Peter Bradley flew in from NYC and took to wearing cowboy hats as he curated a groundbreaking exhibition of Black Art in the Lyons Avenue DeLuxe Movie Theater.
No one complained that it couldn't be done!!!
Instead, Jones and Bynam Construction Company transformed the decaying, Jim Crow Era theater into an exhibition space in just THREE WEEKS! The old facade, balcony and lobby were left intact and everything else was gutted, sheetrocked and coated with two layers of white paint ready for art and covering a 50' x 80' space. Imagine!
Mickey Leland and Texas Southern University lent expertise.
The August 22nd Opening was attended by more than 1,000 people enjoying the work of artists Peter Bradley, Virginia Jaramillo, Ed Clark, Larry Poons, Jules Olitski, William T. Williams, Sam Gilliam, Alvin Loving, Richard Hunt, Michael Stiener and Anthony Caro.
Bradley thought the neighborhood children truly appreciated the opportunity to interact with paintings, sculpture and artists - unhampered by preconceived notions about what did or did not constitute art. They arrived daily by foot, on bikes, in cars or on city bus to hangout, comment, learn, laugh and love the organic process of creating and visioning.
What a wonderful, hot summer and by exhibition closing on 9/29, more than 4,000 visitors had attended the bold and brave De Luxe Show.
Let's do it again America!
Coming To a Theater Near You
5th Ward Jam from Houston Arts Alliance on Vimeo.
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