MATT MANALO: ALIEF ART HOUSE
Alief has been at the forefront of diversity in Houston. It is known as The International District and is considered a window into what Houston is becoming. Alief Art House, created as part of artist Matt Manalo’s DiverseWorks Project Freeway Fellowship, is a hub for creativity that highlights the cultural richness of the multiple communities in Alief. Alief Art House is a shipping container on the grounds of the Alief Community Garden at the Alief SPARK Park and Nature Center that will house art events curated and organized by Manalo in collaboration with other creatives who reside and work in Alief. Manalo’s vision is to create a sustainable environment for creativity, jumpstart an art-focused movement in the neighborhood, and positively impact Alief’s image.
ALIEF ART HOUSE EVENTS
Saturday, October 26, 2 – 4 pm
Alief Art House Unveiling and Community Get Together
Artist Matt Manalo will unveil his Alief Art House mural and invites the local community to gather and learn about future events and workshops. There will be Rasa Libre coffee, refreshments, and hands-on activities for all ages.
November 23, 2 – 4 pm
Exhibition Opening: People of Alief
Artist Matt Manalo and collaborator Stan Le will show text-based works and photographs of people living in Alief. Matt and Stan asked individuals to respond to the question, “Why do you love Alief?” Stan is a writer, activist, poet, and musician who works in Alief.
Saturday, December 7, 2 – 4 pm
Community Weaving with Danny Nguyen
Alief-based fashion designer Danny Nguyen will collaborate with artist Matt Manalo and community members to create a large-scale textile piece from yarn and fabric. Participants are invited (but not required) to bring their own materials to incorporate into the piece. This project is open to all ages, and individuals are invited to drop-in and contribute at any time during the 2-hour session.
Saturday, December 14, 2 – 4 pm
Cyanotype and Card-making Workshop with Carla Lyles
Carla Lyles – graphic designer, artist, and owner of Carla Sue Houston – with assistance from Matt Manalo, will introduce the cyanotype photographic process and lead participants in making their own cyanotype prints and cards. Materials will be provided and participants will be encouraged to use the natural materials of the Alief Art House’s surroundings in their projects.
Saturday, December 14, 4 – 5 pm
Alief Art House Neighborhood Celebration
Refreshments, music, and fun!
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Matt Manalo was born and raised in Manila, Philippines and immigrated to the United States in 2004. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with a minor in Art History from the University of Houston. His work was recently seen in the exhibition, There Is Enough for Everyone, curated by Michael Stevenson and Josh Anderson, and he was included in the 2018 and 2017 The Big Show exhibitions at Lawndale Art Center. In 2017 he had a solo show at Kirk Hopper Fine Art Gallery (Dallas) and he has been included in group exhibitions at venues such as The Center for Reconciliation (Providence, RI), Box 13 (Houston), Mexic-Arte Museum (Austin), and Human Resources LA (Los Angeles), among others. Manalo is the founder of Filipinix Artists of Houston, a collective of visual, performing, literary, culinary, and multidisciplinary artists. A frequent topic of his work is how the colonization of the Philippines by Spain, Japan, and the United States resulted in erasure, colorism, and a colonial mentality.
SUPPORT
The Project Freeway Fellowship is supported in part by EmcArts, the Houston Endowment, the John Steven Kellett Foundation, and the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
Alief Art House is also made possible through the support of the International Management District. Special thanks to Rasa Libre Coffee.