art Archives - Fearless Captivations https://fearlesscaptivations.com/tag/art/ Austin Food Blogger, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog Fri, 11 Feb 2022 01:44:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.5 https://fearlesscaptivations.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cropped-Fearless-Captivations-Icon-300x300-1-32x32.png art Archives - Fearless Captivations https://fearlesscaptivations.com/tag/art/ 32 32 114690705 Hopscotch’s Light & Sound Immersive Art Exhibit https://fearlesscaptivations.com/hopscotch-light-sound-art-exhibit/ Thu, 14 Feb 2019 13:12:26 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=8734 Hopscotch, a new art exhibit, is now open in Austin, TX.  Disclosure: I attended a complimentary media preview of Hopscotch. All opinions are my own. What happens when you let artists play? Hopscotch invites you to find out.  Hopscotch is […]

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Hopscotch, a new art exhibit, is now open in Austin, TX. 
Disclosure: I attended a complimentary media preview of Hopscotch. All opinions are my own.

What happens when you let artists play? Hopscotch invites you to find out. 

Hopscotch is a new, immersive art exhibit in Austin that allows you to pop into different rooms, each designed by a different artist. Some of the exhibits are interactive, asking you to pull a rope or walk through strings of lights.

If you’re like me and love the Waller Creek Show or the art of James Turrell, Yayoi Kusama, or Dan Flavin, you’ll enjoy the light-focused exhibits. Watch the lights change colors and take on the challenge of initiating the color change.

These photos might give a taste of what the exhibits are like but you’ll want to see it for yourself to be fully immersed in the light and accompanying sounds.

Don’t forget to jump in the ball pit! (Except don’t actually jump because you’ll hit the bottom of the pit.)

Hopscotch was co-founded by Austin entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, and they curated the art exhibit. Light & Sound features local, national, and international artists.

It’s hard not to take a photo but as I’m sure the creators and artists prefer, take in the exhibit first and see it for what it is and not how it would look on your Instagram feed.

This exhibit is a family-friendly place where everyone can play. Your eyes and ears will enjoy the wonder and maybe it’ll even spark your creative side.

If you want to see this version, you have until the end of March. This summer, Hopscotch will move to San Antonio for a new, permanent exhibit featuring new artists and exhibits.

Details

  • Location: 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752
  • Website: https://letshopscotch.com/
  • Opens February 14th  (6 – 11 pm) until ends March 31st
  • Tickets:
    • $23 for ages 13+
    • $15 for children 4-12
    • Free for children 3 and under
  • All ages are welcome but only 18+ after 7 pm
  • Parking: Free in the lot and on street
  • Hours
    • Friday 4 – 11 pm
    • Saturday 1 – 11 pm
    • Sunday 1 – 9 pm

What’s the coolest art exhibit you’ve ever seen?

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The FOMO Factory is Your Instagram Dream https://fearlesscaptivations.com/fomo-factory-austin/ Sat, 15 Sep 2018 00:12:10 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=7899 FOMO Factory is an immersive art pop-up in Austin, Texas, perfect for all the selfies! As of 2020, this pop-up is now in Houston.Disclosure: I attended a complimentary media preview of The FOMO Factory. All opinions are my own. Spoiler […]

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FOMO Factory is an immersive art pop-up in Austin, Texas, perfect for all the selfies! As of 2020, this pop-up is now in Houston.
Disclosure: I attended a complimentary media preview of The FOMO Factory. All opinions are my own. Spoiler alert: I had lots of fun!

Whether you call it a selfie museum, Instagram museum, or photo-worthy art installations, these immersive and interactive places are made for photos. Austin now has their first, following cities like Dallas, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and more. These pop-ups are short-term. Some are touring installations and others change their exhibits periodically to entice new and repeat visitors.

The FOMO Factory in Austin is what they call an “immersive art pop-up.” This two-story, interactive shop was created by Rachel Youens and Kara Whitten and features colorful displays themed to childhood memories. From sweet treats to throwback toys, it felt like a trip down memory lane, though these memories were definitely a lot more colorful!

