After her astonishing, high-energy DACAMERA debut at Miller Outdoor Theatre, we couldn’t wait for Lakecia Benjamin – the 2024 JJA Jazz Awards Alto Saxophonist of the Year – to make her first jazz series appearance!

https://www.dacamera.com/2024-2025-season-concerts/lakecia-benjamin-and-phoenix-2/

As part of the annual Shartle Lecture Series, distinguished architect, cultural consultant, and artist Miriama Bono presents the contemporary works of international artists Kanaky and Yuki Kihara, how their work draws inspiration from Gauguin, and the impact of the painter's legacy in Tahiti. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Gauguin in the World, the lecture also touches on visual themes of familiarity and access in Gauguin’s work.

Plan Your Visit

• Free with Museum admission.
• The lecture takes place in the Lynn Wyatt Theater in the Kinder Building. The exhibition is located in the Beck Building.
• Parking Information | Museum Hours | MFAH Campus Map

About the Speaker
Miriama Bono is a Polynesian artist, curator, and architect. She was the General Delegate of FIFO, the International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival, from 2010–2014, and became the association’s president in 2015. She was appointed director of Te Fare Iamanaha-Musée de Tahiti et des Îles in 2017. During her tenure, she took charge of renovating the museum, overseeing building work, and coordinating international cooperation projects that led to the return of 20 major pieces of Polynesian heritage from the collections of the British Museum, the Cambridge Museum of Anthropology, and the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heart-soul-culinary-scholarship-dinner-tickets-1022854745077

The Heart and Soul Culinary Scholarship Dinner supports minority students, empowering them to pursue their culinary aspirations.

Savor an evening of culinary excellence with flavors from around the world. Guests will indulge in a six-course dining experience, complemented by specialty cocktails and wine pairings, and enjoy engaging conversations with local and national chefs. It's a night where food fosters connection, inspiration, and lasting memories.

Featured Chefs:

• Chef Mark Holley, Executive Chef, Davis Street
• Chef Chris Williams, Owner of Lucille’s
• Chef Dayanny De La Cruz, Vice President of Culinary, Levy Restaurants
• Chef Shannen Tune, Executive Chef, Craft Burger
• Chef Emmanuel Chavez, Executive Chef, Tatemó
• Chef Patricia “Patti” Delgado, Executive Chef, Ninfa’s at Uptown

https://concerts.livenation.com/josh-johnson-the-flowers-tour-houston-texas-01-26-2025/event/3A006157B0063B61

The winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition, the first French pianist to win the Gold Medal, also receiving the Grand Prix, makes his first Houston appearance with a thrilling program of romantic transformations.

https://www.dacamera.com/2024-2025-season-concerts/alexandre-kantorow-piano/

https://signup.rice.edu/ScientDemocLec5/

https://scientia.rice.edu/democracy

January 30, 2025, 4pm | Fondren Library, Kyle Morrow Room

Panel Information

Title: American Democracy through Foreign Eyes

Abstract:

The United States has always been a source of fascination — both attraction and repulsion — for the rest of the world. Four humanities scholars, who created a massive open online course (MOOC) available on Coursera, "America Through Foreign Eyes," that has enrolled nearly 19,000 students, will eludicate contemporary sentiment about the state of democracy in America from their areas of specialty: China, Russia, France, and Mexico.

Speakers

Anne Chao, Adjunct Lecturer in Humanities; Manager of the Houston Asian American Archive

Lida Oukaderova, Associate Professor of Art History

Julie Fette, Associate Professor of French Studies

Moramay López-Alonso, Associate Professor of History; Co-Director, Program in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities; Adjunct Associate Professor of Economics | Lecturer in Management

https://events.rice.edu/event/384193-escaping-the-inescapable

Dr. Sam Tenorio, Assistant Professor in the Department of Liberal Arts at Penn State University, Pennsylvania

Sam C. Tenorio (he/they) is an assistant professor of African American studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. He received his doctoral and master’s degrees in African American studies, with a subfield in political theory, from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in history and women’s studies (now gender and sexuality studies) from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to his professorship, he held a postdoctoral fellowship with the Africana Research Center here at Penn State. He is also an alumnus of the School of Criticism and Theory (’14) at Cornell University.

As an interdisciplinary scholar, he maintains broad research and teaching interests but largely focuses on Black political thought and practice, carceral geographies, and Black trans and trans of color critique. His first book, Jump: Black Anarchism and Antiblack Carcerality (NYU Press 2024), offers a socio-spatial account of Black anarchism and an alternative theorization of the modern carceral state that emerges in the practice of enslaved people jumping from slave ships during the Middle Passage. His recent essays can be found in South Atlantic Quarterly and Cultural Dynamics.

Professor Tenorio’s current research is concerned with the analytic dis/placement of Blackness vis-à-vis gender in trans worldbuilding narratives.

https://events.rice.edu/event/364652-think-tanger-hicham-bouzid

Sewall Hall, room 301

2024-25 Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Presented by the Department of Art, with series support from the Humanities Research Center and Department of Art History, and lecture support from the Center for African and African American Studies.

THINK TANGER
Hicham Bouzid
Thursday, January 30
Reception at Welcome Center: 6:00 pm
Public lecture: 6:30 pm

Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Hicham Bouzid is a creative director, editor, and curator based in Tangier, Morocco. With over 13 years of experience collaborating with cultural institutions and foundations worldwide, his work delves into the intricate interplay of Morocco’s urban and social landscapes influenced by neoliberal policies over the past quarter-century.

