28 ESCAPE SUNDAY APRIL 23 . 2017 . ESCAPE.COM.AU DESTINATION ® US

ART VS RIENZI SCIENCE

It’s known as Space City, but Houston also has a cultural scene that’s out of this world

COLIN VICKERY

f Aussies have heard of Houston the arts. This city has its own Museum it is most likely because of the District – a collection of 19 world-class failed Apollo 13 Moon mission cultural institutions all within a short and those memorable words: distance of one another. “Houston, we have a problem.” Just as impressively, it has a Texas’s fourth-largest city, vibrant theatre scene. The downtown Ipopulation 2.2 million, is home to the theatre district is home to nine National Aeronautics and Space professional arts organisations Administration’s Johnson Space including the world-renowned Centre – location of mission control. Houston Ballet. Space nuts can tour the Johnson Centre but I’m in Houston for a HERE ARE 10 TOP PICKS: different experience. THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS What a lot of people don’t know 1001 BISSONNET ST about the city is that it is one of the Houston’s leading art institution is so world’s best arts destinations. big it takes up more than 100 galleries Houston is awash in oil money and across two buildings. Don’t miss the a lot of that has been channelled into Monet Water Lilies, a breathtaking

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Important Information: Must be booked by 28 Apr 17. Prices shown are a guide only, please contact one of our Holiday Champions for an exact quote on the dates you wish to travel and any conditions that may apply. Prices are per adult and include airfares, all taxes, transfers & twin share accommodation (maximum 2 children per room unless stated otherwise). Kids eat free when dining with adults - some conditions may apply. Hotel specials have varied travel dates, block-out dates & high season surcharges may apply, especially during school holidays. Prices are also subject to change without notice due to currency, tax fluctuations & fuel surcharges. FIJI: Airfare is valid for select departure dates 24 Jul – 16 Mar 18, based on low season travel, block out dates apply. All Inclusive meal plan is valid during resort venue operating hours only, guest must be 18yrs or over to consume alcohol. BALI: Airfare is valid for selected departures 1 Sep – 15 Sep 17, 8 Oct – 12 Dec 17 & 8 Jan – 28 Feb 18, based on low season, subject to availability. All Inclusive meal plan is valid during resort venue operating hours only, guest must be 18yrs or over to consume alcohol. Max children per room is 1 under 15 years. THAILAND: Airfare is valid for selected departure dates 1 May – 22 Jun, 3 Jul – 31 Oct 17, based on low season, subject to availability. All Inclusive meal plan is valid during resort venue operating hours only, guest must be 18yrs or over to consume alcohol. HT126

MHSE01Z01ES - V1 ESCAPE.COM.AU . SUNDAY APRIL 23 . 2017 ESCAPE29 DESTINATION ® US

Bonnard, Seurat, Manet and Picasso. HOUSTON GRAND OPERA But there is so much more, including ESCAPE ROUTE WORTHAM THEATRE CENTRE the astonishing Glassell Collection of B A Y O U B E N D Ever since it was founded in 1955, Pre-Columbian, Indonesian and the Grand Opera has mixed African gold. traditional works such as Faust MFAH.ORG and Verdi’s Requiem with exciting HOUSTON new commissions such as the THE MENIL COLLECTION world premiere of It’s a Wonderful 1533 SUL ROSS ST Life, based on the classic Frank This permanent display of Capra movie. treasures owned by John and GETTING THERE HOUSTONGRANDOPERA.ORG Dominique de Menil takes up an Houston is Texas’s fourth-largest city entire neighbourhood. The main and is serviced by flights from CULLEN SCULPTURE GARDEN collection includes major Surrealist Australia, via Auckland, by Air New MONTROSE BOULEVARD AT works by Max Ernst and Rene Zealand. BISSONNET ST Magritte, as well as contemporary Across the road from the Museum of masters Andy Warhol and Robert STAYING THERE Fine Arts is this tranquil oasis. The Rauschenberg, and is housed in a Hotel Zaza (5701 Main St), a two- gardens are created by sculptor sleek structure designed by architect minute walk from the Museum of Fine Isamu Noguchi and include major Renzo Piano. Across the road is a Arts and central to all of Houston’s works by Henri Matisse, Auguste whole building dedicated to Cy main cultural attractions, is the pick. Rodin, Louise Bourgeois, David Twombly. Nearby Richmond Hall hotelzaza.com Smith and Dan Graham. is filled with a massive Dan Flavin light sculpture. MORE RIENZI MENIL.ORG PICTURES: SUPPLIED visithoustontexas.com 1406 KIRBY DRIVE The former home of philanthropists ROTHKO CHAPEL Carol Sterling Masterson and Harris 3900 YUPON ST Masterson III is now the setting for a The Menils also commissioned this Ballet, has been the artistic director of coloured-light sequence, which plays filled with magnolias, azaleas, knockout collection of European sacred space featuring 14 massive the Houston Ballet since 2003. During out across the pavilion’s roof, pansies and wisteria. decorative arts, paintings, dark canvases by abstract my visit, I see Welch’s bold interacts with the aperture’s natural MFAH.ORG/BAYOUBEND furnishings, porcelain and expressionist painter Mark Rothko. interpretation of Madame Butterfly. light to hypnotic effect. miniatures. This is a place to take your shoes off, His Cinderella and La Bayadere are SKYSPACE.RICE.EDU MCCLAIN GALLERY MFAH.ORG/RIENZI adopt the lotus pose, and sit in quiet also justly celebrated. 2242 RICHMOND AVENUE contemplation. Barnett Newman HOUSTONBALLET.ORG BAYOU BEND Houston is home to some amazing My Top 10 list hardly scratches the sculpture Broken Obelisk stands in 6003 MEMORIAL DRIVE commercial contemporary galleries surface of Houston’s cultural front of the chapel. JAMES TURRELL ‘TWILIGHT For 50 years, oil heiress and including Moody Gallery, Barbara drawcards. The Alley Theatre, Rice ROTHKOCHAPEL.ORG EPIPHANY’ SKYSPACE philanthropist Ima Hogg, “the first Davis Gallery and the Anya Tish Gallery, Centre for Photography and RICE UNIVERSITY lady of Texas”, collected rare Gallery, but my pick is Robert Jung Centre stand with a batch of THE HOUSTON BALLET Wow. That is pretty much the feeling American paintings and decorative McClain’s beautiful space which has top-drawer museums dedicated to WORTHAM THEATRE CENTRE you’ll have as you gaze upwards arts. They are housed in her home exhibited Picasso, Robert Motherwell the Holocaust, health, natural Aussie boy makes good. Stanton through a central aperture in Turrell’s where each room is devoted to a and Alex Katz and a range of science, African-American culture, Welch AM, former resident massive pyramidal structure in the different style. The house is fascinating group shows. contemporary craft and Asian choreographer with the Australian lead-up to sunrise or sunset. Turrell’s surrounded by nine different gardens MCCLAINGALLERY.COM heritage. There is also a 22ha zoo.

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