| Somewhere between the sophistication of the art Mecca that is New York and the sustained hype of Los Angeles is the Houston art scene. Those not familiar with Texas may be unaware of the dichotomy that ultimately makes Houston so intriguing: Here, the brisk momentum of busy day-to-day life that makes any large city feel productive and modern truly does co-exist with a slow, careful sense of camaraderie and hospitality that reminds you that you’re still, undoubtedly, in the south. The heart of Houston is its alluring arts scene, particularly the recent crop of ambitious start-up art galleries. |  |
Megan Whitenton is a founder and member of ArtStorm Gallery in Houston, where a group show titled Creature Comforts is on view from July 12 to August 9.
Eli Sebastian Brumbaugh, The Ghost of Creaky Crater, 2008. Acrylic on canvas,12 x 12 inches. Courtesy of the artist.
Somewhere between the sophistication of the art Mecca that is New York and the sustained hype of Los Angeles is the Houston art scene. Those not familiar with Texas may be unaware of the dichotomy that ultimately makes Houston so intriguing: Here, the brisk momentum of busy day-to-day life that makes any large city feel productive and modern truly does co-exist with a slow, careful sense of camaraderie and hospitality that reminds you that you’re still, undoubtedly, in the south. This distinctive element is what gives an accomplished city like Houston its own brand of southern charm, even setting it apart from the other mammoth cities within Texas. The heart of Houston is its alluring arts scene, particularly the recent crop of ambitious start-up art galleries, literal grass-roots organizations, including art collectives and alternative spaces, designed to inspire even amateurs to open a gallery and exhibit worthy art.
Among such alternative spaces is ArtStorm. In October of 2007, after years of dreaming about opening a gallery, seven artists and collaborators, all long-time friends and Houston natives, established a board of directors, secured a rental, and organized our first group show in a matter of weeks. Almost all of ArtStorm’s board members graduated from Houston’s prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts during the mid to late-nineties and subsequently studied visual arts all over the U.S. before returning to our hometown, where we were determined to unite our skills and experience in the art world and our fondness of this city.
The simplicity of developing a board of artists to make decisions has been our biggest asset—we’re accessible and relatable to other artists, who are often invited to our weekly meetings to chat and show work in person if they’re interested in exhibiting with us. The submission process at ArtStorm reflects Houston’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the same way that we’ve begun to see so many familiar faces at our openings and events. And since we’re open to all kinds of ideas, even outside of visual art alone, this has served us well to keep artists and collaborators interested and also to help keep the local art scene raw and alive.
Since our inaugural exhibition, ArtStorm has dutifully opened a new show each month, every opening stirring more buzz and offering more surprises than the last to eager art goers looking for something new. Our exhibitions really show our range. We’ve hung framed works on paper, but we have also welcomed radical, site-specific installations, sometimes dramatically transforming the scheme of the space. ArtStorm has recently been tapped to host experimental music events, as well as participate in local gallery tours and partnerships with neighboring arts organizations. Our opening receptions have grown into interactive happenings, offering exciting performances, and sound installations that are live and loud.
This July, ArtStorm has planned a breakthrough exhibition to electrify what will likely be another balmy southern summer. We’ll present an explosive collection of extraordinary style-makers in We Are Monsters, featuring young Houston artists at their very best. ArtStorm’s dedication to exhibiting local artists’ work was and is our motivation, and we continue to make a place and a name for ourselves, always in the spirit of sheer enthusiasm and pure initiative. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