In 2016, Hicham co-founded Think Tanger, an innovative cultural organization working at the intersection of contemporary art, design, participatory research, and urban fields. Under the umbrella of Think Tanger, he manages three spaces: Tanger Print Club (a printing studio), an art residency, and the Kiosk a new art venue recently inaugurated in his hometown. Alongside these endeavors, he has also started Makan, a yearly journal focusing on culture and space.

Bouzid’s expertise has led him to serve as a jury member for esteemed organizations such as the Arab Funds for Arts and Culture in Beirut and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. He has actively participated in fairs and seminars with renowned international institutions including Tamayo Museo in Mexico City, Mucem in Marseille, Les Ateliers Luma in Arles, Paris International in Paris, and Focal Point of Sharjah Art Foundation in Sharjah.

Currently serving as a mentor for the Building Beyond program of The Prince Claus Fund Netherlands and Stimerings funds and sitting on the boards of Le18 art space in Marrakech of “The Mothership,” an artist project led by Yto Barrada.

To see the list of visiting artists visit: 2024-25 Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Discounted parking available in Founder’s Court lot, $6 flat fee, credit card required.

Free and open to the public.

https://erjcchouston.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket#/instances/a0FVu00000CnLcHMAV

https://events.rice.edu/event/379865-erjcc-cswgs-sociology-marina-gerner

The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center in collaboration with
Rice’s Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality
and Rice’s Department of Sociology welcome you to an evening with

Marina Gerner
Author

The Vagina Business: The Innovative Breakthroughs that Could Change Everything in Women’s Health (Sourcebooks, 2024)

Thursday, January 30, 2025
7:30pm

Kraft Hall, Room 130
Rice University

Award-winning journalist and adjunct professor at NYU, Marina Gerner takes an in-depth and sometimes shocking look at the inequities found in the funding of female-focused health companies and scientific research. From periods and childbirth to menopause and heart health, Gerner reveals that female pain has been normalized and unexplored. Gerner’s work has been widely published in The Economist’s 1843, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Financial Times and Wired and exposes the many obstacles entrepreneurs face when it comes to innovating for women’s health—even today.

This event is made possible in part by ERJCC Patron Sponsors:
Maxine and Steven Goodman
Sherry and Gerald Merfish 

This is a ticketed event.  Tickets are available through ERJCC. 

https://events.rice.edu/event/389212-documentary-screening-black-lives-matter-in-latin

The African American Research Center

Dr. Gladys Mitchell-Walthour, PhD is a Professor and Dan T. Blue Endowed Chair of Political Science at North Carolina Central University.
Dr. Mitchell-Walthour studies Brazilian racial politics, affirmative action, and the intersection of social welfare, race, and gender.

This documentary focuses on Black activism in Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Cuba. Including dialogue and footage of activists and scholars from the African Diaspora, it shows the importance of challenging state-led violence against Black people and how Black activists and scholars working together can bring about change. Some of the scholars and activists featured are: Douglas Belchior (Brazil), Anny Loango, PhD (Colombia), Mariela Noles Cotito (Peru), Cloves Oliveira, PhD (Brazil), Tanya Saunders PhD (Expert on Cuba), John Thomas, PhD (Expert on Ecuador), KC Morrison, PhD (Race and Democracy Brazil & USA).

https://events.rice.edu/event/363206-ethnographic-design-colab-edc-object-oriented

Sewall Hall, 570

with Timothy Morton, Department of English, Cymene Howe and Huatse Gyal, Department of Anthropology

2020 marks the point when human-made materials outweigh all the biomass - producing about 30 gigatons (Gt) of stuff every year at an accelerating rate (Elhacham et al. 2020). The lethal effects of mass produced objects often disproportionately jeopardize the health, homes, and livelihoods of low-income communities, communities of color, and colonized peoples (Di Chiro 2016, 100). This workshop invites philosopher Timothy Morton, who first drew our attention to the ubiquity of objects in our lives in his book Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World (2013) to reflect on questions such as: How do objects enter into the fabric of our social lives as active agents? How do we ethnographically and philosophically illuminate the entanglement of humans, objects, and nonhumans?
The Ethnographic Design Co.Lab (EDC) is a collective effort to embrace the experimental and the experiential. Building upon the reputation of Rice University’s Department of Anthropology as a hub for methodological and theoretical innovation, the EDC embraces participatory, multimodal, and community-oriented ethnography as well as collaborative and creative exercises in research design and ethnographic analysis. We are committed to engaging feminist, queer, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, diasporic, decolonial and abolitionist perspectives. We see ethnography as a vehicle for justice and imagination. Living and working in times of ongoing crises, we believe that ethnography enables us to envision new ways of thinking, acting, and being together.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-of-the-earth-opening-reception-tickets-1149125969709

The Community Artists’ Collective opens its 2025 exhibition season in its new home at 4111 Fannin, Suite 100A, Saturday, February 1, with “Women of the Earth,” a collaboration between three Houston artists.

The exhibition unites the creative voices of Andrea Venson, Kanika Blair and Audrianna Woods—three artists whose work is deeply entwined with the natural world. Through distinct yet harmoniously aligned practices, they explore the intersection of femininity, nature and spiritual connection.

Andrea navigates a captivating balance between structure and fluidity in her collages; Kanika animates ethereal dreamscapes that transport viewers to otherworldly dimensions; and Audri’s evocative paintings draw on ancestral energy and wisdom.

Together they highlight the power of women working in harmony to create art that is bold, sensual and deeply rooted in the earth.

The exhibition continues through March 22. An opening reception will be held Saturday, February 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.

https://www.menil.org/events/4456-when-the-art-speaks-2

Join former Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean as he uses items from the Menil Archives to address John and Dominique de Menil’s support of the Black Panthers in Houston. Through performance and conversation, Bean brings the intersection of art, music, poetry, activism, and social justice to life in a powerful, thought-provoking narrative.

