Rothko Chapel in Houston’s Montrose district was temporarily closed due to Hurricane Beryl, but curators said the spiritual space is expected to reopen by December 17.
In early July, over a month after Beryl’s attack, Rothko Chapel’s doors were shut down for good. The church roof began to leak as a result of intense wind and rain. Water damage occurred to portions of the room’s walls and ceiling.
According to the chapel, four of Mark Rothko’s works also had panels that were damaged to differing degrees. The panels are currently being restored at a facility off-site.
According to a statement from executive director David Leslie, since the storm, we have concentrated on repairing the structure completely, restoring the damaged panels, and reopening the facility so that the public can once more use this cherished area for meditation and reflection.
After leading the chapel through its closure during Beryl, Leslie, who has been its director since 2015, announced last month that he would be leaving the position.
A fantastic team of art conservators, scientists, art handlers, volunteers, community partners, and chapel personnel have worked together to get to this point, and we are thrilled to reopen in time for the Christmas, Leslie added.
Rothko Chapel led a conservation analysis and assessment with the help of Whitten & Proctor Fine Art Conservation, a national art-conservation firm. Since then, the roof, ceiling, and walls that were damaged by the flood have been restored.
For fifty-four years, Rothko Chapel has been a non-denominational place of worship in Montrose.
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The Rothko Chapel has served as an interfaith haven for many visitors to pray, contemplate, and think. The room’s quiet and concrete walls might either calm or frighten a visitor with its contemplative ambiance.
Through public programming, the chapel unites art, spirituality, and compassion in a meditative setting.
The Welcome House will open during the chapel’s usual hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 17. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the chapel will be open from noon to five o’clock.
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