Lions and dancing and art, oh my!

Lions and dancing and art, oh my!
…………………………………………………………………

Where would it be possible to see an art exhibit made of pushpins, watch sea lion demonstrations and see a Middle Eastern dance performance? At the Rice University Art Gallery and the Houston Museum District, of course.

Those activities and many others will be offered free of charge on Houston Museum District Day, Saturday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At the Rice Art Gallery, visitors can take in the closing celebration of “Pastor & Collux,” a site-specific installation by James Cullinane made entirely of pushpins. The exhibit inaugurated the art gallery’s “Summer Window” series, which allowed visitors to experience an installation through the gallery’s glass façade.

The closing reception will be held on Museum District Day and will include refreshments and family activities throughout the day. Visitors to the gallery can head to the other museums participating in the daylong event, courtesy of METRO shuttle buses that will travel among the venues.

In addition to the Rice Art Gallery, 10 other Houston museums will be open free on Museum District Day: the Children’s Museum, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Holocaust Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, the Jung Educational Center, the Lawndale Art Center, the Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Health and Medical Science.

Free parking will be available at the Menil Collection, the Museum of Health and Medical Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Zoo and the Holocaust Museum. METRO shuttle service from museum to museum will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with buses departing every 15 minutes.

Many of the museums will offer free snacks and drinks, and there will be special give-aways from KHOU-TV and the Our Family, Your Family sponsors.

Some of the free live performances include:
• Dissection demonstrations, 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m., Museum of Health and Medical Science.
• Workshops with artist Rachel Brumer, 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m., Holocaust Museum.
• Sea lion demonstrations, 11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., Houston Zoo.
• Middle Eastern dance performance by Kristina Koutsoudas and her students, 1 and 3:30 p.m., the Jung Center.
• Performances by Vibraciones, a group of young interpretive folklorico dancers, 2 p.m., Children’s Museum.
• International Storytelling Festival, 7:30 p.m., Miller Outdoor Theater.
• Cow painting, all day, Contemporary Arts Museum.
• HSPVA Jazz Band, all day, Contemporary Arts Museum.

For more information on Houston Museum District Day, call (713) 790-1020. For more information on the Rice Art Gallery, call (713) 348-6069.