It’s a lot more fun than it sounds!
We began by watching an eleven-minute overview of LBJ’s life…
…got a good taste of the Johnson Treatment…
…saw some Johnson Humor…
…and generally enjoyed the exhibits.
The most substantive areas, however, were the exhibits on legislation that Johnson passed, and there was much to see! Obviously, Civil Rights is Johnson’s most impressive legacy…
…and this area was the highlight of the Museum.
Or perhaps the most impressive aspect was being able to see how much he was able to accomplish in only five years, while also seeing the history that transpired during his life–from the advent of flight, WWI and WWII, the Civil Rights movement, and the moon landing. It was a great way to learn not only about LBJ, but also about the 20th century.
It was also a beautiful day in Austin. To cap off the day, our trip, and interactions with some truly wonderful people–from Jeff Guinn and Stephen Harrigan to the Austin Interns–we captured some of Austin’s beauty and one of its most notable landmarks in a farewell photo outside of the Library.
