Rothko Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Rothko Chapel
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 3900 Yupon Street, Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1971 |
| Architect | Rothko, Mark; Johnson, Philip, et al. Renovation (2020) by Architecture Research Office. |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, New Formalist |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000883 |
| Added to NRHP | August 16, 2000 |
The Rothko Chapel is a special building in Houston, Texas. It was created by John and Dominique de Menil. It's a place open to everyone, no matter their religion.
Inside, it's not just a chapel. It's also a big art piece. The walls have fourteen paintings by Mark Rothko. They are mostly dark colors like black. The artist, Mark Rothko, helped design the building's shape. It's an octagon (eight-sided) inside a cross shape.
The chapel is in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. It's near the Menil Collection art museum. About 110,000 people visit the chapel every year.
Susan J. Barnes said the Rothko Chapel became the world's first center for all religions. It is a holy place open to everyone. It also became a place for talks and performances. People of all faiths can come here to pray.
On September 16, 2000, the Rothko Chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Chapel
In 1964, John and Dominique de Menil asked Mark Rothko to create a quiet space. They wanted it filled with his paintings. The paintings were made especially for this building. Rothko had a lot of freedom in designing the chapel.
He worked with different architects on the plans. Sadly, Rothko passed away in 1970. He did not live to see the chapel finished in 1971.
Since 1973, the Rothko Chapel has also been a center for discussions. These talks help people understand issues about justice and freedom. The first discussion brought together thinkers from many countries.
In 1981, the chapel started "The Rothko Chapel Awards." These awards honor people who work for truth and freedom. In 1986, another award was created. It honors Óscar Romero, a brave archbishop who was murdered. These awards recognize people who speak out against human rights problems.
In 1991, the Rothko Chapel celebrated its 20th anniversary. It gave a special award to Nelson Mandela. He was a famous leader who fought for freedom.
In 1999, the Rothko Chapel closed for a big update. The paintings were showing signs of age. In 2000, the chapel reopened after 18 months of work. The paintings looked new again.
For its 50th anniversary in 2021, the chapel had another big restoration. This work made it look more like Rothko's original idea. They changed the skylight to let light in better. They also improved the nearby lawns and added a new visitor's center.
Chapel's Design
The chapel is an eight-sided brick building. It has gray walls and a skylight. It is a place for quiet thought and meetings. There are eight simple benches inside for people to sit. Holy books from different religions are available.
The skylight was updated in 2020. It has many angled metal blades. These blades help spread light evenly onto the paintings. This makes sure the art looks its best.
Artworks at the Chapel
The Rothko Chapel is known for its art. This includes paintings, a sculpture, and music.
In 2019, the artist Solange Knowles filmed part of her visual album, When I Get Home, at the chapel.
Paintings by Rothko
Fourteen of Rothko's paintings are shown in the chapel. Three walls have three paintings each. The other five walls have one painting each. Rothko started painting these dark, black-colored works in 1964.
The de Menils asked Rothko to create these paintings for the chapel in 1964. He painted the fourteen large works and four extra ones between 1964 and 1967.
Sculpture Outside
A special sculpture by Barnett Newman is in front of the chapel. It is called Broken Obelisk. It was put there in 1970. The sculpture sits in a pool of water. It is dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., who was killed in 1968.
The sculpture was first in Washington, D.C.. The de Menils wanted to give it to Houston City Hall as a memorial to King. Houston did not accept the gift. So, the de Menils gave the sculpture and the Rothko paintings to start the Rothko Chapel.
Music Inspired by the Chapel
The chapel has inspired many musicians. One of Morton Feldman's famous pieces is called Rothko Chapel. He wrote it to be played there. The musician Peter Gabriel wrote a song called "Fourteen Black Paintings" in 1992 after visiting the chapel.
David Dondero also wrote a song called "Rothko Chapel" in 2007. In 1986, Tibetan monks performed special chanting there. An opera about the chapel, Some Light Emerges, was performed in 2017. Dessa's 2023 album includes a song called "Rothko," which is set in the chapel.
Awards and Recognition
The Rothko Chapel is a place for important talks. It brings together leaders in social justice, art, and spirituality. Because of this, it has received many awards. The chapel also gives out the Óscar Romero Award every two years. This award honors brave people who fight for human rights.
Awards Received
The Chapel has received many awards, including:
- The Peace Award from The Houston Baha’í Community (1998)
- A Community Award from the Museum District Business Alliance (2000)
- The James L. Tucker Interfaith Award from Interfaith Ministries (2004)
- An Urban Greenery Award from The Park People (2005)
- Recognitions from the Houston Peace and Justice Center (2008)
Óscar Romero Award Winners
Past winners of The Óscar Romero Award include:
- Bishop Proaño
- Cardinal Arns
- The Oslobodjenje newspaper
- Sister Dianna Ortiz
- Salima Ghezali
- Berta Cáceres
See also
In Spanish: Capilla Rothko para niños
- Menil Collection
- Michael Somoroff