You’ll be able to explore seven spaces with interactive features and fun backdrops. Get your cameras ready because you’re in for a lot of colorful shots!

In true millennial form, FOMO Factory is all about the experience. Go with friends, take your time, and enjoy yourself. If you’re like me, you’ll be laughing all the way through while trying to look more cute than awkward.

Since I went as part of a media preview, it’s hard to judge how crowded it will be on your visit. We got there early, so while it felt a little rushed because you don’t want someone behind you waiting forever to have a certain room, it wasn’t so crowded that we couldn’t enjoy ourselves. Later, we tried to go back to a specific room but found a long line.

Bring your patience. Everyone is enjoying themselves and trying to take photos. Also, be respectful of other people’s time and don’t take too long with your photos. If you are not about selfies, waiting, and crowds, I’d avoid visiting.

Who knew a small room full of balloons would be so fun!

What I love about FOMO Factory is the place allows and even encourages you to go on an adventure. It puts you in a new environment and reminds me you don’t have to travel far for new experiences.

Try out the see-saw and swing in the playground!

I loved all the throwback and 80s references! Cassette tapes, 80s lyrics, and retro design are all here.

When you get to the end, look through the gift shop to take some color and Austin swag home with you.

The Details:

  • No parking lot, look for street parking or parking lots nearby
  • Advanced tickets recommended before they sell out. Children under 3 are free, children under 12 are $15, and adults are $23.
  • It should take about an hour to go through the whole thing.
  • The place does have a few flights of stairs and part of the exhibit is in a covered outdoor area.
  • Wear bright colors or patterns. If you can’t decide, wear black like me and it works well enough. Make sure it’s comfortable (and maybe pants?) because you’ll be moving into different spaces.
  • The FOMO Factory is now open until October 21, 2018.

Thank you to my friend Janna for taking all the photos of me!

The FOMO Factory
720 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701
Open Thursdays and Fridays 2 pm to 8 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12 pm to 8 pm
Website

Have you ever been to a selfie pop-up? Which room at The FOMO Factory is your favorite?

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Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City https://fearlesscaptivations.com/museo-frida-kahlo-mexico-city/ Fri, 08 Jun 2018 12:14:48 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=7399 Visit Museo Frida Kahlo or the Frida Kahlo Museum when you’re in Mexico City. The museum located at La Casa Azul, her home, is an intimate look at her life and work. I made plans to visit Museo Frida Kahlo […]

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Visit Museo Frida Kahlo or the Frida Kahlo Museum when you’re in Mexico City. The museum located at La Casa Azul, her home, is an intimate look at her life and work.

I made plans to visit Museo Frida Kahlo because it’s been noted as a popular place in Mexico City to visit, but leading up to the trip and even the day before our visit, I wasn’t convinced. I heard about the long lines even if you had already bought a ticket. I read accounts saying the place was overrated. I learned from other travelers that the museum didn’t feature a lot of her art.

I hadn’t thought the museum would have an impact on me, and I hadn’t planned to write its own post about it before visiting. But here we are. Read on for more thoughts!

Museo Frida Kahlo Tickets, Lines, and Audio Guides

The museum opened at 10 a.m. on a Sunday and we arrived at 9:45 a.m. to get into an already growing line. There were two lines. On the left is the line for people with tickets and the right is the line for people without tickets. We had bought our 10:30 a.m. entrance tickets online in advance, which is highly recommended unless you want to wait in the ticket-less line for at least two hours. The ticket-less line works as standby, letting people through based on how many who have already bought tickets show up. We saw plenty of people show up, figure out they were out of luck, and leave.

Tickets are $235.40 pesos ($11.50 USD) and you can purchase one for a specific day and time two months in advance. I couldn’t get a credit card to work on their website but a debit card worked fine. Be sure to bring a print out of your ticket.

If you want to take photos with any type of camera (even phones) inside, you’ll pay $30 pesos ($1.47 USD) at the entrance and they’ll give you a special sticker.

They also have audio guides for $75 pesos ($3.66 USD) available at the entrance. They have detailed panels in English and Spanish throughout the museum that gave plenty of information. The audio guide would have provided even more details but I learned a lot at the museum without it.

