A landscape of artistic hearts blooms at River Oaks' Belle Meade

CULTURE MAP HOUSTON - SHELBY'S SOCIAL DIARY
A landscape of artistic hearts blooms at River Oaks' Belle Meade
By Shelby Hodge

As if Cupid had waved his magic wand across the grounds of the new Belle Meade mid-rise on the cusp of River Oaks, nine oversized, very creative hearts rose from the landscape surrounding the sleek swimming pool.

Actually, it was a joint project of the American Heart Association and Grayco Partners, an artistic effort to keep the importance of heart health at the forefront of everyone's thinking. Expect to see the boldly colorful creations sprouting along the Belle Meade perimeter along Westheimer during the month of June.

Contributing their time and talents were "heart deco artists" Quinton Alberto, Kermit Eisenhut, Charlie Ferguson, Richard Fluhr, Travis Hedeman, Loli Fernandez-Andrade, Nicola Parente, Tra Slaughter and Wendy Wagner.

Special friends enjoyed a preview of the heart-scape at a recent cocktail reception. As guests schmoozed around the pool, they noshed on taste treats from Yelapa (ceviche on a spoon, anyone?) and swayed to the sounds of Steel Vibrations, a steel drum band.

Serving as hosts were Susan and Jeff Gray, the honch at Grayco Partners, a national real estate firm based in Houston.

Checking out the artwork were guests including Philamena Baird, Amber Baker, Mary Ann McKeithan, Maggie and John Nicholson, Don Sanders, Susan Sanders, Barbara Duganier, Roz and Alan Pactor andNeil Tosfky.

PaperCity, Hot Wheels by Catherine D. Anspon

PaperCity
Hot Wheels
By Catherine D. Anspon
March 24, 2010

As a harbinger of spring — and the upcoming Art Car Parade — Art Bike rolls, a just debuted presentation of urban non-motorized cycles, ahem, enhanced by hometown talents, including well regarded art car artists like Brian "Visker" Mahanay, and the incomparable Natali LeDuc. McMurtrey Gallery-exhibited painter Sandi Seltzer Bryant and Nicola Parente, who's in the Gremillion stable, also transform two-wheel rides with the goal to raise awareness about MS; the Multiple Sclerosis Society: Lone Star organized this raucous exhibition. "Art Bike 2010," Discovery Green, through April 25.

Art from the Heart for the Heart

My short interview on Fox 26 News. Click here ===> Art from the Heart for the Heart

Art from the Heart for the Heart
Updated: Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 11:55 AM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 11:55 AM CDT

HOUSTON - One 'hearty' art display will feature standing painted heart shapes as interpreted by ten different visual artists.

The artists from the Houston-area are sharing their talents as part of Heart Deco, which benefits the American Heart Association.

The ten hearts will be on display from May 25 through June at The Belle Meade at River Oaks apartment complex and will then be moved thoughout Westheimer Road near the Highland Village shopping district.

Barbara Duganier from the American Heart Association and artists Kermit Eisenhut and Nicola Parente bring several of the hearts to FOX 26 Morning News, with host Jose Grinan, as a preview to the Heart Deco display.

Heart Deco Art Exhibit, Raising Awareness for the American Heart Association

"Urban Heart" by Nicola Parente

Nicola Parente is one of ten artist chosen to participate in this years Heart Deco Project to raise awareness for the American Heart Association. Grayco Partners and The Belle Meade at River Oaks will be presenting artworks by Nicola Parente, Wendy Wagner, Richard Fluhr, Quinton Alberto, Kermit Eisenhut, Loli Fernandez-Andrade Kolber, Charlie Ferguson, Travis Hedemann, Tra Slaughter, and Sarh Golightly. Also made possible by Heart Deco sponsors: Grayco Partners, Brighton, Humana, DHL Global Forwarding, and Tini Mendenhall-Sosa.

Ten Hearts, Ten Artists, One Cause
Opening Reception and Preview - Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Belle Meade at River Oaks, 2929 Westheimer Rd
From 6:00pm to 8:00pm

The Watchful Eye, Writers in the Schools and The Menil Collection

Writers in the Schools and The Menil Collection are proud to present The Watchful Eye, a reading of student poetry and prose in response to exhibitions by Joaquin Torres-Garcia and Maurizio Cattelan. Also featured is student art inspired by these exhibitions, made with the assistance of Houston-based artist Nicola Parente

The experimental collaboration between WITS and The Menil Collection, began in 1990, has blossomed into a nationally- acclaimed, innovative use of art to inspire creative writing.

In addition, poets from Glass Mountain, the undergraduate literary journal for the University of Houston, will read work in response to WITS student pieces. The stories and poems will reflect how writing and art can become a kind of dialogue, interacting with and responding to one another.

WITS and The Menil Collection welcome noted art critic, curator, and lecturer Susie Kalil as the guest speaker for tonight's reading.

Writers in the schools and The Menil Collection would like to thank the following organizations for their support:
The Vale-Asche Foundation, The Simmons Foundation, City of Houston, Texas Commission on the Arts, and HAA Houston Arts Alliance.

Articulation 2010 - A group exhibition by Art Chatter Members - Sat. May 22, 5 to 8 pm

Parente to participate in Articulation 2010, a group exhibition by Art Chatter. Opening reception, Saturday May 22, 5:00 - 8:00 pm with Artists talk beginning at 5:30 pm, Audley Society, 3231 Audley Street (2nd Floor), Houston, TX 77098. This is a one day only event. Participating artists include: Tami Merrick, Donna E Perkins, Lynne Rutzky, Nicola Parente, Carol Mckee, Scott Woodard, Andis Applewhite, Laura Feld, Joe Aker, Raymond Saucillo, and Jeanette Chinelli. Also showing on 1st floor is works by Keith Hollingsworth.

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010
Where: Audley Society, 3231 Audley Street (2nd Floor), Houston, TX 77098
Time: 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Art Chatter is a community of artist that provides its members with a supportive forum for an exchange of ideas, information and critical responses to individual works of art.