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September 9, 2021 - March 12, 2022

On view at the African American Library at the Gregory School 

1300 Victor Street, 77019 | 832-393-1440

Spanning over six decades of cultural production, this exhibition presents paintings, drawings and prints of works by African Americans in Texas with a combination of portraiture, landscape and abstraction on display. In collaboration with the John L. Nau III Collection of Texas Art, this exhibition features works from Texan artists including John Willard Banks, John Biggers, Sedrick Huckaby, and Kermit Oliver, supplemented with special collection materials from the African American Library at the Gregory School.


This exhibition is generously supported by:

City of Houston
Houston Public Library
The African American Library at the Gregory School
The John L. Nau III Collection of Texas Art

This exhibit was also made possible through the generosity of the Houston Public Library Foundation.

The African American Artists in Texas: Selections from the John L. Nau III Collection of Texas Art will be on view at the following HPL location(s):

September 2021 – March 2022 - Exhibit Hall at GRE

Houston Public Library Hosts Inaugural Commemorative Lecture with Proclamation of George Floyd Remembrance Day

HOUSTON - May 25, 2022 Today, the Houston Public Library (HPL) marked the occasion of George Floyd Remembrance Day with a commemorative lecture delivered by Honorable Mayor Sylvester Turner. Following the speech, Mayor Turner declared May 25th as George Floyd Remembrance Day in the City of Houston and presented an official proclamation to members of the Floyd family who were present for the event.
 
“George Floyd’s tragic murder galvanized a worldwide movement for policing reform and discussions about race and social justice, especially in Houston,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “It is vital that we continue to talk about the shared history and trauma we experience as a society due to violent events, no matter how difficult those conversations may be, so that we can effectuate change. Today, we honor George Floyd’s spirit by renewing our commitment to continuing the conversation around systematic change, racism, policing reform and ways to make our community and world more loving and accepting of all differences.”

Dr. Melanye Price, endowed professor of African American studies and political science and inaugural director of the Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Social Justice at Prairie View A&M University, offered opening remarks. The Ridge Point High School Choir and composer Dr. John Cornelius were on hand for musical tributes.
 
In memory of Houston native George Floyd, whose murder by a Minneapolis police officer ignited worldwide protests, the event highlighted the City of Houston and HPL’s efforts to chronicle race and social justice movements and capture the accounts of witnesses to history.
 
“The Houston Public Library answers the call to not only document and share the significant and tumultuous events that impact our local and national communities, but also provide community space needed for ongoing civic engagement” said Houston Public Library Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson. “With this annual lecture, HPL will help fulfill the critical need for collective reflection on the George Floyd tragedy and the growing number of catastrophic events that have inspired a national reckoning with the issue of race.”

Two years after Mr. Floyd’s death, events relating to the crime—the arrest, trial, guilty verdict and sentencing of one of the police officers responsible—and the community’s response have been recorded by HPL librarians and archivists for a digital archive and physical collection on display at the African American Library at the Gregory School. 

05/07/2022
Lauren Wilcox

May 7, 2022 - July 28, 2022

The Changes of Taiwan's Landscape- Chen Zong Ho’s Watercolor Depictions of Taiwan Scenery         
Central Library | 1st Floor Art Gallery 

500 McKinney St., 77002 | 832-393-1313

The Houston Public Library celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and the 61st anniversary of the Houston-Taipei Sister Cities relationship with an exhibition of Chen Zong Ho’s watercolor paintings of Taiwan. Chen Zong Ho’s watercolor works depict the beautiful scenery, valuable history, and changing landscape of Taiwan from the 1970s to the 2000s.

Chen Zong Ho traveled around Taiwan, capturing the beauty of his country in multiple styles and tones of colors in his paintings. In addition to painting famous scenic spots and historical sites, Chen was passionate about painting people’s daily lives as well as the process of urbanization in the countryside during Taiwan’s economic take-off period. He was good at finding the beauty in chaos: muddy rural areas, dirty small alleys, messy but vibrant docks and ships, traditional food markets and night markets, and more.

By experiencing the constant changes of the era and cultural conflicts, Chen’s paintings reflect a unique personal style that integrated multiple arts and cultures of Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. With the influence of his predecessors and the creation of his own style, Chen Zong Ho left a stunning chapter in the developing lineage of Taiwanese watercolor paintings.

Exhibit is free and open to the public.

Exhibit dates are subject to change.

About the Artist

Chen Zong Ho (1928-2005) was one of the first generations in Taiwan to complete a domestic university art education. In 1950 he was the valedictorian of the first graduating class of the Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). Chen was known for his traditional Western-style watercolor techniques, influenced by Impressionism and Fauvism.

His work is in many notable collections, including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Fine Arts, and Marubeni Japanese Corporation Taipei Branch.

For more information about Chen Zong Ho and his art, please visit czhgallery.com.

This exhibition is generously supported by:

City of Houston
Houston Public Library
The African American Library at the Gregory School
The John L. Nau III Collection of Texas Art

This exhibit was also made possible through the generosity of the Houston Public Library Foundation.

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