Frida Kahlo, Artist

I wouldn’t say I was a strong Frida Kahlo admirer. I knew she was a Mexican artist famous for her self-portraits. I knew feminists rallied around her. I knew she married artist Diego Rivera. I knew she had an eclectic, bohemian style.

I didn’t know her life had so much physical pain. She had polio as a child that left one leg shorter and thinner than the other. She was nearly killed in a bus accident at 18 years old. She was impaled through her pelvis and had fractures in her ribs and legs. Her injuries caused her physical and mental pain throughout the rest of her life. She turned to paintings as a way to discover a new passion and she expressed her emotions in her paintings, especially those of wanting to be free from pain and constraints.

Even with her pain, she didn’t seem to care what others thought when it came to what she wore, did, or believed in. She was a fashionista. If you picture Frida Kahlo in your mind, it’s likely similar to how most people picture her. Braids on top of her head, colorful jewelry, long skirts. One exhibit in the museum features her clothing and accessories, highlighting how she honored her culture and made political statements. She decorated her corsets with political symbols. She wore mixed patterns and statement pieces.

La Casa Azul and How She Lived

The museum is La Casa Azul, where Frida was born, grew up, and lived the last 13 years of her life. (She died at 47 years old.)

The museum takes you through room after room. The first two rooms you go through are galleries of her art with a few unfinished pieces. The next rooms are art she collected and photographs taken of her by her photographer father and photographer friends. Throughout the museum you’ll see art she collected or was gifted by artist friends and admirers.

After visiting the museum, I realized that much of the museum’s focus was about how she lived. Her life was considered art and we have come to hold every piece of her life as an inspiration. Can you imagine your life being immortalized by the books on your shelf, the trinkets on your dresser, and the art on your walls?

One of my favorite parts of the museum was the kitchen. This colorful room seemed like a place I’d want to cook with my family and host friends at the table.

It was strange walking around the house, imagining what Frida Kahlo’s life was like and analyzing her every possession. Much of it was left as it was when she died (as they say). Her studio had a mirror used for her self-portraits.

Her ashes are held in the brown toad-shaped urn in her bedroom. No big deal. Read all the description signs carefully and you’ll find interesting details.

Should You Visit Museo Frida Kahlo?

While the museum shows some dark and painful sides of her life, it also omits details to put more focus on the beauty Frida’s life evoked. The museum honors her life, her artistry, the importance she has in Mexico, and her romantic relationship with Diego Rivera (minus the hard times in their relationship and all the affairs both of them had). It perpetuates the “Fridamania” after her death caused by the fascination with her life, the recognition her art has received, and the idealization we’ve held of her as a fighter and a tragic hero.

Visiting the museum was a unique way to get to know Frida Kahlo, and I left feeling very inspired by her life and the art of her life. I can see why she is so dear to Mexico. That said, while the museum made me intrigued by the impact she has had, Boyfriend was indifferent to the museum.

If you’re interested in Frida Kahlo as an artist, have a few hours to spare, and are able to get tickets ahead of time, it’s worth a visit. Maybe it’ll inspire your artistic side or make you re-examine the details of your life.

Near the Frida Kahlo Museum

The museum is in the Coyoacán neighborhood, south of downtown and about a 15-20 minute drive. A few blocks away is the Coyoacán market where you’ll find souvenirs and food stalls. Nearby the market you’ll find the main square with the Coyoacán Cathedral and a line of bustling restaurants. It’s a nice neighborhood to walk around in.

Conclusion

After a 30-minute wait in line, we spent about an hour walking through the museum. It was a perfect, slow morning activity in our bustling weekend in Mexico City and I’m glad we did it!

Museo Frida Kahlo
Entrance fee: $235.40 pesos ($11.50 USD)
Highly recommended to buy tickets online ahead of time
Website: http://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/

P.S. Did you see my post about another popular Mexico City sight – Teotihuacan?

