Created inside a structure that had been originally built in the 1930′s to house a Weingarten’s Grocery Store, the site specific installation by artist Dan Flavin at Richmond Hall is one of the Menil Collections greatest hidden treasures. The building itself has lived a very interesting life…after first being the home to the supermarket, it was then used as a various different bars and saloons – including finally Van Stampede’s Country Western Dance Hall.  Its not very often when you see an entire building saved and preserved to become transformed into a permanent giant glowing work of art.

Weingarten’s Grocery Store- circa 1930

Commissioned by Dominique DeMenil over 20 years ago back in 1990, the building with its close proximity to the Menil Museum, proved to be the ideal location for the artist Dan Flavin to create these large scale light works made just for this big empty space. Without altering the buildings structure, Flavin created three special art works for the museum – first the green fluorescent lights that run the top length of the exterior of the building on its east and west sides – second, the 4 white diagonal lights when you first enter the museum – and third is the most incredible and spectacular. Inside the central largest room, vertical light tubes forming a color spectrum, run from front to back of the space with a dark purple band of tubes bisecting the room into a top half and bottom half. The effect is totally theatrical, completely beautiful, and totally mesmerizing.

With the museums glossy poured concrete floors, the different color lights seem to reflect into endless directions. Its quite a powerful moment when you walk in. When I last visited the space, David Hamilton and I were lucky enough to be the only visitors (other than the crabby security guard) to Richmond Hall. Having the entire museum to ourselves, the empty interior makes the experience even more strange and effecting.

The Menil also uses Richmond Hall for many different purposes..they use it to hold benefit events for the museum, music and concerts, and all different types of live performances. Check the museums calendar and facebook page for upcoming events. It’s also totally fantastic to visit Richmond Hall on a very hot day, the cold surfaces and glowing lights combined with the buildings chilly air conditioning, makes for a haunting and surreal break from the regular outside world.

Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall, 1500 Richmond Ave. Houston, Texas ph. 713.520.8512 Open Weds- Sun from 11-7pm.

Filed under: Art & Culture, History, Houston by Stephen : 1 Comment »