Open for Business: New Sculpture in Downtown

There’s a new attraction at the Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston. Open House, created by art duo Havel Ruck Projects, opened on July 10 and features a house from the 1940s transformed into a modern sculpture. The sculpture exhibits a playful violet exterior riddled with holes of many different sizes. If you’re intrigued by the exterior, just wait for what you’ll find inside. Once inside the small house, you dive right into the sprawling history of Houston. Along the walls are a variety of photographs from throughout Houston’s history. From pictures of the skyline in 1921 to a picture of the crew from one of the Apollo missions, this latest art installation could have you exploring Houston’s storied past for hours.

A photo of the Houston skyline in 1921 among a variety of other photographs. (Photo: Nathan Lederman)

Local artists Dan Havel and Dean Ruck have been creating art out of repurposed architecture since 1994. International artists Patrick Renner and Jessica Stockholder as well as multiple Texas-based artists participated in the initiative. Their latest installment, Open House, is downtown’s sixth Art Blocks project. The projects work toward reconstructing and revitalizing unfamiliar areas through public art. The structure itself comes from Sante Fe and had to be transported to Sam Houston Park for later redesigns. Open House embodies Houston’s layered history and provides another great reason to visit downtown this summer.

Buzz intern Abby Cohan enjoyed looking through the photos in Open House. (Photo: Nathan Lederman)

Buzz interns Abby Cohan and Nathan Lederman had a blast visiting Open House. As first-time visitors to Sam Houston Park, we were blown away by the ambiance surrounding the installation. In the afternoon on a weekday, the park was virtually empty and covered by blue skies. Houstonians may not think to visit downtown Houston to experience nature, but after visiting Sam Houston Park, we recommend giving it a shot.

The house will be open to the public until February 2019, when it will be dismantled. Hours are from dawn until dusk, and it is free to visit. Visitors are encouraged to explore the park’s 10 buildings as well as the Museum Gallery, as they are historic reference points. Reusable parts will go to artists and craftsmen while the remainder of the structure will be removed. Go see Open House and dive into Houston’s past!