“Dark Matter” –an Art Show combining Science and Civil Rights

A Tribute to Bert Long Jr. and those things that matter most. Bert Long Jr was an icon to the Houston Art Community and in his lifetime he helped many Houston artists. He was larger than life and even in death his presence remains in the influences of the many artists whom he helped and gave his time and knowledge to. Ironically, one of Bert’s last shows,” The Quantum Physics – Parallel Universe Show” with Daniel Johnston and Lester Marks among many other local artists, concerned science, current events and the limitless possibilities of things we really don’t fully understand.  

There will be a ‘Meet and Greet’ on Saturday 9/19 from 6pm to 10 pm. John Foster, Bert’s son, will be co-hosting this event along with playing with the Johnny Smith Experience. Artists, Scientists, Civil Right Advocates, along with Musicians and Writers will be coming together to make sense of current events. Meet some of Houston’s most interesting and knowledgeable individuals in these fields. They will answer questions about their insight on current events affecting society. 

Featuring in this event will be University of Houston physicist Dr. Eric Bittner; the honorable Jew Don Boney, former city councilman and candidate for Houston Comptroller; Randall Kallinen, civil rights attorney and artist; Lt. James Stewart, currently with the HCSO and running for Precinct 3 constable; Mr. Robert Boyd, esteemed national and local art critic; John Runnells, artist and co-founder of Mother Dog Studios. And returning from New York, artist, musician, and civil rights advocate, David Krase will be providing music through the Johnny Smith Experience and he will be showing a short film about the Occupy Wall street protest movement and police brutality. Hispanic civil rights activist Carlos Cabillio who reported on the Joe Campos Torres situation and made a film about it and Randy Burton, founder of Justice for Children will be there. 

Bert always helped young artists and students so in his memory, we are recognizing artist Diego Zambrano, 15 year old protégé and son of the late Victor Hugo Zambrano Navarro. Victor featured a cast of Bert in his show ‘72- Estado Fallido’, a show regarding the deaths of journalists covering the drug war in Mexico. This cast will be on view. While Bert and Victor are probably somewhere in a different dimension or parallel universe drinking beer, we are still here, putting on art shows. 

Along with some other very important surprise guests to be announced, we hope you will be able to attend and have some of your most pressing questions about the current state of affairs in art, science and civil rights answered. But if not, then at least you can have some free beer and see some really cool art… and remember, there is beauty in everything……… sometimes it just takes a little more beer to see it.