Houston's art scene is reeling from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, with several venerable institutions closed indefinitely due to damage. The Rothko Chapel, a meditative art sanctuary harboring Mark Rothko's iconic canvases, has shuttered doors after water from the hurricane wreaked havoc on the historic venue. "Some paintings had water damage to them," David Leslie, the Executive Director, laid bare the stark situation in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. With high costs and widespread destruction, the path to recovery is uncertain.
Paintings at the chapel, which could potentially fetch millions at auction, are not the only casualties. The Hurricane Beryl also tore through other institutions like the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) and the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. According to a Chron report, HCCC's power-loss following the storm had its transformer not just going out but explode. As Leila Cartier, the museum's director, relayed the series of mishaps to the publication, this led to an insurance claim denial.
The Menil Collection's neighborhood still feels the impact of Beryl with fallen trees and damage. Meanwhile, the Rothko Chapel's $42 million "Opening Spaces" project continues despite the surrounding chaos, with workers analyzing the damage and focusing on the future.
Amid the closures, museums are scrambling for solutions. The Air Terminal Museum turned to crowdfunding, barely scratching the goal with $1,300 raised of the needed $25,000. HCCC's postponement of reopenings and program cancellations penalizes not only their balance sheets but artists-in-residence who, for many days, stood disconnected from their work and the audiences that engage with it. "Those things are beyond our control and we've just been very transparent," Cartier elucidated to the Chron.
Reopening timelines are uncertain, but staff at affected institutions are committed to restoring normalcy. Echoing Cartier's aspirations that aired to the Chron: "And that was so joyous—people came and danced and there was music and the neighbors came out. It's important for us to show that we're committed to reopening. We're committed to the programs that we had signed on for, and we're adapting."
