Kid Flix Mix
From the New York International Children's Film Festival
Co-Presented with the Children's Museum of Houston
Saturday, January 28, 4PM
Location: Children's Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz
A little bird struggling to find his voice, beatboxing kittens, and a cookie-loving pig these are just a few of the memorable characters you will meet in this screening from The New York International Children's Film Festival. NYICFF is North America's largest festival of film for children and teens, and stands at the forefront of a movement to define a new, more provocative and compelling film for kids.  READ MORE

Youth Stop Motion Animation Workshop
Saturday, February 4, 12:00-3:00PM
Location: Whole Foods Market Bellaire, 4004 Bellaire Blvd.
Free Admission with Advance Registration
Aurora’s stop-animation workshop teaches children a form of animation in which still photographs and objects are filmed and manipulated in ways that make them appear to move on their own.  Youth will use fruits and vegetables from Whole Foods Market to create short films that spread the message of environmental responsibility or healthy habits. Aurora Picture Show volunteers will help participants create their story and local filmmakers will help bring them to life. READ MORE

Video Love Box Workshop
Tuesday, February 7, 6:00-9:00PM
Location: Aurora Video Library, 1524 Sul Ross
LIMITED Space; Advance Registration Required
Are you a secret admirer of a special someone or do you need a gift for a loved one?  If you really want to impress your love, go beyond sappy cards and flowers with a creative video straight from the heart.   Bring your personal photos and memorabilia to make a diorama that will be transformed into a story with video.  Students will leave with your diorama and a DVD of the love piece.  Wine and chocolates will be provided to get you in the mood.  READ MORE

My Heart Is An Idiot
With FOUND Magazine Mini-performance by Co-Creator Davy Rothbart
Filmmaker David Meiklejohn in Attendance
Thursday, February 9, 6:30PM and 9PM
Location: Barnevelder Movement Complex, 2201 Preston
Whether you are a lover or a hater of Valentine’s Day, you are going to love this special event!  My Heart is an Idiot is a romantic documentary that captures the road-tripping lifestyle of Davy Rothbart (FOUND Magazine, This American Life) as he looks for love in all the right places, and all the wrong ways.  My Heart is an Idiot is a hot mess disguised as a love poem, weaving together multiple stories to illustrate the joys and dangers of romantic pursuit. READ MORE

AURORA NEWS

Meet the Spring Interns
Each semester, Aurora hires two interns to take under our wing and show all the ins and outs of non-profit media arts administration.  Teaching them skills from promotions to event management, and even getting their assistance with managing the video library, Aurora provides students with an opportunity to bridge the gap between studying arts as a student and working as a professional.  This semester we welcome Monica Foote and Alyssa Stephens to our team. If you see them at the office, talk to them on the phone, or see them at a screening please say "Howdy!"  READ MORE

unBlocked: performance based video
FLICKERLOUNGE: Season-Long Cinematic Experience
Curated by Aurora Picture Show
January 19 – February 25
Location: DiverseWorks Artspace, 1117 East Freeway
DiverseWorks is a non-profit art center dedicated to presenting new visual, performing, and literary art.  For each DiverseWorks exhibition, Aurora curates a screening installation that takes place in the private screening room known as Flickerlounge.  Blurring the distinction between performance, video art and body art, these young artists from the University of Houston combine media, personal narrative and social commentary in their works.  READ MORE

An Idea Fund Update
Please join us to celebrate the recipients of the 2012 Idea Fund!
Wednesday, January 25th 7-9PM

Location: Eldorado Ballroom, 2310 Elgin
The Idea Fund, a re-granting program administered through Aurora Picture Show, DiverseWorks Artspace and Project Row Houses, and funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, announces the 2012 The Idea Fund Grantees. The following ten Texas-based artists or artist groups will receive $4,000 ($3,500 for the awarded project, plus $500 seed money for future work) to create and showcase projects in the coming year: Scott Gleeson & Dane Larsen; Carrie Schneider; Michelle Benaim Steiner, Lope Gutierrez Ruiz, & Alexander Wright; Aaron Dubrow, Xochi Solis, Jules Buck Jones, Drew Liverman, Scott Eastwood, Margit Raczkowski, Timothy Schmidt & Carlos Rosales-Silva; Alejandro Saenz Jr. (Kingspoint Crew); Lakes Were Rivers collective; Ariel Evans & Richard Yanas; Nestor Topchy & Robert Rosenburg; Lauren Woods; and Christina Sukhgian Houle.  READ MORE

Education Station
An Update on Mobile Media Literacy with Aurora
Troop Polar Bear from the Heights recently worked with our Mobile Media Literacy program to offer a stop-motion animation on the idea of beauty and portrayal of females in the media.  Check out their animations HERE.  Interested in learning more about these workshops for your organization, click HERE.

Meet Otis Ike and Ivete Lucas
Featured in the Curator's Corner this Winter
Each quarter, Aurora Curator Mary Magsamen will highlight an artist from Aurora's diverse membership to showcase their work and introduce you to the Aurora congregation. This season, our featured members are Otis Ike and Ivete Lucas. Otis’ film, Please Visit Ivanhoe, won first place in last year’s Extremely Shorts Festival.  Ivete’s film, Mexican Fried Chicken, won first place in last year’s Señorita Cinema Festival.  Their collaborative exhibition, "One Big Misunderstanding,” will be part of FotoFest 2012 at GGallery, 301 E 11th Street, Houston, March 3 - March 26, 2011.  READ MORE