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Finding Inspiration Through Art at The Contemporary Austin https://fearlesscaptivations.com/art-the-contemporary-austin/ Sat, 12 May 2018 14:03:31 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=7266 The Contemporary Austin is an art museum with sculptures and installations that inspire creativity! Check out my recent visit. One of the most riveting art pieces I’ve ever seen involved a naked man playing his guitar while taking a bath. […]

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The Contemporary Austin is an art museum with sculptures and installations that inspire creativity! Check out my recent visit.

One of the most riveting art pieces I’ve ever seen involved a naked man playing his guitar while taking a bath.

That man, Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson, also happens to be the creator of The Visitors, the riveting art piece. It’s an installation video art piece that features nine different videos playing simultaneously on different screens. Each video features an artist or musician, located inside a different part of the same house, playing their part in the performance of a song. The 64-minute performance repeats the words “Once again, I fall into my feminine ways.” You can watch a snippet of it to get an idea of the set-up (here’s one the San Francisco Museum of Art made), but it is nothing compared to walking around the dark room, catching glimpses of each person’s performance and being surrounded by the haunting song.

Ragnar Kjartansson’s art varies by medium and many feature repetitive performances, showcasing artists’ endurance and providing the audience a strange and cathartic experience. My experience with The Visitors captivated me and was the main reason why I knew I would be seeing The Contemporary Austin’s latest exhibit.

The Contemporary Austin SS Hangover Ragnar Kjartansson

S.S. Hangover featured a hand-painted and restored Icelandic fishing boat, a captain, and a six-piece brass band playing a dreamy, elegant looping tune over a few hours. At The Contemporary Austin’s Laguna Gloria location by the lake, the boat was towed to the middle of the lagoon and anchored for the performance, each set about an hour.

The exhibit didn’t move me as much as The Visitors did, but it enticed the audience to stop, listen, and focus. Hearing the slow repetition, you wonder if there will be more than this melody. Pulling in a metaphor about life, maybe there isn’t more than this simple tune, but it asked you to slow down and enjoy the moment for what it is. The performance could be a basis for meditation, and if you let go enough, you’d find something you weren’t expecting.

Ragnar Kjartansson SS Hangover Contemporary Austin

Coming to see S.S. Hangover was the perfect opportunity to wander the museum, especially since it was a perfect spring day in Austin. The Contemporary Austin has a handful of permanent and visiting exhibitions at its sculpture park at Laguna Gloria. (Pictured below are Elmgreen & Dragset’s Watching on the far left and Ai WeiWei’s Iron Tree Trunk on the far right.)

Laguna Gloria is a beautiful historic landmark with lake views, the Driscoll Villa, and a short trail with sculptures to discover along the way. Walking along the trails is an ideal way to see art, and map in hand, it felt like a treasure hunt.

My favorite sculpture there is a permanent exhibit called Water Woman by Wangechi Mutu. It also looks beautiful from behind because she looks out into the lagoon.

The whimsical sculpture of Crying Miffy by Tom Sachs is fun. Miffy came from a children’s book and later became a cartoon character on TV and in a movie.

Liam Gillick’s Raised Laguna Discussion Platform is a colorful exhibit near the water.

Art challenges what you know and think. Some art pieces don’t speak to me or I don’t understand them, but I can appreciate the imagination of the artist and his courage to put ideas into the world. You never know what you’ll be drawn to, and it’s similar to specific chords or lyrics of a song or a mesmerizing dance performance.

Terry Allen’s Road Angel

Carol Bove

When I do like art pieces, it sparks my imagination. It makes me want to create. It reminds me that everyone is creative if she allows herself the time and space. (Photos of sculptures left to right: Paul McCarthy’s White Snow #3, Tom Friedman’s Looking Up, Monika Sosnowska’s The stairs.)

If you feel like you’re lacking creativity, go visit a new museum and see what you discover. In Austin, we’re lucky to have a handful of museums and art exhibits around town, and they are fairly accessible in location and cost. Austin appreciates and fosters art, and I hope that’s something residents and visitors take advantage of here!

What’s your favorite art piece you’ve discovered in your hometown or in your travels?

The Contemporary Austin
Two locations: Laguna Gloria (3809 West 35th Street, Austin, TX 78703) and Jones Center (700 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701)
Admission fee of $5 per adult covers entrance fee to both locations.
Website: https://www.thecontemporaryaustin.org/

P.S. Speaking of art, my other favorite pieces in Austin are Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin and James Turrell’s The Color Inside.

