Every day on Art&Seek, we’re talking to people who have tips for socially distant art experiences. Share yours with us on Facebook, Instagram or @artandseek on Twitter. Click above to hear Chris Leahy from the Tyler Museum of Art, share his tip with KERA’s Nilufer Arsala. 

Art Work: Al Souza/Tyler Museum of Art

The Tyler Museum of Art is open for business and ready to roll out the red carpet for visitors.

Their newest exhibition, Bits and Pieces: Works by Al Souza is kind of an homage to what’s become the pandemic’s favorite pastime–the jigsaw puzzle.

Souza, a former professor of art at the University of Houston, has created  a variety of mixed media collages and assemblages made entirely of puzzles.  The works combine various pieces from different parts of puzzles to create a whole new dynamic work.

Photo: Tyler Museum of Art

Tyler Museum of Art Executive Director, Chris Leahy says the works will make visitors happy.

“It’s a kaleidoscope of color–abstract from a distance, but as you approach you see clear images constructed with jigsaw puzzle pieces,” said Leahy “They’ll slow you down as you discover the variety of images in the four or five layers of puzzle pieces.

Also on display through Aug. 30 is The Blue Man: Photographs by Keith Carter.

Photo: Keith Carter/Tyler Museum of Art

Carter’s black and white photographs from the 1980s showcase a variety of people and places found around rural East Texas.

“What we strive for is to to do things that are very accessible to our community,” said Leahy. “Keith Carter is definitely one who resonates with the community.”

The Museum has been back open since May 5. Health protocols are in place and the art is installed to allow patrons to view them in a socially distant way.

“We’re very excited about welcoming people back into the galleries because this art is very uplifting. It’s very restorative and it will lift people’s moods,” said Leahy.

Got a tip? Email Therese Powell at tpowell@kera.org. You can follow her on Twitter @TheresePowell13

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