Art Events, June 25: Car-Eating Fungus and Photographs of Critters

The Sun Shines Blue and Backyard Daoism at Galleri Urbane
2277 Monitor St.
6 p.m. Saturday

For The Sun Shines Blue, painter Danny Rose studied natural landscapes and rock formations. These works are rooted in observation, awareness of time and appreciation of the surrounding world. Reflecting both the external and internal, Rose expresses landscapes he has observed and also the various emotional landscapes of his own mind. These paintings are calming and contemplative, wondrous and despairing, just like the color blue. After exploring and critiquing the materialistic aspects of contemporary culture, Backyard Daoism finds Cat Rigdon internally reflective. In the cultivation of her home studio garden, Rigdon became a "backyard Daoist,” finding meditative solace in the creation of art. This is visible through loose watercolor backgrounds and embroidery. These intuitive works soothe the eye like the lush greenery of a backyard garden. The opening reception for both exhibits is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25. More info at galleriurbane.com.


Spore Sprouting Test at Ro2 Art
1501 S. Ervay St.
6 p.m. Saturday

Brad Ford Smith is an archivist from the so-called Nomadic Fungi Institute (NFI), which is dedicated to informing the public about the threats "Nomadic Fungi” pose to daily life. Aiming to figure out if Nomadic Fungus spores can be coaxed into germination and encouraged to grow in a laboratory setting, the NFI has been conducting "Spore Sprouting Tests.” Spore Sprouting Test represents the culmination of two years of research and offers a step-by-step guide to the scientific procedures used in these tests. Smith is dedicated to "proving once and for all the existence of this voracious eater of cars is not an urban myth or the hallucinations of drug-addled beatniks.” The opening reception is from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 25. More info at ro2art.com.


It's Official at Holly Johnson Gallery
1845 Levee St., No. 100
5 p.m. Saturday

This is a group show celebrating the appointments of four contemporary artists as "Texas State Artists 2015 & 2016” by the Texas Commission on the Arts and Texas State Legislature. This designation is the state's highest recognition for excellence in the arts. Dornith Doherty's photography explores the relationship between the natural environment and human agency. Dario Robleto combines esoteric materials and processes to explore forgotten history, art and science with prints and installations. Margo Sawyer uses sculpture to investigate the relationship between color, space and transcendence. Vincent Valdez's paintings go beyond re-staging lost scenes of history and create visual memorials. The opening reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 25. More info at hollyjohnsongallery.com.








Critters at PDNB Gallery
154 Glass St., Suite 104
5 p.m. Saturday

Critters is a group photography show focused on the animal world. In natural and studio settings, artists approach their subjects as portraits or as part of the environment. David Johndrow uses selective focus and meticulous attention to the environment to create portraits of insects, reptiles and roosters. Kevin Horan photographs goats in a close-up, regal manner. Cheryl Medow examines birds outside of their natural environments through the use of digital manipulation. Other photographers include Keith Carter, who continues to study dogs and horses, and Randal Ford, who brings a humorous twist to the show with pop art dairy cows. The opening reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 25. More info at pdnbgallery.com.


New Artifacts and Tiptoe at Liliana Bloch Gallery
2271 Monitor St.
6 p.m. Saturday

In her latest show, New Artifacts, Bonny Leibowitz utilizes hand-woven textiles alongside mass-produced fabrics addressing concepts surrounding culture, history, preciousness, abandonment and destruction. Vintage and antique textiles intertwined with kitschy oil cloth, glossy vinyl and fabrics from second-hand shops are paradoxical. Stuffed forms, layers of paint and sewn photography float, hang or flop onto one another. Leibowitz weaves together a multitude of perceptions, wandering freely through two and three dimensions. Ivan Buenader uses foam, a material efficient at absorbing sound waves, in his latest show, Tiptoe. By placing the foam on the wall, he requests silence. Buenader's art also explores the limits of literature in relation to the visual and performing arts, advocating for intuition instead of reason and encouraging a poetic interpretation of the world. The reception for both shows is from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 25. More info at lilianablochgallery.com.