Community

A familiar landscape can look entirely different through an artist’s eyes—or from a few hundred feet above the ground. This fall, the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is inviting neighbors to slow down and look again, with four free exhibitions that explore the American West, East Texas and the lives of two Houston artists.

The exhibitions open Saturday, October 3, 2026, and continue through January 2, 2027. The museum, at 6815 Cypresswood Drive in Spring, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free gallery admission. Its fall calendar also includes an October 15 benefit luncheon honoring State Representative Sam Harless, an October 31 Día de los Muertos Family Day and Art Market, and classes and workshops for young people and adults.

For residents across North Houston, Northwest Houston and Cypress, that creates room for different kinds of visits: an unhurried look through the galleries, a first attempt at making art or a family day spent celebrating together.

The American West in Paint and Bronze

The Main Gallery’s The New American West: By Brush and By Bronze brings together the work of landscape painter Kathleen Frank and sculptor Mark Yale Harris. Frank’s patterned, richly colored oil paintings appear alongside Harris’s figurative and wildlife bronzes, presenting two different ways of interpreting the West’s landscapes and culture.

Frank’s artistic background includes teaching, woodcarving and printmaking. Patterns and repetition remain central to her paintings, and her search for particular viewpoints has taken her hundreds of miles on foot through the American Southwest and West.

Harris previously worked in sustainable urban development before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the late 1990s and concentrating on sculpture. He studied with Bill Prokopiof, Allan Houser and Doug Hyde. His work has appeared in more than 250 solo, museum or international exhibitions.

Seeing East Texas From Above

The view changes in another Main Gallery exhibition, From the Air: A Different Perspective of East Texas, featuring drone photography by Bill Walterman. His photographs explore small towns and landscapes from viewpoints that reveal shapes, patterns and details often missed at ground level.

“When drones became available, I decided to try one—and now I have a camera with wings,” Walterman said. “I’ve found the viewpoint, perspective, and detail rendered from the altitude of 100 to 300 feet adds a new dimension to my photography.”

Remembering Howard Finkel and Les McDonald

The Cole Gallery presents Once in a Lifetime: The Life and Art of Howard Finkel. Finkel, who lived from 1942 to 2018, spent 32 years as a Houston orthopedic surgeon before discovering bronze sculpture in retirement. He trained at the Glassell Studio School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, drawing on quiet moments with his family for his work.

In the Hillery Community Gallery, The Art of Les McDonald celebrates the watercolors of Les McDonald Jr., who lived from 1943 to 2025. His paintings depict the wildlife, landscapes and sporting scenes of the Texas Gulf Coast. A commercial artist before becoming a full-time painter in 1986, McDonald built his career around close observation of the natural world.

Seen together, the exhibitions offer a conversation between different ways of noticing the world: Frank’s patterns, Harris’s sculpted forms, Walterman’s aerial views and the personal interests that shaped Finkel’s and McDonald’s art. Visitors can explore all four during the same museum trip.

October 15 Luncheon Supports the Museum

The museum’s Fall Luncheon will take place Thursday, October 15, at Shirley Acres. Chaired by Kathleen Castro, the benefit will honor State Representative Sam Harless and feature guest speaker Judge Lincoln Goodwin.

The program includes a presentation by the Pearl’s Youth Art Council, music by the Klein Forest Jazz Band, a silent auction and a meal. Proceeds support the museum’s art exhibitions, educational programs and community activities.

Tickets and sponsorship information are available through the museum’s events page or by calling 281-376-6322. Supporters may also ask about contributing an item to the silent auction.

Free Día de los Muertos Family Day on October 31

The Pearl’s sixth annual Día de los Muertos Family Day and Art Market is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum.

The celebration will include art activities, performances, food vendors, a community ofrenda and an outdoor market featuring local artists, including Día de los Muertos-themed artwork and wares.

Admission is free, but registration is requested. The museum’s Family Days are sponsored by The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Families can find registration and the developing schedule through pearlmfa.org/events.

From Looking at Art to Making It

The Pearl’s School of Art offers classes and workshops for ages 8 through adult, with subjects including ceramics, watercolor and mixed media. Programs serve both beginners and artists building on existing skills.

Upcoming Saturday workshops include fused glass on October 17 and November 21. A November 14 youth workshop will use LEGO bricks to introduce the basics of printmaking.

Fall registration is underway at pearlmfa.org/art-classes. The museum can also answer registration questions at 281-376-6322.

A Museum Built Through Community Support

The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts opened in 2008 in a former county library transformed through local support. Its mission combines access to original art with educational and public programming.

Donations from individuals, businesses and foundations help sustain the museum, along with membership and benefit-event support. That community backing keeps gallery admission free while supporting opportunities to learn about art and make it.

For current exhibitions, visitor information and seasonal programs, visit pearlmfa.org.

By Johnny Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Johnny Krenek has been connected to community news since childhood, growing up alongside the family business his parents founded—Krenek Printing. Today, he serves as Vice President and lead developer for My Neighborhood News, where he drives the digital experience and supports the team across a variety of technical and operational roles. He is passionate about building tools that help connect neighbors and strengthen communities.

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