EDUCATION

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art produces year-round classes and workshops for children and adults interested in expressing their personal creativity and learning new skills.
FEATURED WORKSHOP
Harvey Bott ROBOTT™ Opera Workshop & Performance
December 16-17
Orange Show World Headquarters

The Harvey Bott ROBOTT™ Opera Revisited is a two-day workshop and participatory performance that brings together sculpture, drama, conservation, and robotics in a tribute to one of Houston’s most beloved and longstanding visionary artists. Inspired by H.J. “Harvey” Bott’s groundbreaking experiments with remote-controlled art robots in the late 1970's and early ‘80s, this program comprises:
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The restoration of one of the original Ro-Botts
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A workshop of guided robot assembly and decoration geared for both kids and adults
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The collaborative development and rehearsal of a script
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A concluding public performance with projected video and live musical accompaniment.
WORKSHOP CURRICULUM
Participants will be introduced to electronics and electronic components and sensors; Arduino programming; sound recording and manipulation; sculpting with found objects; and the creation and implementation of a group performance in front of an audience.
Matt Fries will facilitate the Robott build; T. Lavois Thiebaud will lead the opera choreography; Anthony Barilla will provide musical accompaniment for the live show.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE
The multimedia performance on Sunday, December 17 from 4-5pm is the culmination of the workshop and a chance for participants to show off their robots to friends, family, and the Houston community. FREE TO ATTEND WITH RSVP
REGISTRATION
$300 per Adult Participant - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Workshop participants must be available from 10am-5pm both Saturday, December 16 & Sunday, December 17, as well as for the performance on Sunday, December 17 from 4-5pm. Lunch and snacks will be included on both days. Registration includes a kit containing everything needed to assemble a fully operational (and completely unique) remote controlled robot.
Adult registrations will help support youth scholarships for the live workshop and performance
Student Registration - CLICK HERE TO APPLY
This workshop is offered free for students 13+ who apply through the link above. Only ten students will be selected to participate. Participants must be available from 10am-5pm both Saturday, December 16 & Sunday, December 17, as well as for the performance on Sunday, December 17 from 4-5pm. Lunch and snacks will be included on both days. Participants will receive a kit containing everything needed to assemble a fully operational (and completely unique) remote controlled robot.
RSVP for ROBOTT Opera Public Performance - CLICK HERE TO RSVP
The ROBOTT Opera performance on Sunday, December 17 from 4-5pm is free to the public. Please register at the link above.


The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art presents its inaugural Orange Show Art Car Team, a creative & collaborative program designed for High School students interested in art, design, fabrication and construction. Working under the instruction of award-winning artist Rebecca Bass, students will work together to build a new Art Car to be featured in the 2024 Houston Art Car Parade.