MUSED Houston

Melissa Richardson Banks is a cultural producer who specializes in the arts, environment, and education.

Host of the nationally syndicated podcast "MUSED: LA 2 HOU," she is also a photographer whose work focuses mostly on Los Angeles and Houston. Host of the nationally syndicated podcast "MUSED: LA 2 HOU," Melissa Richardson Banks is a photographer and a cultural producer with more than two decades of experience in the visual arts. Her work includes — but is not limited to — organizing and touring mu

seum exhibitions, producing art events and community festivals, hosting collector events and artist studio visits, advising and promoting artists, publishing art books, and much more. She likes to share art with others and to experience art every day.

Some people know her as “Downtown Muse”—the photographer who documented and shared daily life through thousands of images taken in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles during its period of rapid transformation during 2011-2016. More recently, a few might remember her as “H-Town Muse” for her work showcasing her explorations of Houston. Through CauseConnect, many know of Melissa's work behind the scenes executing key cause marketing projects and initiatives since 2001 for Toyota, Target Corporation, City National Bank, Bank of America, Farmers Insurance, Univision, and other major companies. Melissa's most visible role at the moment seems to be her work managing the Chicano art collection of Cheech Marin. For him, since 2003, she has organized and toured over a dozen museum exhibitions of work drawn from his notable collection to more than 60 venues across the nation and in Europe. Melissa has also published and successfully marketed art publications tied to our touring exhibitions. Currently, Melissa is helping with raising awareness and dollars for The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of Riverside Art Museum. While its facilities are in Riverside, California, The Cheech is poised to be THE premier center dedicated to celebrating Chicano art … regionally based, nationally relevant, and internationally renowned.

02/24/2024

MUSED HOUSTON ART PICKS - SAT 02/24/2024: Since I am going to the MFAH tomorrow, Sunday, February 25 for the Lunar New Year Festival (which includes free admission to the galleries and all of the special exhibitions), I plan to forgo that venue this evening. Instead, my top three shows to see tonight are listed below (two are in venues that are not normally open to the public).

In addition to multiple afternoon closing receptions and artist talks, there are several exhibitions opening today. If time permits, we may also head over to Gallery Row at Colquitt and Lake to see the shows at Heidi Vaughan Fine Art and Catherine Couturier Gallery (but definitely going to these two galleries next week if I have to miss tonight).

For a full list of what’s happening in the Houston visual arts scene, check out my calendar, which is updated almost daily, at https://melissarichardsonbanks.com/events/

For weekly reminders every Wednesday, be sure to sign up for my MUSED Houston e-newsletter at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/C9CO48E

OPENING EVENT 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM "Leave the Kitchen Light On" at Stinson House (2718 Ruth St., Houston 77004). Featuring work by Únies González, this alternative photo installation transforms a familiar Houston home into a canvas for shared experiences, memories, and reflections of life.

OPENING RECEPTION 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM "Jennifer Battaglia | You Look Tired" at Front Gallery (1412 Bonnie Brae St., Houston 77006). On view thru March 30, 2024, photography and videos explore social pressures often faced by women as they age.

OPENING RECEPTION 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM "Resilience in Exile: The Ukrainian Refugee Experience” at Our Texas Cultural Center (2337 Bissonnet St., Houston 77005). On view thru March 24, 2024, the compelling work of photographer Vladimir Frumin offers a deep, emotional insight into the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

February 24 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm EXHIBIT: “Dialogues: A Convergence of Color and Form | Tatiana Escallón and Marisol Valencia” at Anya Tish Gallery CLOSING RECEPTION + ARTIST TALK: “Dialogues: A Convergence of Color and Form | Tatiana Escallón and Marisol Valencia” at Anya Tish Gallery Anya...

02/04/2024

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY OUTSIDE IN HOUSTON! Meet up with me at Smither Park for today's FREE afternoon of live music and family craft activities plus an artisan market, too!

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM -- free concert by Aurum Son starts at 3:00 PM

HAPPENING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM: "Smither Park Sundays" brings live music, an artisan market, and free crafting activities for the whole family.

12/20/2023

What exhibitions and art events are you excited about seeing in 2024? If you are in Houston, add them to my online Houston art events calendar!

