It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
IT’S RAINING CATS AND DOGS! By Vincent di Nguyen and Peter Nguyen
Public Reception: Thursday, June 9, 2016, 5 – 9:30pm Location: 3600 Block of Main Street, Midtown, Houston, Texas
Main Street Projects is pleased to present a large-scale mural project, scheduled to be executed in June of 2016, that will present a large-scale mural project to include work from two members of RVMP (rēˈvamp): Vincent di Nguyen and Peter Nguyen, brothers and Houston natives.
A public celebration for the artists will be hosted on June 2nd, 2016 with an public reception from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Proceeds from the June’s event will go to supportWriters In The Schools, the local non-profit beneficiary for the month
Each successful in their own right, these brothers began their art studies as students at Klein Forest High School in an impactful arts program and under the direction of department leader Raberta Sajda. This standout program for the arts provided a collaborative model that encouraged and prepared students for higher education in the arts, with alumni graduation from such influential arts institutions as SCAD, RISD, MICA, SVA, Cooper Union, and Yale. Vincent di Nguyen graduated with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Clients include HarperCollins; Scholastic; Sterling Publishing; Random House; Simon & Schuster, Inc; and Marshall Cavendish. Di Nguyen has contributed to such feature filmprojects as Rio, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Horton Hears a Who!, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and Robots. He also illustrates children’s books and has been featured in such publications as Spectrum, Society of Illustrators Annual; Communication Arts Illustration Annual, and Out of Picture: Art from the Outside Looking In, volumes I and II. Vincent’s brother, Peter Nguyen, spent his childhood drawing and painting on whatever he could get his hands on. Currently working as a Color Key Artist at Blue Sky Studios, his work has influenced feature films such as Horton Hears A Who and the Ice Age series and Rio 2. His artwork can also be found in “Out Of Picture II” and in DC Comics publications, achieving a boyhood dream to be a comic artist. In addition to his printed projects, Peter’s art has been exhibited in galleries domestically as well as internationally, such as Paris, France. Peter is currently residing in New York City and continues to work for animation and comic books. His art has graced the covers of Batman Confidential and Detective Comics. Against the trend of Houston artists who find success elsewhere and continue to pursue projects outside of Houston, this duo has made it a point to return to their hometown with enthusiasm and friendly nostalgia. Visual elements incorporated into this site-specific mural highlight the brothers’ signature style of illustration. From “raining cats and dogs” to “Burger Time,” an insatiable cactus ,and graffiti playtime, the mural includes icons and associations from their childhood spent in Houston/Texas.
Organized independently but promoted with the support of cultural parters, all mural and art installations are debuted according to the Mid Main neighborhood calendar of events. This series of events invites a diverse audience to engage civically with public art and with local businesses to support a different local non-profit each month. Mid Main neighborhood owner/operated businesses The Continental Club, Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top, Tacos A Go-Go, Sig’s Lagoon, My Flaming Heart, Double Trouble, The Alley Kat and Natachee’s Supper ‘n Punch donate 5% of their sales during the block party event to the non-profit of the month. In addition, donations are collected in the Art Garden, where the block party takes place, to benefit the participating non-profit organization.
This project is funded in part by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance