gentleridevan » Microcinemas

The Most Beautiful Cinema in the World?

Andrea — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:01:30 +0000

I often lament that the design of two things has not been markedly improved in the last 100 years: BEDS and CINEMAS. But this is a beautiful exception to the latter: “Curtain Call,” a cinematic environment by the artist/architect/designer, Ron Arad for Roundhouse, London. Read all about it on Dezeen.

Ron Arad's "Curtain Call" as covered in Dezeen

Give a little bit

Andrea — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:15:58 +0000

Aurora Picture Show, the organization I founded in Houston, Texas, sent a swell year-end appeal fake holiday form letter. Why not give a little bit, give a little bit of your money to them? You even can listen to Supertramp while you make your donation. It’ll be fun!

Original Aurora Picture Show Building For Sale

Andrea — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:44:08 +0000

Our home is for sale…

Photo: Kenny Haner

Contact: Andrea Grover
800 Aurora Street
Houston, TX 77009
713-256-0870
andrea-at-andreagrover.com

For Immediate Release:

ORIGINAL AURORA PICTURE SHOW BUILDING FOR SALE

Houston, TX, May 24, 2010 – The original Aurora Picture Show building, a unique church-to-single-family-home conversion, is for sale. Located at 800 Aurora Street, Houston, Texas, 77009, the 1924 wooden church building houses a 96-seat cinema, with a four bedroom, 2.5 bath residential addition.

The property has been the residence of Aurora Picture Show founder, Andrea Grover and her family, since 1997, and served as the main cinema for the non-profit organization from 1998-2008. In addition to the monthly screenings that took place there for ten years (presenting artists Ant Farm, Craig Baldwin, Enid Baxter Blader, James Benning, Constance DeJong, Skip Elsheimer, Harrell Fletcher, Calvin Johnson, Sharon Lockhart, Eileen Maxson, Tony Oursler, and more), the converted church was host to many art community ceremonies, including 13 weddings (the marriages of Houston artists Francesca Fuchs and Bill Davenport; Claire Chauvin and Patrick Phipps, and others); and two memorials (including a tribute to Ant Farm founding member, Doug Michels). Additionally, the East Sunset Heights Association held their bi-monthly meetings there from 2004-2010.

List price is $409,000 $395,000, including pew seating, and a disused baptistry.

Photos may be downloaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gentleridevan/sets/72157624060187394

MLS listing: http://search.har.com/engine/doSearch.cfm?QUICKSEARCH=800%20aurora&FOR_SALE=1

About Aurora Picture Show: Founded in 1998 by Andrea Grover, the first home for Aurora was a former church building where Grover and her family both lived and worked. Now the home base for Aurora Picture is adjacent to The Menil Collection. Since 2009, Aurora screenings have been nomadic and site-specific.

About Andrea Grover: Andrea Grover is a migrant curator, artist and writer.

Life After Aurora

Andrea — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:28:00 +0000

A few people have asked what I’m doing now that I’m no longer on staff at Aurora Picture Show (my first child, not of the flesh), so here’s a running list.

• I’m making lists! (with the my new app: Remember the Milk– highly recommended for freelancers)

• I’m working as a Curator and Producer for Confluence: Points of View on Buffalo Bayou, a contemporary art project of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership that initiates the creation of innovation public art and related programming on, along and within the environs of Houston’s historic river, the Buffalo Bayou.

• I’m freelancing for Aurora Picture Show’s Aurora Video Label, and completing production on two outstanding titles: A Film Is A Burning Place: Works by Enid Baxter Blader; and Cinemad 2009 Almanac, which is curated by Mike Plante.

• I’m co-editing a book with Ed Halter on a history of U.S. microcinemas, titled A Microcinema Primer: A Brief History of Small Cinemas.

• I’m hosting a new bi-annual series at The Menil Collection called “Menil Movies.”

• I’m being a hausfrau and mutter

Pictured: Tour of Buffalo Bayou with Sandra Percival, Cynthia Toles, Terrie Sultan, Gilbert Vicario, Mary Leclere, and Donald Sultan.