Attending the program:
This program takes place in the main building, located at 1533 Sul Ross Street. Additional information regarding accessibility and parking can be found here.

As always, Menil programs are free and open to all.

A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, Sugarcane is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves was discovered on the grounds of an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada. After years of silence, the forced separation, assimilation, and abuse many children suffered at these segregated boarding schools was discovered, sparking a national outcry against a system designed to destroy Indigenous communities. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation, Sugarcane illuminates the beauty of a community breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and finding the strength to persevere.

Tickets

• $9 general admission; $7 MFAH members, students with ID, seniors (65+)

Plan Your Visit

• This screening takes place in the Brown Auditorium Theater in the Law Building.
• Parking Information | Museum Hours | MFAH Campus Map

https://events.rice.edu/event/362792-rice-school-of-architecture-lecture-momoyo-kaijima

Anderson Hall, Farish Gallery

Architectural Behaviorology

Momoyo Kaijima will present Architectural Behaviorology, a design approach developed by Tokyo-based Atelier Bow-Wow that explores architecture through the lens of ethnography. This methodology seeks to uncover overlooked resources within communities, identifying barriers and deficits while creating strategies to enhance accessibility and activate shared behaviors. By fostering the creation of commons, this approach rejuvenates community livelihoods and reshapes local connections.

Momoyo Kaijima is an architect and cofounder of Atelier Bow-Wow, renowned for its research-driven and community-focused design practices. A professor of architectural behaviorology at ETH Zürich and president of NPO Cheer Art, Kaijima’s work bridges academia, practice, and social engagement, redefining how architecture interacts with and revitalizes communities.

The Llewelyn-Davies Sahni Innovative Practice Lecture is supported by the Llewelyn-Davies Sahni Fund.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1271242860758247/

A Little Day Music featuring DACAMERA Young Artists. This month's concert celebrates Black History Month.
A Little Day Music is a series of free concerts presented at noon on the first Wednesday of the month in the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Center. Each concert is designed to deliver DACAMERA’s signature programming to an audience including senior citizens, downtown professionals and students. The series features a variety of chamber music and jazz, presented in an accessible, one-hour concert format. Audiences are invited to enjoy their lunch while listening to the music.
For groups of 10 or more, call 713-524-7601 ext. 15.

https://kindredstorieshtx.com/products/irl-author-talk-harlem-rhapsody-with-victoria-christopher-murray-february-5-7pm

Celebrate the release of Harlem Rhapsody with Victoria Christopher Murray!

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, February 5 @ 7PM

Where: Holy Family HTX (3719 Navigation Blvd, HTX, 77003)

How: Get your tickets here!

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1919, a high school teacher from Washington, D.C arrives in Harlem excited to realize her lifelong dream. Jessie Redmon Fauset has been named the literary editor of The Crisis. The first Black woman to hold this position at a preeminent Negro magazine, Jessie is poised to achieve literary greatness. But she holds a secret that jeopardizes it all.

W. E. B. Du Bois, the founder of The Crisis, is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Amidst rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. She attacks the challenge of discovering young writers with fervor, finding sixteen-year-old Countee Cullen, seventeen-year-old Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, who becomes one of her best friends. Under Jessie’s leadership, The Crisis thrives…every African American writer in the country wants their work published there.

When her first novel is released to great acclaim, it’s clear that Jessie is at the heart of a renaissance in Black music, theater, and the arts. She has shaped a generation of literary legends, but as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Christopher Murray is one of the country's top Black contemporary authors. Her novels include the Seven Deadly Sins series and Stand Your Ground, a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

As a national bestselling author and award-winning journalist, ReShonda Tate has the credentials, and the passion, to bring stories to life. A highly sought-after motivational speaker/poet, ReShonda is a three-time nominee and previous winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature. She has received a plethora of distinguished awards and honors for her journalism, fiction, and poetry writing skills, including an induction into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame and the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. Two of her novels have been made into television movies.

https://events.rice.edu/event/358799-ethical-decisions-the-engineers-responsibility

Duncan Hall, McMurtry Auditorium

Join the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership and a special guest panel to discuss the role of ethics and leadership for engineers and technology professionals, and how ideals affect engineering decisions and innovations. Attendees will be able to ask questions and participate in the discussion.

A reception will follow the panel discussion in the lobby area outside McMurtry Auditorium.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Reserve your spot here: https://qrco.de/bfdFRi

This year’s panel includes:

Tony Castilleja
Boeing

Marya Cokar
Lecturer, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership
Rice University

More panelists will be announced soon!

https://guesslawsoncollection.com/exhibition/

Panel on “Purpose” Moderated by Harrison Guy; Co-Founder of Urban Souls Dance Company, Choreographer, Advocate, Manager Deluxe Theater

The Architecture of Culture: Works from the Guess Lawson Collection (TAOC) is an exhibition that showcases the evolving nature of contemporary art and the enduring hope that persists amit beauty, doubt, and often struggle. This exhibition highlights The Guess Lawson Collection’s ability to bridge the gap between past and present, inviting viewers to engage with the complex narrative of American History through art.

The selections in this first exhibition from the Guess Lawson Collection are focused on consideration of how as a community do we tie art to activism, a topic close to the collectors hearts. The exhibition  spotlights works in the Collection by multicultural and multinational artists whose work calls us to act on societal challenges of gender and income inequality, and by artists whose work reflects individuals that remind us of the importance of purpose as a character trait for empowerment.

The exhibition draws from Guess Lawson’s extensive collection presenting a powerful and dynamic visual dialogue that explores issues of race, gender, and otherness. The collection features works by established artists such as John Biggers, Hughie Lee-Smith, Violette Bule, Whitfield Lovell, Radcliffe Bailey, David McGee, Joyce Scott, Delilah Montoya, Dick Wray and Giana De Dier, popular artists Abi Salami, Eddie Filer, Kaima Marie Akarue, Christopher Blay, Romeo Robinson, Jonathan Carroll, Danielle Finnerman, and others, offering a rich exploration of depth and diversity.

TAOC is a space for contemplation and discussion challenging the audience to reflect on their own preconceived notions and beliefs. Through a curated selection of artworks, visitors can appreciate the complex narratives and creative processes that drive these artists.

The collaboration between Gensler and The Guess Lawson Collection brings the convergence of art, architecture, and community engagement to the forefront.

https://www.law.uh.edu/events/bhm.asp

https://uhlc.wufoo.com/forms/s1a9ayyd06zzmq9/

Race and Racism: Reconciling the Past with the Present

Featuring: Dr. Ruth J. Simmons
First Woman President of Prairie View A&M University (HBCU)
First African American President of Brown University (Ivy League University)
First African American Woman President of Smith College (A Seven Sisters College)

Thursday, February 6, 2025
6:30 p.m. Central Time
Keynote Lecture

Reception and Book Signing to follow

RSVP

Approved for 1.25 hours of Texas MCLE credit

In Person and Virtual

John M. O'Quinn Law Building
4170 Martin Luther King Blvd
Houston, TX 77204-6060

https://www.facebook.com/events/945170553825288/

In conjunction with "Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight," Dr. Richard Hylton, Lecturer in Contemporary Art, in the Department of History of Art and Archaeology, at SOAS, London, and contributor to the exhibition catalogue, discusses how Overstreet’s work intertwines abstraction with themes of liberation and the Black Diasporic experience and positions abstraction as a tool for social and political commentary.
Learn more about the exhibition: menil.org/joeoverstreet
This program takes place in the main building, located at 1533 Sul Ross Street. The Menil's public programs are always free.

https://events.rice.edu/event/395657-haiti-and-the-world-global-encounters-of-the-past

O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, room 510

Jacqueline Couti and Linsey Sainte-Claire from Rice University’s Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures are organizing Haiti and the World: Global Encounters of the Past, Present, and Future, an international symposium scheduled for February 7–8, 2025. This event will showcase Haiti’s rich cultural legacy and global influence while challenging persistent myths and stereotypes.

The symposium will delve into Haiti’s history, current challenges, and future prospects, addressing themes such as historical context, socio-political and economic issues, and ecological concerns. Over two days, participants will engage in dynamic panel discussions, roundtables, and presentations featuring scholars, artists, and community leaders from Houston and beyond.

A primary goal of the symposium is to amplify Haitian voices, particularly those from the diaspora, which are often underrepresented. By fostering a dialogue that prioritizes Haitian perspectives, the event seeks to celebrate Haiti’s contributions, provide nuanced context, and envision a brighter future. This interdisciplinary and inclusive platform aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of Haiti’s complex and enduring legacy.

This event will be a hybrid. On February 7, the event will take place in the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, room 108. On February 8, the event will take place in the O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, room 510.

Generously sponsored by:

Creative Ventures

Humanities Research Center

The Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS)

The Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies CELAS)

Tulane University

School of Humanities at Rice

Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Department of History

Medical Humanities Research Institute

The Center for Environmental Studies

Florida State University

https://events.rice.edu/event/398899-rice-school-of-architecture-closing-reception-and

Anderson Hall, Farish Gallery

Entangled within the Earth’s five natural spheres—the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere—is a sixth: the technosphere. Identified by geologist Peter K. Haff as an emerging paradigm of the Anthropocene, the technosphere is the material expression of industrial production, development, and extraction. It includes feedlots and sewer systems, factories and housing, seaports and data centers, highways and croplands. Although critical to many aspects of our survival, the exponential growth of the technosphere is actively destabilizing the five spheres upon which its existence depends. The Sixth Sphere exhibition explores not only how the built environment operates at a planetary scale, but also how design can participate in systems of interdependence, reciprocity, and transition. In response to the environmental and social injustices caused by climate change, this exhibition explores how design thinking can expand beyond traditional spatial and temporal scales to approach the terrestrial in scope and complexity. Through speculative designs, images, and models, The Sixth Sphere positions the technosphere as a collective site to reconstruct our social, technical, and climate futures.

Brittany Utting is an assistant professor of architecture at Rice University and cofounder of the design and research collaborative HOME-OFFICE.

Panelists:

Igor Bragado and Miles Gertler, Common Accounts

Curtis Roth, The Ohio State University

John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog, Territorial Agency

Contributors

(AB)NORMAL, aldayjover architecture and landscape, Alexandra Arènes, Andrés Jaque / OFFPOLINN + Miguel Mesa del Castillo, Debbie Chen, Common Accounts, DESIGN EARTH, Dogma, GRANDEZA STUDIO, HOME-OFFICE, Olalekan Jeyifous, Studio Muoto, NEMESTUDIO, Present Future, Curtis Roth, TAKK, Territorial Agency, Z4A Architects

Graphic Design

Studio Lin

Exhibitions at Rice

As a curatorial program of the Rice School of Architecture, Exhibitions at Rice uses the lens of design research to look at the world differently. Mobilizing a full spectrum of architectural representation—including drawing, imaging, making, and prototyping—this program weaves together scholarly inquiry, visual experimentation, and public engagement. Across all scales, from objects to buildings, cities, and the planet, Exhibitions at Rice engages the discipline of architecture as a cultural practice with a civic mandate, creating new discourses for both local and global audiences.

