Aurora Picture Show to Honor Video Artist Bill Viola

Bill Viola, The Raft, 2004. Color High-Definition video projection on wall in darkened space; 5.1ch surround sound. 10:33 minutes. Photo: Kira Perov.

Houston’s Aurora Picture Show will honor artist Bill Viola with the 13^th Annual Aurora Award at its annual fundraiser on October 5. The internationally recognized artist has been making videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances, flat panel video pieces, and works for television broadcast for 40 years. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston presented the exhibition Bill Viola: Survey of a Decade 25 years ago and his work remains popular, relevant, and influential; the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth recently put Viola’s 1995 video/sound installation, The Greeting, back on view in its permanent galleries.

Viola will be in attendance at the dinner and award ceremony, joined by his partner and collaborator Kira Perov. As part of the event, Aurora will screen a selection of works by Viola, including an excerpt of a new piece called The Dreamers (2013) and The Raft (2004). Houston artist Allison Hunter will create a piece to be presented to Bill Viola during the award presentation.