art by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, among others. Of course, not all of the artistic trea-
sures are found in museums. The Metro- plex also boasts numerous independent galleries and performing arts facilities, such as Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth and the Meyerson Symphony Center, home to the nationally recog- nized Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Another major concentration of arts
facilities can be found in the Houston Museum District. A whole day could be spent just perusing the vast collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It is one of the largest museums in the country with items dating from ancient times to today. The Menil Collection exhibits the private holdings of John and Dominique de Menil, who assem- bled an impressive array of 20th- century art that includes collections of Surrealist and Cubist works. Visitors also can get a taste of the region’s con- temporary art scene at the Lawndale Art Center and explore artisans’ cre- ative processes at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craſt . The Contem- porary Arts Museum Houston hosts traveling exhibitions that focus on art produced in the past 40 years. Performing arts shine bright in
Houston as well. The city supports an active symphony, opera and the- ater companies. The Miller Outdoor Theater, near the Museum District, also hosts a diverse selection of perfor- mances. The Houston Ballet is praised as one of the top companies in the na- tion. Many performances take place in the Houston Theater District, the down- town home of nine theater companies and touring Broadway performances.
Architecture While exploring the treasures in-
side these facilities, you might also no- tice that even the buildings themselves are works of art. Prize-winning archi- tects such as Louis Kahn (Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth), Renzo Piano (Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas and The Menil Collection in Houston), Tadao Ando (Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth), I.M. Pei (Morton H. Mey- erson Symphony Center in Dallas), Rem Koolhaas (Dallas Center for the Performing Arts’ Wyly Theater), Mies van der Rohe and Rafael Moneo (who
PHOTO: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT
Houston MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON
both designed parts of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), all contribute to the state’s creative landscape. Many communities also take pride in pre- serving the beauty of their historic the- aters, such as The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston and San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre.
More to See San Antonio’s rich heritage is re-
fl ected in its artistic off erings. Housed in a historic brewery along the River Walk’s “Museum Reach,” the San Anto- nio Museum of Art spotlights art from the Americas and Europe. Just minutes away, the Institute of Texan Cultures in HemisFair Park highlight’s the state’s unique culture in visual arts, stories, and exhibits. San Antonio also happens to be home to the state’s fi rst museum for modern art, the McNay Art Mu- seum, which features stunning works by notable artists such as Pablo Pi- casso, Georgia O’Keefe and Raoul Dufy, among many others. For a more laid- back vibe, explore the local arts scene in the Southtown area, along South Flores and South Alamo streets downtown. Up the road, Austin is never at a loss
for how to express its creative spirit. The Contemporary Austin, Mex- ic-Arte Museum and many local galler- ies present exhibitions by artists from the region and across the nation. The
Blanton Museum of Art houses the na- tion’s largest university-owned and ex- hibited collection, ranging from classi- cal sculpture to modern and contemporary American and Latin American art. Also on the University of Texas campus, the Harry Ransom Center is home to signifi cant photo- graphic and literary collections, includ- ing an authentic Gutenberg Bible.
Local Legends Don’t think the arts only thrive in
the big cities. The small West Texas town of Marfa has long been a desti- nation for minimalist art since artist Donald Judd chose the area to live and work in—today, the Chinati Foundation and various installations of contempo- rary art continue to build on his artis- tic legacy. Community art galleries and theaters abound with regional talent. Many cities host weekly or monthly “art walk” events that invite visitors to experience the local art scene. You might even fi nd the creative spirit in some unexpected places, such as the intricately designed Festival Concert Hall in the hamlet of Round Top or the Old Chicken Farm Art Center in San Angelo. From classical art to the Cadil- lac Ranch in Amarillo, there’s plenty of room to let your imagination run wild. ★
For more infor ma tion about Texas, visit
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