WHAT'S YOUR PICK THIS WEEKEND?

For many of our kids, school is back in session (finally!). I always have a love/hate relationship with this time of year: on the one hand, I’m so happy my ankle biters are back in school and out of my hair but on the other hand, I miss the slow pace of summer. The lesson for me is to ENJOY THE MOMENT I am in, whatever the season. And to be sure and have plenty of gas in the car to get to all those after school activities. Speaking of after school activities, I found some cool ones for teens – you know, those aliens-who-have-invaded-our-homes! I recently stumbled across two very cool arts orgs that cater to teens here in town. The Contemporary Arts Museum has hosted teens through their Teen Council for years. This is the group that produces film festivals, helps out at the Museum, and participates in a bi-annual exhibition in the CAM’s “Perspectives Gallery.” The Council is for motivated young people ages 15-19 who will be employed by the Museum and are committed to bringing the art of their time to their peers. And the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has started a new program called H.A.N.G. for teens aged 13–18 (currently enrolled in middle or high school) that have an enthusiasm for arts, digital media, and working with their peers. H.A.N.G. meets on a regular basis at the museum and all members receive a complimentary MFAH Teen Membership. The first program will be this Saturday, September 1 from 2-3pm with Houston artist Seth Mittag. The teens will get to brainstorm ideas for TEDxYouthDay, explore the galleries, and meet other teens interested in the arts. They’ll meet in the Beck Building Lobby at 2pm; please click here to RVSP. And how about this idea for dinner out with teens – once seated at the restaurant, everyone (mom and dad, too) must put their cell phone in the middle of the table. The first to pick theirs up gets to pay for the meal…and everyone gets to enjoy talking, not texting.

I have a lot of events coming up – my “Transitions and Transformations” workshop next month (great for anyone going through life changes) and “What’s Your Purpose?” in October (begin to find your purpose in this class!). I’m still raising funds for an art project that was inspired by the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, so if you’d like to help out, please click here. And if you’re on Facebook, join my online party – “Enjoy Life (every day).” Click here for more info and to join us. Please note, you must be on Facebook to take part.

There is a serious West Nile Virus alert so beware and wear bug spray. A friend of a friend of mine was hit with it, so it CAN happen to you or yours.

Have a great week and GO.FIND.FUN.

GET WIRED AT “HANDS-ON HOUSTON.”

This Saturday, September 1 from 11am-3pm, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft hosts its monthly “HANDS-ON HOUSTON” event. This month, children and adults will create their own pieces of beautiful organic jewelry using wire, stones and sea glass. Local jewelry artist, Annette Kinslow, will teach participants some basic wire-wrapping skills, including how to make bails, loops and scrolls. Older participants (ages 10 and up) will wrap a stone or sea glass with wire to create a unique pendant for a necklace, while younger ones (ages 9 and under) will enjoy twisting plastic-coated wire to create a multi-colored bracelet. Before or after the activity, visitors can take in the current exhibitions: “Texas Masters Series: Piero Fenci—Battlement” (ceramic sculpture), “Interstitial Spaces: Julia Barello & Beverly Penn” (bronze and X-ray-film installation), and “Glass Graphica” (glass sculpture).

“HANDS-ON HOUSTON” is a free craft-activity open house on the first Saturday of every month in which a teaching artist demonstrates a craft related to the current exhibitions. Families and children of all ages are welcome, and materials are provided. This program supports HCCC's mission to advance education about the process, product and history of craft. No registration is required and the museum is located at 4848 Main Street.

YOGA IS GOOD, FREE YOGA IS BETTER.

The Houston yoga community will celebrate their “Seventh Annual Houston Free Day of Yoga” this Labor Day, Monday, September 3 from 9am-11:30am. Festivities will again be held at the Rothko Chapel Lawn near Menil Park in Houston and are hosted by the Texas Yoga Association in collaboration with the Breakfast Yoga Club benefitting Peach Outreach. From sunrise to sunset, participating studios across the state will offer free classes as a way for people of every age and every fitness level to try yoga for the first time, experience a new style of yoga or share yoga with family and friends. Since the event's inception in 2005, thousands of students have joined in the Houston Free Day of Yoga to experience the physical, spiritual, emotional and mental benefits of practicing yoga. Free classes have been offered at over 50 participating studios in communities reaching from the Woodlands to Downtown, Katy to Galveston, from Sugarland to Champions Forest and all points in between.

The event will kick off with music at 9am featuring DJ Sun and Aaron Hermes, followed at 10am by a rotation of some of Houston’s best yoga teachers leading the crowd into a yummy practice until 11:30am. Teachers for this year’s Free Day event are Zach Biegun, Joy Winkler, Catherine Allen, and Marcy Kurtz. Peach Outreach is a nonprofit corporation committed to raising awareness about and funds to support research for endometrial (uterine) cancer and other gynecological cancers.

GET YOUR LUAU ON FOR POLYNESIA THIS WEEKEND.

The Aloha TexFest shimmies into town this Saturday, September 1, 11am-7pm and the organizers are promising a Polynesian party extravaganza. The annual Aloha TexFest takes place in Seabrook on Labor Day Weekend each year. The fun festival brings together local islanders from all areas of Texas and surrounding neighboring states to share the cultures of Polynesia – which includes the islands of Hawaii and New Zealand. The foods, the crafts, the songs, dances, and the Aloha Spirit are all captured and shared with each and every person the moment they walk through the festival gates.

The festival takes place at Landolt Pavilion in Clear Lake Park at 5002 E. Nasa Parkway in Seabrook. Admission is $3/person; kids under 12 and senior citizens are free.

HAIR THAT WILL TURN HEADS!

Melissa Noble is my hair stylist and truly gives me the best haircuts I’ve ever had. I know many of you like off-the-beaten-path discoveries and I assure you, Melissa is one of those. She’s a multi-faceted and passionate independent hairstylist who has built a reputation and client base in the cultural community by sculpting each person’s hair to its natural movement as well as adding longevity with the shape and cut.

She truly understands wavy, frizzy, complicated hair and can easily work with ANY kind of hair. Her specialty is her attention to the detail of precision cutting and “carving” each hairstyle while being sensitive to her client’s lifestyle needs as well as working with color. She is always accountable and service oriented. I promise you’ll not only get full attention from her without all the noise or attitude of a large shop but you’ll also get great conversation as Melissa is actively involved in many local arts nonprofits, including KPFT-FM, DiverseWorks, and Project Row Houses.

Melissa operates in a quiet, serene, art-filled studio that overlooks a garden in the Montrose area where she was raised. For appointments, contact her at 713.520.5878 or melissaenoble@gmail.com.

Sarah Gish
GISH CREATIVE
1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116
Houston, Texas 77057
phone/fax: 713.482.7065
artist.mama.connector.changemaker.

© 2012 Sarah Gish

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