A quick glance into the University of Houston’s Blaffer Gallery will reveal a 1910 women’s gymnastics class, a car colliding with a wall of television sets and hair that transcends its natural appearance to create works of art.

Such disparate imagery might puzzle most people, but the campus community has come to expect the unexpected from its art gallery.

The gallery has kicked off spring with three distinctive exhibits: “Jane and Louise Wilson: Erewhon,” “Ant Farm: 1968 – 1978” and “J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere: Hairstyles.”

“I think this is the first time the Blaffer has shown three exhibits at once,” said Terrie Sultan, Blaffer Gallery director. “We’ve upped the ante. These exhibits along with the events we have planned in conjunction with them are very special.”

On display in the main downstairs gallery is “Jane and Louise Wilson: Erewhon,” a photographic and video showcase of moody and mysterious architectural structures. The twin artists present expansive, photographic images, including a former East German secret police headquarters, Russian cosmonaut training facilities and an American missile base. A primary feature of “Erewhon” is a multi-dimensional video presentation juxtaposing scenes of women recreating an early 20th century gymnastics course, and an abandoned New Zealand mining town and sanitorium.

Upstairs in the gallery, “Ant Farm 1968 – 78” captures the history of the Ant Farm, an art collective that delved into areas as diverse as avant garde architecture to recreating U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. A timeline guides gallery visitors through the Ant Farm’s career and includes photos, illustrations and videos. Among the troupe’s most notable works is “Media Burn,” which features video footage of a Cadillac colliding with a pyramid of TVs and photos of “House of the Century,” a space-age home that was built in Angleton, Texas, but ruined by floods in 1985.

Two Ant Farm members, Doug Michels, who passed away last year, and Chip Lord, served as adjunct professors for UH’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. A retrospective of Michels’ work is currently on display in the college. “Doug Michels: Beyond The Ant Farm” through March 6.

“They were performance artists, architects and some of the first people to explore using video as an artistic medium,” Sultan said.

In the southern wing of the Blaffer’s downstairs gallery is “J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere: Hairstyles” a photographic display of Nigerian women’s hairstyles. Black and white photos showcase ornate, exotic and artistic hairstyles.

“Hairstyles” is already on display, but a special opening reception is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28 in the gallery.

Blaffer Gallery also will host an open house from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, in conjunction with the Citywide Celebration of Contemporary African Art. The celebration will include other Houston galleries such as the Menil Collection, the University Museum at Texas Southern University and Project Row Houses. In attendance at the open house will be “Hairstyles” artist J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, as well as hairstylists demonstrating the intricate weaving that is depicted in the exhibit.

For more details on the gallery’s current exhibits and upcoming events, visit http://www.hfac.uh.edu/blaffer/index.html or call 713-743-9530.

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu