DEBRIS: Black Eye

by Buffalo Sean

Burning through a twelve pack of beer by candlelight or a bottle of vodka in the dark was par for the course on September 12th, 2008. Waking up the next day would be hard no matter what you had done the night before. A storm the size of Texas, literally, passed over Houston and took Galveston’s Bali Room along for the ride. A cargo ship’s engines broke down off the coast, and the MV Antalina floated adrift in the Gulf battered by hundred mile-an-hour winds. Gasoline shortages began to spread through the South, reaching North Carolina and Virginia. By the next week 30,000 people far away in Quebec lost power due to the storm. If you’re reading this I hope that your power has turned back on. If not then go call Centerpoint Energy again. You just need to be a little *forceful*… Defy Bill White. Return to the streets (whether they’re lit or not) and get back into a groove. If you don’t know where to go let me drop a few hints for ya.

Friday, October 3rd at 2337 Bissonnet put your vodka drinking skills to the test with some artists from Saint Petersburg at Caviart Gallery. 8 o’clock throwdown! Same night, same time, Bohemeo’s at 708 Telephone Road in the East End will present 1930s short films by Len Lye and an early 60s work by Jim Henson- Time Piece. Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm Charlie Chaplin kills his rich wives over and over at the Museum of Fine Arts, spilling blood in Monsieur Verdoux so that his poor family can eat. Sunday is free day at the museum too! The MFAH has provided public urinals with bright red targets on them.

October 11th, the Farmer’s Market at La Strada kicks things off at 9 am; the Westheimer Block Party will rock out with cocks out from noon until late at night. Look for performance and installation art spreading throughout the Montrose neighborhood around the intersection of Westheimer and Taft. Satin Hooks will be all up in Numbers- I’ll sure as hell be there! The Menil Collection will have New Mexican Pueblo Indian dancers performing by The Rothko Chapel reflecting pool at 1 pm; Da Camera offers performances at the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Cy Twombly Gallery, and The Menil Collection from 2:30 to 4:00 pm and a jazz performance on the deck of The Menil Collection Bookstore. On the same day Gallery Row, at Richmond and Kirby, will have their latest round of exhibits of view for closing (instead of opening) parties from 6 until 8 pm.
Drag your ass out of bed on Sunday the 12th for D.R.U.M. at Discovery Green, perfect for daytime drinking and riding bicycles through downtown. Looks like the Texans will be trying to field dress the Dolphins that day, so make sure to get out before the show starts at 3 pm to avoid drunken football fans. If Houston potentially losing to the worst team in the NFL last year isn’t depressing enough for you, just wait for Thursday, October 16th, when the Holocaust Museum will screen Shmal'tsovniki: Bounty Hunters in German-Occupied Ukraine at 7 pm. Like most typical Holocaust Museum fare, this one will make you hope that the human race was wiped off the face of the earth. Bring popcorn!
Ready to die yet? No? Well then The Rothko Chapel has the cure for what ails you, as the suicidal minimalist expressionist gets the star treatment from his own son, Christopher Rothko. Think he might swing the pendulum the other way? Be a little joyful and carefree? Sorry, but this guy has been editing his father’s morbid philosophy for the last decade- check it out in print form in The Artist’s Reality. Chilling. Lecture begins at 7 pm, a half-hour before Über-serious U Theater of Taiwan will be at the Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park banging drums and acting all dramatic and shit. There’s a lot of good stuff going on, and I hope to see you out at the Block Party. As long as the power comes back on I’m happy.