The adventure’s not over. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Fearless Wanderlust v.27 – August 2017 https://fearlesscaptivations.com/fearless-wanderlust-v-27-august-2017/ https://fearlesscaptivations.com/fearless-wanderlust-v-27-august-2017/#comments Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:51:43 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=6153 You can never get enough wanderlust inspiration. The monthly feature Fearless Wanderlust includes recent travel news, articles, and inspiration to encourage you to put more travel adventure in your life! Check out this month’s version. Forever Bicycles Art exhibits are […]

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You can never get enough wanderlust inspiration. The monthly feature Fearless Wanderlust includes recent travel news, articles, and inspiration to encourage you to put more travel adventure in your life! Check out this month’s version.

Forever Bicycles
Art exhibits are one of my go-to sights when I visit a new city. In Austin, we have a handful of cool exhibits, museums, and notable features. Artist Ai Weiwei’s Forever Bicycles exhibit was revealed this summer and it was really cool to see! It’s across from Waller Creek Boathouse if you want to check it out.

Room Service Robot
A hotel in Singapore now has a room service robot to bring you room amenities. I’m all for efficiency but I think I might miss the human hospitality connection too. What do you think?

Education to Reality
UT School of Architecture is designing some cool structures for Texas State Parks. As this Facebook video shows, the recent project at Galveston State Park will help visitors interact with the park better. It would be cool to see these structures in real life!

Yayoi Kusama Museum Coming!
I was excited to read that a permanent Kusama Museum will open in Tokyo this fall. I loved seeing her exhibit in Houston and have been wanting to see her other touring exhibits.

Sleepover at a Brewery
There are seven breweries around the world where you can have a sleepover. None of these are in the U.S. but the one in Norway would be pretty cool to stay at. Speaking of breweries, check out this list of favorite breweries in every state.

Hamilton Pool
Finally visited Hamilton Pool! Take a look at this post with all the details to plan your visit.

Cruise Lawsuit Settlement
Have you ever gotten a robocall telling you you’ve won a free cruise? If you have, you might be eligible to receive $900 from this lawsuit settlement. You can check to see if your phone number is in their online database and file a claim.

Riding Elephants
I’ve shared a few posts and stories about why you should never ride elephants. Travelers might think it’s a tradition that is ok but it does include a brutal history in an elephant’s life. Check out this post to learn more about riding elephants.

Visiting Nepal
One of the incredible things about travel is experiencing different cultures and learning about their history. This post by Hand Luggage Only shows the beautiful culture of Nepal, and I would love to see it for myself!

Vacation Shaming
A new survey revealed 25% of millennials feel vacation shame, a feeling of nervousness when requesting time off. For me, work ethic, the fear of falling behind at work, and letting my team down are the reasons why I get nervous about asking for time off. But taking extra days off is important to reset and recharge! There are other studies that show productivity increases after vacation.

Mexico Travel Warning
Because of the increase in violent crimes involving tourists, the U.S. Department of State has issued a warning about traveling to parts of Mexico. Some of the highly touristic areas like Los Cabos and Quintana Roo, which includes Tulum, Cancun, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen. Some of the crimes are not directed towards tourists but they have been hurt as a bystander. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should cancel your trip, but do what you think is best and as always, stay aware and alert when you travel. (See my post about staying safe while you travel here.)

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Best Things to Do in Houston https://fearlesscaptivations.com/best-things-to-do-in-houston/ https://fearlesscaptivations.com/best-things-to-do-in-houston/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2016 15:16:09 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=4237 After my previous quick trips to Houston, Texas and my latest Labor Day weekend visit, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what Houston has to offer. I’ll admit, growing up in Dallas and now in my 10th year […]

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After my previous quick trips to Houston, Texas and my latest Labor Day weekend visit, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what Houston has to offer. I’ll admit, growing up in Dallas and now in my 10th year in Austin, I didn’t think of Houston very highly. I didn’t know the city very well. My feelings changed by the end of the trip and as we were leaving, I couldn’t stop saying, “I really like Houston. I want to come back here.”

