This afternoon, Houston’s boldly colored, but usually vacant, Central Library Plaza is the site for the kick-off festivities for the Texan French Alliance for the Arts’ Open the Door project, which aims to place 60 boldly colored swinging, painted steel panels, termed “doors” at 13 locations around Houston in 2013. 30 of the panels will be painted by pairs of by professional artists, half from Texas and half from France, the rest by art students, faculty and kids at local educational institutions.
The event, like the project itself is going to chock-full of participation: featuring workshops and live performances by the Storyteller’s Guild, Writers in the Schools, Inprint, and Urban Souls Dance, as well as guest appearances by the 12 urban artists commissioned to paint on the projects hinged steel signboards: Daniel Anguilu, Stephane Carricondo, Romain Froquet, Gonzo 247, Jerk 45, Clement Laurentin, Tierney Malone, Mambo, Patrick Medrano, Rahul Mitra, Ned, and Lovie Olivia. Music will be provided by the Hustlers Brass Band (New Orleans) and Young Orchestra Virtuosi of Houston.
It all begins at the Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney St. Saturday March 16, 2013 – 1:45 – 5:00 pm. Here’s the YouTube teaser: