Night Market Draws Diverse Crowd and Celebrates New Exhibition Dedicated to Nature

HOUSTON, October 1, 2015—Inspired by the vibrant energy of street markets found throughout Asia, Asia Society Texas Center’s localized version on September 18 included Houston vendors like Big Creek Farms, Plant it Forward, Orchid Obsession, The Community Cloth, and Ten Thousand Villages selling fresh floral and produce, Asian-fusion cuisine, hand-crafted garments, and fair trade goods. Pop-up tents and food trucks lined Southmore Boulevard, and more than 1,600 visitors bustled about the building and strolled through the lantern-lit paths outside throughout the evening.

The highlight of the night was the opening of Asia Society’s latest exhibition, Drawn from Nature, featuring contemporary works by four artists from Japan, Korea, Tibet, and Cambodia whose works show the continuing impact of nature as a source of inspiration and medium. The exhibition, on view through February 21, is meant to be meditative and reflective, challenging visitors to consider their own relationship with the natural world, and how that changes over time.

Fitting with the theme of the exhibition, Night Market guests were also treated to an animal visit by the Houston Zoo, ikebana demonstrations by Ikebana International, and Khmer and Korean lessons by Masterword Services.

Since the first Night Market launched in 2013, the event has become a signature Asia Society event, drawing a large, diverse, multi-generational following of people in the community looking to explore the cultural landscape of the Bayou City. Asia Society’s mission is to educate, enrich, and engage the diversity of Houston, and guests who attended were able to connect with different cultures through thought-provoking exhibitions and various family activities.

American First National Bank was the presenting sponsor of Asia Society’s Night Market. An Asian-American owned National Bank and a long-time supporter of art and cultural programs at Asia Society, American First National Bank previously supported the 2012 and 2013 Spotlight Asia mixers, and were also the presenting sponsor of the organization's previous fall and spring Night Markets.

The next night market is expected to take place in fall 2016.