This exhibition is generously supported by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts and the Rice University Office of Research. The Sixth Sphere is the first installation of the new curatorial program of the Rice School of Architecture: Exhibitions at Rice.

Join us for a night where chemistry sparks connections! Mingle with other singles in an electrifying atmosphere featuring interactive exhibits, delectable delights from our sundial food tents, themed cocktails, and dance to beats by DJ Victor from VI Entertainment and talented DJ Dean.

Enjoy a continuous showing of When Harry Met Sally inside the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, where you can laugh and swoon over iconic moments. Immerse yourself in a Planetarium show, setting the perfect mood for magical connections - all included with your ticket. Whether seeking sparks or just a fun night, this mixer promises magnetic moments. Who knows? The perfect equation for love might be waiting for you! 

https://hmns.prospect2.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GDDJqadDKKt0_E6UhOg3HNWvQQfvu5jYXnMJ6KZDK_~-0y.0OFt2nzziNDvj_YybHLGI3Sf

Currently in a relationship? That's perfect, too. Bring your significant other to this romantic mixer and keep the chemistry alive!

The members of the New York Philharmonic String Quartet are principal musicians from the esteemed orchestra. Music of Haydn, Florence Price and Dvořák.

https://www.dacamera.com/2024-2025-season-concerts/new-york-philharmonic-string-quartet/

https://matchouston.org/events/2025/miss-laraj%E2%80%99s-house-dystopian-futures

In a world where civilization and the environment that birthed it has been decimated by myriad human-made cruelties, the question remains: will humans ever learn?

In this post-apocalyptic riff on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Fred’s long since gone and Nature itself is now the main character. Enter Miss LaRaj—our wise and wisecracking MUTHA of the New World Order.

Talking trees, judgmental rocks, all natural forces sing and move, attempting to guide humankind back to true symbiosis. And what better way to learn than from a kid’s show? What are humans anyway if not the petulant children of this planet?

What if we used our imaginations?

2023’s world premiere of Candice D’Meza’s A Maroon’s Guide to Time and Space took Catastrophic audiences by storm, demonstrating again that D’Meza’s an artist that helps a theatre like ours move forward: a seeking one.

WORLD PREMIERE

ABOUT CANDICE D'MEZA

Candice D’Meza is an African American-Haitian Queer Mother of three and Spiritist whose artistic body of work spans across theatre, performance, literary genres, activism, dance, critical pedagogy, ritual, social practice, documentary, experimental, and short film. She uses the textures of grief, the world building of science fiction, Afrofuturism, and fantasy, with the spiritual technologies of African and Diasporic African cosmologies. Her work has been featured, published, performed, screened, and archived at institutions across the nation.

“D’Meza [is] one of the most interesting writer-director-actors living and working in Houston’s theater community.” – Houston CityBook

FEBRUARY 7 - MARCH 1, 2025

https://events.rice.edu/event/395657-haiti-and-the-world-global-encounters-of-the-past

O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, room 510

Jacqueline Couti and Linsey Sainte-Claire from Rice University’s Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures are organizing Haiti and the World: Global Encounters of the Past, Present, and Future, an international symposium scheduled for February 7–8, 2025. This event will showcase Haiti’s rich cultural legacy and global influence while challenging persistent myths and stereotypes.

The symposium will delve into Haiti’s history, current challenges, and future prospects, addressing themes such as historical context, socio-political and economic issues, and ecological concerns. Over two days, participants will engage in dynamic panel discussions, roundtables, and presentations featuring scholars, artists, and community leaders from Houston and beyond.

A primary goal of the symposium is to amplify Haitian voices, particularly those from the diaspora, which are often underrepresented. By fostering a dialogue that prioritizes Haitian perspectives, the event seeks to celebrate Haiti’s contributions, provide nuanced context, and envision a brighter future. This interdisciplinary and inclusive platform aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of Haiti’s complex and enduring legacy.

This event will be a hybrid. On February 7, the event will take place in the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, room 108. On February 8, the event will take place in the O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, room 510.

Generously sponsored by:

Creative Ventures

Humanities Research Center

The Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS)

The Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies CELAS)

Tulane University

School of Humanities at Rice

Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Department of History

Medical Humanities Research Institute

The Center for Environmental Studies

Florida State University

https://camh.org/event/2025-woodson-black-fest/

Celebrate Black History Month with the 4th annual Woodson Black Fest at CAMH!  

In honor of the distinguished author and thinker Carter G. Woodson, Woodson Black Fest brings enlightenment, creativity, and innovation to celebrate Black artists and artisans’ contributions to our community.

A tour of Vincent Valdez: Just A Dream…  will be offered from 1–2PM.

https://events.rice.edu/event/384195-color-that-moves-the-fashion-palette-of-stephen-burro

Duncan Hall, 1070

Dr. Uri McMillan, Associate Professor in the Departments of English and Gender Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles

Uri McMillan is an Associate Professor in the Departments of English and Gender Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of Embodied Avatars: Genealogies of Black Feminist Art and Performance (NYU Press, 2015), winner of the William Sanders Scarborough Prize from the Modern Language Association, the Barnard Hewitt Award for Outstanding Research in Theater History, and the Errol Hill Award from the American Society of Theatre Research. He has recently completed a cultural history of artists of color in 1970s New York City titled The Seventies in Color, forthcoming from Duke University Press. He has published essays in Women & Performance: a journal of feminist theory, GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, ASAP/Journal, and museum/gallery-based publications for the Studio Museum in Harlem, Aperture Foundation, MCA Chicago, and the Brooklyn Museum.