December 20 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ART EVENT: “Tinsel Trek” with Urban Paths at Buffalo Bayou Park The Cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park (The Water Works) 105-B Sabine St., Houston, United States WEEKLY at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM: This special holiday edition of Laura Conely’s free weekly Wednesday night ...

12/20/2023

What are some fun holiday events in Houston? Here are a few that I am planning to attend?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! What are your favorite holiday happenings in Houston? Here are a few of mine! Send me your favorite festive events!

12/14/2023

YEAR-END GIVING: Which nonprofit organizations are you supporting this year?

For me, of course, the very top of my list is Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum! Be sure to sign up as a new or renewing member NOW to get one of the inaugural limited-edition Cheech enamel pins (sure to be a collector's item!). Visit https://riversideartmuseum.org/

I also want to share how much I appreciate the work of my very favorite radio station => KCRW. Even though I now live in Houston, I stream this station ALL DAY LONG, especially in the morning and on the weekends for music selections by Anthony Valadez, Dj Francesca Harding, LeRoy Downs, Chris Douridas, Raul Campos and the variety of other programming by the station that is produced locally and shared nationally.

The podcast that I listen to most often (DAILY!) is Texas-based KERA Think with host Krys Boyd. Locally, I miss the afternoon show on Houston Public Media with an accompanying podcast by Ernie Manouse (it was recently moved off air due to new management - boo!). However, my other favorite shows on that station remain such as Houston Matters and Texas Standard.

Other radio stations I support include Pacifica radio stations KPFT (Houston - shout out to Heidi Vaughan and Mister McKinney for their popular The Houston Hour) and KPFK (West Coast - shout out to Lalo Alcaraz for his popular The Pocho Hour of Power Radio Show).

And, I love love love love Memorial Park Conservancy and Buffalo Bayou Partnership -- I am outdoors every day (well, except for the Texas summers where you can find me in the closest swimming pool!), so these beautiful environmental wonderlands matter very much to me.

What nonprofits do you love and are supporting nowadays?

Since 1967, the Riverside Art Museum (3425 Mission Inn Avenue) has been housed in a 1929 building designed by Hearst Castle and AIA Gold Medal-winning architect Julia Morgan, registered on the National Register of Historic Places ,and designated a Historic Landmark by the City of Riverside.Riverside...

11/30/2023

LOVE ART? Receive my curated list of Houston art events to check out each week. It's FREE!

Subscribe to get your MUSED Houston Art Events e-newsletter every Wednesday so you can plan your weekend. Visit my website at melissarichardsonbanks.com to sign up.

https://conta.cc/3N8OJMi

11/02/2023

JOIN US in Los Angeles this Saturday, November 4 at Regal LA Live Theater to watch our WORLD PREMIERE screening of our documentary short film "RAZÓN DE SER: Luis C. Garza" during the DTLA Film Festival.

We have access to a small number of discounted tickets (they are otherwise only $20 at the link below). Email [email protected] if you want one or two of my limited supply of $15 tickets!

https://conta.cc/46WNrf2

Get tickets NOW for World Premiere screening at Regal LA Live Theater BUY FILM TICKETS TODAY WORLD PREMIERE FILM SCREENING RAZÓN DE SER: Luis C. Garza Saturday, November 4 at 5:00 PM DTLA Film Festi

10/12/2023

HOUSTON ART EVENTS: October 12-14 … here are my TOP PICKS for this weekend:

🎨 “Masumi Kataoka | Out of Longing” at HCC-Central Fine Arts Gallery

🎨 “Lauren Moya Ford: Green Thumb” at Jardín

🎨 “The Founders Round” exhibition and 30th anniversary block party at Project Row Houses

🎨 “Carlos Donjuan | DREAM DREAM DREAM” at Nicole Longnecker Gallery

🎨 “Ethereal Blooms | Alvin Alan” couture collection premiere at Sabine Street Studios

You can’t miss by going to these, but there are still so many others to choose from. See the full list on my website at www.melissarichardsonbanks.com.

Sign up for my weekly e-newsletter (delivered every Wednesday at 9am Central) - link in bio or visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/kka1GJv/mused

Subscribe to my online calendar to keep events on your radar.

Visit my website often for news and updates!

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Telephone

+12135474483

Website

https://melissarichardsonbanks.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when MUSED Houston posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.