Houston is a fun city to visit! Our Houston trip revolved around art, food, and friends. The Kusama exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts was the main reason for traveling to Houston, but we saw a bunch of historic sights too. We met up with friends who lived in/near Houston and watched football and went dancing. We packed as much as we could in two and a half days, and there are definitely more spots for our another trip!

Here are some suggestions for things to do in Houston.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership Cistern

This 30-minute tour underground to see the cistern was interesting and eerie. We learned all about the cistern’s history and admired its reflective darkness. If you want to visit, check their website for reservations. They only allow a certain number of people on each tour and you need to arrive on time.

buffalo-bayou-cistern

NASA Johnson Space Center

This place is for all the space enthusiasts! See artifacts, visiting exhibits, and more. Learn all about space history.

Beer Can House

File this under weird but cool. Began in 1968, the Beer Can House transformed over 18 years with new additions of beer cans in all forms. There are an estimated 50,000 cans attached to this house!

Waterwall Park

Take a quick stop at the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park for a look-see and photo-op. The 64-foot fountain circulates 11,000 gallons of water each minute!

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

We made it to Houston right before the visiting “Kusama: At the End of the Universe” exhibit would leave. I didn’t know much about Kusama before the exhibit, only that she was a Japanese artist. From the quotes posted around the exhibits and her art, I learned her inspiration in love and her thoughts on the afterlife. It was a captivating and magical exhibit and I want to see her other exhibits in Los Angeles and Tokyo!

museum-of-fine-arts-houston-kusama-universe

Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity

museum-of-fine-arts-houston-kusama-love-is-calling

Love is Calling by Kusama

kusama-love-is-calling-houston-museum

We also toured the other exhibits in the museum. James Turrell’s The Light Inside Tunnel was one of my favorite experiences, as well as the visiting ‘Statements: African American Art from the Museum’s Collection’ and ‘The Age of Kusama: Pop Art and Minimalism’ exhibits.

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turrell-light-tunnel-museum-of-fine-arts-houston

The Menil Collection

This always-free art museum has permanent and special exhibits. Their mission to make art accessible brings varying and interesting exhibits to the museum.

Contemporary Art Museum Houston

This contemporary art museum showcases two galleries and eight to ten different exhibits per year.

James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace

We also visited James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice University campus. The Skyspace is a 40-minute sequence and is best seen at sunrise or sunset. The structure is massive and the lights at sunset were dreamy. There are two levels inside the structure where you can sit and admire the lights. The middle of the roof has a square cut out of it, so you can see the colors blend into the sky. We made free reservations on the website for sunset, and reservations are required for sunset only.

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Rothko Chapel

We stopped by the chapel but the obelisk structure had been removed for restoration. The inside of the chapel is for meditation if you prefer to partake.

Murals

You can find murals around Austin. Many of the ones we saw were in the Montrose neighborhood. Here’s a handy Houston mural guide by Where + Wear + Well.

Biscuit Paint Wall

This colorful mural has been a popular stop for visitors and locals alike.

biscuit-wall-houston-texas

biscuitpaintwall-houston

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Nightlife

We weren’t too familiar with the nightlife and couldn’t find solid information, so we decided to go dancing at Barbarella, a place we like in Austin with a location in Houston. It was a fun time but very loud!

Sports

Houston is the home of many major league sports teams. See the:

Want to read more about Houston? Check out my Houston Travel Guide and Best Restaurants in Houston.

Have you been to Houston? What activities and sights would you recommend?

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Top 10 Favorite Sights in Spain https://fearlesscaptivations.com/top-10-favorite-sights-in-spain/ Sun, 08 Jun 2014 22:59:35 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=1240 Even though my favorite city in Spain was Barcelona, we saw amazing sights throughout our trip. Since we visited nine cities in the span of 2 weeks, we made sure to visit the must-see sights in those cities. Ten sights […]

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Even though my favorite city in Spain was Barcelona, we saw amazing sights throughout our trip. Since we visited nine cities in the span of 2 weeks, we made sure to visit the must-see sights in those cities. Ten sights stand out as the most memorable of our trip.

1. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
As I shared in my Barcelona post, La Sagrada Familia was a riveting sight of creativity and history. This is a must-see!

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2. La Boqueria, Barcelona
When I go back to Spain, I want to indulge in fresh fruit more. That’s why La Boqueria, the market on La Rambla, is one of my favorites. I loved the fresh fruit and juices and all the food stalls.

sp173. Prado, Madrid
The Prado has an unbelievable number of famous masterpieces, and we spent a whole day indulging in it. Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez was my favorite, and I also loved several pieces by Rubens, Bosch, El Greco and Goya. Art history fans will love this museum.

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4. La Mezquita, Córdoba
Not only does the La Mezquita have a beautiful, expansive and unique interior, but the history behind the interior fascinated me. It was built as a medieval Islamic mosque and then converted into a Catholic Christian cathedral.

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5. Real Maestranza Bullring and Museum, Sevilla
I was hoping to see a bullfight because it is a traditional part of the Spanish culture but in actuality, I’m not sure I would have handled seeing the goriness! Since our schedules didn’t line up to see one, the bullring and museum in Sevilla was the next best thing. Sevilla and Madrid are the two most popular and passionate cities when it comes to bullfighting. We learned a detailed history and culture from our tour guide and we got to see behind the scenes, from where the bullfighters prayed before entering the ring to where the bulls were kept, in addition to the center stage.

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6. La Casa del Flamenco, Sevilla
Another necessity in experiencing Spanish culture was a flamenco show. It’s a very emotional, technical and mesmerizing performance with singing, guitar, dance and handclaps.

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7. La Alhambra, Granada
A palace and fortress, La Alhambra sits majestically above Granada. Islamic tradition, Arabic inscriptions and geometric patterns cover the interior. Room after room, La Alhambra is a place of details to discover and history to learn. Mirador de San Nicolas is a lookout point across town that gives a fantastic view of La Alhambra, as seen in the night photo.

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8. Cathedral de Toledo
We saw many, many cathedrals but the one in Toledo was my favorite. The interior is incredibly elaborate. The gothic-style altar depicts the story of Jesus’ life and the another section of the cathedral is a huge marble altar with sculptures of the Virgin and Child and natural light shining down on it.

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9. Burriana Beach, Nerja
I LOVED our beach day and this beach was pretty perfect. Nerja is on the southern coast of Spain and touches the Alboran Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea. The water was chill and crisp, the sand was hot, the crowds were manageable and the food and drinks were plenty. Our beach day was towards the end of our trip and a welcome day of relaxation in between packed days of sight-seeing.

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10. Teatro Kapital, Madrid
I debated my final favorite sight for a while because listing a nightclub with all of these other historical sights just seemed wrong. But, when it comes to unique, fun and memorable places we went in Spain, this makes the list. We knew Spain, especially Madrid, was known for a vibrant nightlife, but our packed daytime schedule left us little time and energy to really experience it. Plus, it wasn’t a priority for us. On the last night we were all together, we decided to see what it’s all about, and we ended up choosing Teatro Kapital. It had 8 stories with different themes/music on each and it was packed! It ended up being a very fun night and experience. Our group matching in black was a coincidence!

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As you can imagine, we saw tons more on our trip. In two weeks, we visited at least 20 well-known sights, landmarks, attractions! In addition to what I listed above and in my Barcelona post, here are some other sights we saw:

Barcelona
-Gothic Quarter
-Museu Picasso

Segovia
-Cathedral de Segovia
-Alcazar of Segovia

Toledo
-Casa de Santa Cruz

Córdoba
-Los Patios de Alcazar Viejo

Sevilla
-World Exposition Park
-Real Alcazar
-Cathedral de Sevilla (inside is the Tomb of Christopher Columbus)
-Metropol Parasol

Granada
-Cathedral of Granada
-Tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella

What’s your favorite landmark or attraction you’ve experienced in your travels?

Want to read more about my trip to Spain? Check out:
Barcelona: My Favorite City in Spain
Eating and Drinking Through Spain
7 Lessons Learned About Spain and Travel

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