In his first Houston appearance, composer and pianist Thomas Adès and an ensemble of champions of his music gather to explore his works for chamber ensemble, and two of his musical touchstones, Schubert and Janáček.

https://www.dacamera.com/2024-2025-season-concerts/thomas-ades-musical-alchemy-ii/

https://events.rice.edu/event/394966-dr-samuel-k-roberts-lecture

Baker Hall, Room 271

Samuel K. Roberts, PhD
Columbia University

“Stigma Politics and Political Resistance: Addiction, Opioid Medical Maintenance, and Black Public Opinion 1950-1975”

In the United States, stigma against medically assisted treatment (MAT) for addiction), especially against methadone maintenance, has a long history which continues to impede patients’ successful recovery and social acceptance even today. In most cases, the belief is that methadone patients are still “addicts” and cannot claim to be in recovery, and it is common even today to find Individuals and institutions engaged in stigmatizing practices ranging from unspecific vocalized disdain to structural discrimination. On the other hand, there also are the added histories of political objection to methadone, critique of methadone maintenance as an inadequate and inappropriate treatment for the “true causes” of addiction. In this paper, Roberts notes methadone objection specifically in Black political culture, documenting its roots decades before. He also explains how and why many Black political objectors to methadone maintenance adopted the language of genocide in their critique of the addiction treatment modality.

Samuel Kelton Roberts, PhD is Associate Professor of History (School of Arts Sciences) and Sociomedical Sciences (Mailman School of Public Health) at Columbia University, where he also leads the Research Cluster for Historical Study of Race, Inequality, and Health. Roberts is the author of the widely acclaimed, Infectious Fear: Politics, Disease, and the Health Effects of Segregation, and the co-editor of the Columbia University Press book series on Race, Inequality, and Health. He currently is writing a book tentatively titled “To Enter a Society Which Doesn’t Want Them: Race, Recovery, and America’s Misadventures in Drug Policy.”

Sponsored by the Medical Humanities Research Institute, Center for African and African-American Studies, Department of History, and the Program in Science and Technology Studies.

Registration Instructions

Box lunches will be available. Please indicate any dietary restrictions or preferences

https://events.rice.edu/event/396579-meet-the-author-justin-cronin

Fondren Library, Kyle Morrow Room

Join us for a talk with Justin Cronin, in collaboration with Friends of Fondren Library.

Justin Cronin, Writer-in-Residence in the Department of English at Rice and author of the New York Times bestselling The Passage trilogy, will join us to discuss his work and answer questions.

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

Time: 6-8 p.m. CT

Location: Kyle Morrow Room - Fondren Library
6100 South Main Street
Houston, TX 77005

Cost: Free

Registration will close on Feb. 10 or when the event reaches capacity.

https://www.ticketmaster.com/je'caryous-johnson-presents:-jason's-lyric-live!-tickets/artist/3089884

https://www.ticketmaster.com/je'caryous-johnson-presents:-jason's-lyric-live!-tickets/artist/3089884

All is fair in Love & Basketball. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this romance and sports genre film serves as a landmark for Black women filmmaking for its authentic representation of female athletes, Black love, and female independence. The tender story follows two young Black suburban kids, Monica and Quincy, as they grow up, fall in love with each other, and chase the dream of playing in the NBA. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s first feature-length film has become not only a household favorite but has also inspired a new generation of female athletes and filmmakers. 

Tickets

• $9 general admission; $7 MFAH members, students with ID, seniors (65+)

Plan Your Visit

• This screening takes place in the Brown Auditorium Theater in the Law Building.
• Parking Information | Museum Hours | MFAH Campus Map

The shape-shifting baroque ensemble Ruckus and captivating flutist Emi Ferguson are back, joined by one of jazz’s young leading lights, the explosively inventive saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, for music of Telemann and George Lewis, and the world premiere of Roscoe Mitchell’s Metropolis Trilogy.

https://www.dacamera.com/2024-2025-season-concerts/ruckus-and-emi-ferguson-flute-immanuel-wilkins-quartet/

https://www.ticketmaster.com/je'caryous-johnson-presents:-jason's-lyric-live!-tickets/artist/3089884

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-the-blackness-of-black-bodies-tickets-1124763230099

On the Blackness of Black Bodies. We asked our friends what was like to exist in a black body in our current political climate.

Date: Saturday, February 15th Time: 12:00 - 8:00 pm CDT
SAiD INSTITUTE 12126 Westheimer Road #118 Houston, TX 77077

A one-day writing and experimental project Imagining Alternate Realities for Blackness" celebrates and elevates Black cultural expression. The project includes writing workshops, interactive sessions, and public presentations that explore Black identity and creativity. Collaborations with esteemed artists such as Ayokunle Falomo, Aris Kian and artist scholar RUEROB enhance our project's depth and impact. Success for us means inspiring participants to reclaim and celebrate their Black identities through writing and experimental art forms. By fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black culture, we contribute to broader conversations about equity and representation in Houston's vibrant cultural landscape. Our footprint revolves around enriching the community’s artistic experience.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1078665513996223/

DACAMERA and The Menil Collection present Stop, Look and Listen!
DACAMERA Young Artists present a concert inspired by the Menil Collection’s exhibition "Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight."
Stop, Look and Listen! is a series of free chamber music and jazz concerts presented in one of Houston’s most inspiring and stimulating environments, the world-renowned Menil Collection. Admission to the Menil is always free.

https://www.ticketmaster.com/je'caryous-johnson-presents:-jason's-lyric-live!-tickets/artist/3089884

https://arch.rice.edu/latest/events/wang-shu-and-lu-wenyu

Lecture Topic:

This lecture explores how, even amid rapid urbanization in China, thoughtful design of large-scale urban architecture can still  embrace the smaller, everyday spaces essential to daily life. Highlighting recent projects by Amateur Architecture Studio, the talk examines the potential to enhance small-scale infrastructure in both urban and rural contexts. By improving quality without altering the traditional forms of rural architecture, these projects demonstrate how sustainable lifestyles with urban qualities can emerge. This approach fosters a harmonious dialogue between urban and rural environments, celebrating the diversity of lifestyles across these contexts.

