Houston’s booming art scene and steady economy attract international
art dealers for the inaugural Texas Contemporary art fair
Opening night party to benefit the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
(Houston, TX, May 2011) – artMRKT Productions, a newly formed Brooklyn-based organizer of modern and contemporary art fairs, announces Houston as the host city for its inaugural Texas Contemporary art fair taking place October 20 – 23, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Texas Contemporary will present 50 contemporary art dealers from around the world, including a section showcasing special projects and pieces that focus on energy and sustainability by Texas-based artists featured in solo booths.
Texas Contemporary’s opening night preview will be held Thursday, October 20 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., with a VIP preview party following. Proceeds from all opening night ticket purchases will be donated to the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. The Texas Contemporary fair will continue through October 23.
“CAMH is thrilled to be involved with a fair dedicated to the ‘contemporary’ as a discussion in art and culture that matters deeply,” said Bill Arning, Director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. “As a museum that has over 60 years of experience showcasing the best and most interesting art as it is happening, we welcome the Texas Contemporary team to a city that has a very active and inquisitive arts community that is always eager to experience new art.”
Houston dealers Kerry Inman of Inman Gallery and Fredericka Hunter of Texas Gallery are guiding the local programming and production elements of the show, and veteran Miami dealer Frederic Snitzer and San Francisco’s Catharine Clark are also involved as early participants.
"Houston has a vibrant art scene, with fantastic museums, galleries and collections,” said Max Fishko, Co-founder of artMRKT Productions. “With Texas Contemporary, we are looking to present fresh ideas to the Houston audience by presenting galleries across the nation and showcasing some of the very special contemporary work being done in Texas."
In conjunction with the fair, Texas Contemporary is proud to present MRKTworks Texas, an online and live benefit auction, with proceeds going to a select number of Houston based arts non-profits. Opening online two weeks in advance of Texas Contemporary, on Monday, October 3 at 3:30 p.m., MRKTworks Texas will offer a select number of artworks for auction donated by participating Texas Contemporary dealers. Bidding will culminate with a final live auction call on Saturday, October 22 onsite at Texas Contemporary, followed by a private event to honor the beneficiaries, donating galleries and winning auction bidders.
Texas Contemporary show information:
HOURS:
Thursday, October 20
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Benefit Preview Party 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 21 - 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 22 - 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 23 - 11 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
TICKETS:
1 Day Ticket - good for Friday, Saturday OR Sunday - $20 online / $25 at the door
3 Day Ticket - good for Friday, Saturday AND Sunday - $40 online / $45 at the door
*Includes Thursday Night Benefit Preview Party + Thursday Night VIP Preview Party + all day Friday, Saturday AND Sunday.
Student Ticket - good for Friday, Saturday OR Sunday - $10 at the door
Texas Contemporary is currently reviewing and selecting exhibitors for the fair. Interested galleries may visit Texas Contemporary’s exhibitor application page at www.txcontemporary.com.
About artMRKT Productions:
artMRKT Productions is a Brooklyn-based organizer of contemporary and modern art fairs. Co-founded in 2010 by Max Fishko and Jeffrey Wainhause, artMRKT Productions currently presents three fairs annually throughout the United States – artMRKT San Francisco, artMRKT Hamptons and Texas Contemporary. artMRKT Productions combines a selection of internationally renowned modern and contemporary galleries, in addition to individual regional focuses, creating unique marketplaces that enable visitors access to the art world’s emerging contemporary talents and historically significant works.
For more information about artMRKT Productions and Texas Contemporary, visit www.art-mrkt.com or www.txcontemporary.com.
About the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH ):
The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art. Founded in 1948, the Museum prides itself on presenting new art and documenting its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures, original publications, and a variety of educational programs and events. It occupies an iconic stainless steel building in the heart of the Houston Museum District. This highly recognizable building was designed for the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston by the award-winning architect Gunnar Birkerts and opened in 1972.
Media note:
For interview requests or media inquiries about the Texas Contemporary, please contact Heather Wagner Reed at heather@juiceconsulting.com / 713 208 3891.
For inquiries for the CAMH , please contact Connie McAllister at cmcallister@camh.org / 713 284 8255.
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