The Menil Collection

To create her newspaper works, including "Newspaper," 1962, the artist Chryssa used discarded "New York Times" metal printing plates.

"I would start printing and covering the whole canvas... stamp again and again and again, without any disorder, with a precise energy and I didn't want to have any emotion about it—no parts darker or lighter, I wanted the whole thing to be as equal and as quiet as possible—almost if it was done with an enormous machine."

See "Newspaper" in the Menil Collection's main building foyer. This Thursday, July 16, join the Menil as Sophie Asakura, Curatorial Associate, Modern and Contemporary Art, discusses the foyer installation of paintings by Chryssa and Houston artist Dorothy Hood.

Today is 713 Day. Shortly after settling in Houston in 1941, John and Dominique de Menil became tireless ambassadors for modern art and civil rights in the rapidly developing city.

For the 1949 volume "Houston," held by the Menil Library, John de Menil contributed an essay. "You must not go to London, Paris, or New York to be cosmopolitan. Just open your ears and your eyes and here you have it, right in Houston."

Even with Houston's summer sun, the Menil Collection's signature roof "leaves" illuminate the museum galleries while shielding the artwork from harsh light.

Architect Renzo Piano said, "The most important thing Dominique de Menil wanted was to work with light. She wanted to feel the clouds coming and going. She wanted to feel the day going away and the evening coming."