Speaker Biographies:

Architects and educators Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, cofounders of Amateur Architecture Studio, are renowned for redefining contemporary Chinese architecture. Wang, the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate and a recent inductee to the French Academy of Architecture, has held prominent academic positions at institutions including MIT, Harvard University, and Tongji University. His accolades include gold medals from the French Academy of Architecture and Tau Sigma Delta, honorary doctorates from the Rhode Island School of Design  and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and recognition as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013.

Lu Wenyu, also a 2023 inductee to the French Academy of Architecture, is the director of the Experimental Centre for Sustainable Building at the China Academy of Art and has served as a visiting professor at Harvard University and MIT. Her honors include the Schelling Architecture Prize, an honorary award from the Venice Biennale, and an international fellowship from RIBA. She chaired the 2024 RIBA International Prize jury and contributed to UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Together, Wang and Lu have built a legacy that bridges tradition and modernity. Their notable works, such as the Ningbo Historic Museum, the Xiangshan Central Campus of the China Academy of Art, and the Fuyang Cultural Complex, reflect their commitment to infusing Chinese architectural heritage with contemporary design. Their Xiangshan Central Campus was named one of “The 25 Most Significant Works of Postwar Architecture” by The New York Times in 2021, a testament to their enduring influence.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diaspora-africa-conference-tickets-1111771190559

Get ready for a gathering of Africans from all over the world to celebrate our culture, heritage, and connections at the Diaspora Africa Con

https://events.rice.edu/event/384196-combee-harriet-tubman-the-combahee-river-raid-and-bla

Herring Hall, 100

Dr. Edda Fields-Black, Professor in the Department of History and the Director of the Dietrich College Humanities Center at Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania

Summary

Harriet Tubman’s legendary life is widely known: escaping enslavement, leading others to freedom via the Underground Railroad, and tirelessly fighting for change. But a crucial chapter often overlooked is her daring Civil War service as a spy for the US Army, detailed in Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black’s groundbreaking book, COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War. A direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the raid, Fields-Black unveils Tubman’s command of spies and pilots and intelligence gathered from freedom seekers, which led to a raid that liberated 756 enslaved people from bondage on seven rice plantations. It was the largest slave rebellion in US history. Through unexamined documents, she brings to life the Combahee River Raid and the untold stories of those freed, their resilience, and the lasting impact of Tubman’s heroism.

Author Bio

Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black teaches history at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as Director of the Dietrich College Humanities Center. She has written extensively about the history of West African rice farmers, including in such works as Deep Roots: Rice Farmers in West Africa and the African Diaspora. She was a co-editor of Rice: Global Networks and New Histories, which was selected as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title. Fields-Black has served as a consultant for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s permanent exhibit, “Rice Fields in the Low Country of South Carolina.” She is the executive producer and librettist of “Unburied, Unmourned, Unmarked: Requiem for Rice,” a widely performed original contemporary classical work by celebrated composer John Wineglass. Fields-Black is a descendent of Africans enslaved on rice plantations in Colleton County, South Carolina; her great-great-great grandfather fought in the Combahee River Raid in June 1863. Her determination to illuminate the riches of the Gullah dialect, and to reclaim Gullah Geechee history and culture, has taken her to the rice fields of South Carolina and Georgia to those of Sierra Leone and Republic of Guinea in West Africa.

https://guesslawsoncollection.com/exhibition/

Panel on “Urban Dynamics and Change” Moderated by Peter Merwin; former Gensler V.P.

The Architecture of Culture: Works from the Guess Lawson Collection (TAOC) is an exhibition that showcases the evolving nature of contemporary art and the enduring hope that persists amit beauty, doubt, and often struggle. This exhibition highlights The Guess Lawson Collection’s ability to bridge the gap between past and present, inviting viewers to engage with the complex narrative of American History through art.

The selections in this first exhibition from the Guess Lawson Collection are focused on consideration of how as a community do we tie art to activism, a topic close to the collectors hearts. The exhibition  spotlights works in the Collection by multicultural and multinational artists whose work calls us to act on societal challenges of gender and income inequality, and by artists whose work reflects individuals that remind us of the importance of purpose as a character trait for empowerment.

The exhibition draws from Guess Lawson’s extensive collection presenting a powerful and dynamic visual dialogue that explores issues of race, gender, and otherness. The collection features works by established artists such as John Biggers, Hughie Lee-Smith, Violette Bule, Whitfield Lovell, Radcliffe Bailey, David McGee, Joyce Scott, Delilah Montoya, Dick Wray and Giana De Dier, popular artists Abi Salami, Eddie Filer, Kaima Marie Akarue, Christopher Blay, Romeo Robinson, Jonathan Carroll, Danielle Finnerman, and others, offering a rich exploration of depth and diversity.

TAOC is a space for contemplation and discussion challenging the audience to reflect on their own preconceived notions and beliefs. Through a curated selection of artworks, visitors can appreciate the complex narratives and creative processes that drive these artists.

The collaboration between Gensler and The Guess Lawson Collection brings the convergence of art, architecture, and community engagement to the forefront.

https://concerts.livenation.com/sahbabii-the-resurrection-tour-houston-texas-02-20-2025/event/3A00618DCCC03DBE

https://concerts.livenation.com/jorja-smith-falling-or-flying-tour-houston-texas-02-20-2025/event/3A006148CB163CB7

https://www.uh.edu/calendar/?view=e&id=645628#event

For the opening week of the Moores School of Music in 1997, a concert featuring student ensembles and world-renowned artists was given  nightly. For the evening of jazz music, three of the greatest living saxophonists—Joe Henderson, George Coleman and Joe Lovano—graced the stage with the MSM Jazz Orchestra. From this exceptional event, the seeds were planted to bring world-class jazz to the school each year.

The annual Moores School of Music Jazz Festival officially began in 1999 with an appearance by The Count Basie Orchestra and saxophonist Michael Brecker. Open to the public, an internationally recognized jazz artist visits to present clinics and perform with the Jazz Orchestra. This event also welcomes junior high and high school jazz ensembles to perform in an adjudicated festival setting for a panel of judges comprised of local professional jazz musicians.

https://www.uh.edu/calendar/?view=e&id=645628#event

For the opening week of the Moores School of Music in 1997, a concert featuring student ensembles and world-renowned artists was given  nightly. For the evening of jazz music, three of the greatest living saxophonists—Joe Henderson, George Coleman and Joe Lovano—graced the stage with the MSM Jazz Orchestra. From this exceptional event, the seeds were planted to bring world-class jazz to the school each year.

The annual Moores School of Music Jazz Festival officially began in 1999 with an appearance by The Count Basie Orchestra and saxophonist Michael Brecker. Open to the public, an internationally recognized jazz artist visits to present clinics and perform with the Jazz Orchestra. This event also welcomes junior high and high school jazz ensembles to perform in an adjudicated festival setting for a panel of judges comprised of local professional jazz musicians.

https://www.thecollective.org/events-one/witness-series-part-1-empowered-by-flowers-flora-fauna-and-self-care

Flowers are a natural tool for self-care that have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety.  The giving of flowers elicits joy and gratitude, while at the same time strengthening our bonds with loved ones.  This event will begin with a BIPOC artists panel about the strong positive effects flowers and nature have on our emotional wellbeing.  This engaging dialogue will provide the space to explore the power of communities of color to lean into nature and see themselves reflected in flora and fauna.  Following the panel, attendees will be invited to take part in a hands-on ancestor flower arrangement workshop conducted by artist Britanny Mayfield.  Participants will create eco-friendly remembrance floral arrangements created with waste-reducing practices and upcycled materials made from locally sourced, in-season flowers.  The bouquets will be added to the Kirk Jackson, a Third Ward resident and community advocate, marker on the Columbia Tap Trail.  The Houston Audubon will highlight the birds found along the trail, before attendees take a nature walk along the Columbia Tap Trail and learn its history.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS & PARTNERS

April M. Frazier

Brittany Mayfield -Panelist

Friends of Columbia Tap

Erandi Trevino  -Panelist

Houston Audubon

Kristi Rangel -Moderator

Naomi Carrier – Panelist

Pilgrim United Church   

Texas Center for African American Living History

*Artist April M. Frazier and her camera will bear witness to this event. Through her art, we will be able to experience the power of community building and creating art in green spaces.

**Houston Public Library (HPL) provides a book list on the themes of the Columbia Tap Rail Trail and nature centered self-care. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-black-history-bike-tour-tickets-1119253028939

Hop on your bike and join us for our 4th Annual Black History Bike Tour, where we'll pedal through history together!

It's our 4th Annual Black History Bike Tour and we're excited to do it again!

Get ready to pedal through the streets of Houston and explore the rich history and culture of the city's Black community. Join us on February 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM at EaDo Bike Co. for a fun and educational experience.

This in-person event will take you on a journey through significant landmarks and sites that highlight the contributions of Black individuals to our city's history. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to celebrate and learn about Black history in Houston while getting some exercise.

Join us before the ride for light refreshments provided by Mo' Brunch and Brews

We will take a brief mid-point break at The Doshi House

Grab your bike and let's ride! Don't one? Rentals are available!

Learn more about Friends of Columbia Tap.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-history-month-family-day-tickets-1200432910149

Come celebrate Black History Month at the Pearl! Art activities, face painting, History of Jazz performance from Dinky Drum Company LLC at 12 pm, and more!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1313878729643666

Browse Antiquarian and Collectible books, maps, ephemera, etc. in all genres! Come find that treasure you didn't know you were looking for!

https://www.letsdothishouston.com/events/4th-annual-black-bar-crawl-bike-ride

4th Annual Black Bar Crawl  

Join St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church for a Mardi Gras Masquerade Gala featuring Brian Jack and The Zydeco Gamblers!

Saturday, February 22, 2025
8PM - 12 MIDNIGHT

Tickets: $30
Tables of Eight: $200

Purchase Tickets Here

Join St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church for a Mardi Gras Masquerade Gala featuring Brian Jack and The Zydeco Gamblers!

Saturday, February 22, 2025
8PM - 12 MIDNIGHT

Tickets: $30
Tables of Eight: $200

Purchase Tickets Here

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/hcprecinct4/activity/search/detail/15543?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

The Bayou Bend Collection in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston has outstanding examples of the contributions and representations of African Americans in the pottery, paintings, and crafts during this important period of our country. Join a speaker from the Museum of Fine Arts Houston to learn more about African American artists and celebrate Black History Month!

With this moving program, countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen opens up new paths for his voice type, with music of Korngold, Schumann, Florence Price, Jake Heggie and more.

https://www.dacamera.com/2024-2025-season-concerts/aryeh-nussbaum-cohen-counter-tenor/