Past Programs

Thank you for your interest in the Chapel's past programs. The Chapel strives to make its programs available to all, regardless of availability to attend, by creating video and audio recordings whenever possible. Programs are listed in reverse chronological order. Icons indicate when audio and video are video for a particular program to be viewed online.

transcript available audio available video available photography available

Jump to year 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

2013 Programs

May
14-15 – DUET: Lift Me Up For I Am Dying, an audio installation featuring Avri Levitan (Tel Aviv) and Tyme Khleifi (Ramallah)
10 – Vatican II and Visual Sacred Art
Dr. Marcia Brennan and Dr. Amy Hollywood
2 – Earth Church: A Vision of Full-World Spirituality
Jim Blackburn
1 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Claire Villarreal, Buddhist Tradition

April
27 – MURAL in Concert
20 – Menil Community Arts Festival
13 – Mozart's A Little Night Music
Collaboration with Mercury
13 – Yoga and Meditation on the Plaza
7 – 2013 Óscar Romero Award honoring Ms. Blanca Velázquez Díaz
3 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Henry Abramovitch, Jewish Tradition

March
26 – Economic Justice: Labor Rights as Human Rights
Joie Chowdhury
24 – Monseñor: The Last Journey of Óscar Romero Film Screening on the Plaza
21 – Slow Justice is No Justice: The Mexican Case
Jose Calderoni
19 – Mexico Today: A Portrait of Contemporary Mexican Society
Katharine Donato, Ph.D.
14 – The Transformed Experience of Sisters since Vatican II
Sister Pat Farrell
7 – Musical Traditions of Christianity and Judaism Explored Through the Psalms
Collaboration with the University of St. Thomas
6 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Lisa Harris, Music
4 – Jewish-Catholic Reconciliation: Where Have We Been, Where Are We Going?
Rabbi David Rosen and Fr. James Barlow Anderson, S.T.D.

February
28 – A Revolutionary Event 50 Years Later
Peter Steinfels
23 and 24– Music for Rothko Chapel
Collaboration with Da Camera
19 – America and Its Guns: A Theological Expose
Rev. James E. Atwood
8 –Music for Peace: Shouts, Cries, Prayers
Collaboration with the Foundation for Modern Music
6 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Jerry Ruhl, Ph.D., Modern Tradition
3 – Morton Feldman's Rothko Chapel
Collaboration with Da Camera of Houston

January
26 – Museum Experience
19 – Bach's Double Concerto
Collaboration with Mercury
15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance
Texas Johnny Brown
9 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Alejandro Chaoul, Tibetan Bon-Buddhist Tradition
1 – New Year's Day Crystal Bowl Meditation

2012 Programs

December
21 – Winter Solstice Observation
14 – Night Thoughts
Adam Tendler
5 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Rev. Laura Mayo, Christian Tradition
2 – Member Event, Simply Singing Songs
1 – Member Event, Simply Singing Songs

November
19 – Poet of Witness: Cyrus Cassells Reads from The Crossed-Out Swastika
15 – Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
October 4-November 8 – Tai Chi on the Plaza
Henderson Smith
7 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Dr. Hansa Medley, Hindu Tradition

October
6-27 – Yoga and Meditation on the Plaza
25 – An Evening with Poet John Taggart
20 – Vivaldi's Harmonic Inspir ations
Collaboration with Mercury
17 – Vatican II@50
International Inspiration, Local Expression: Vatican II, the de Menils,
and the Rothko Chapel
Alberto Melloni
16 – Vatican II@50
The Challenge of Faith in Contemporary America
Margaret Steinfels
15 – Vatican II@50
The Untold Story: Global Peacemaking and Interreligious Cooperation
Dr. William F. Vendley
3 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Ali Kemal Civelek, Islamic Tradition

September
29 – Rothko Chapel Book Club Author's Chat
Claudia Kolker
21 – Master Miao Tsan: Just Oneness
15 – Museum District Day Featuring John Lane on Percussion
9 – Eric Weiner on His Life Changing Spiritual Journey
5 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Ange Finn, Meridian Tapping
3 – Free Day of Yoga Houston
Collaboration with Texas Yoga Association

August
29 – Rothko Chapel Book Club
Claudia Kolker
26 – A Call to Conscience: Poet Javier Sicilia on the US/Mexico Drug War
9– Summer Sounds: Brazilian Arts Foundation
1 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Sat Kartar, Sikh and Kundalini Yoga

July
30 – Kirtan and Dialogue with Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityananda
28 – As If They Were Not There: Sound Art in the Rothko Chapel
Jacob Kirkegaard, Steve Roden, and Stephen Vitiello
Collaboration with the Menil Collection
12 – Summer Sounds: Baba Ifalade and D.R.U.M.
11 – Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing
Meditation Leader Michael Perkola, Buddhism

June
20 – Summer Solstice Observation
17 – New Arrivals
Collaboration with HGOco

May
16 – Katrina: The Neo-Liberal Deluge
Cedric Johnson, Ph.D.
12 – Awakenings: Contemporary Expressions of Nature and Spirit
Aperio, Music of the Americas
4 – Off-Site Collaboration Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo
3 – Dana Gillespie Concert
1 – Jewish Intrafaith Dialogue Panel: Modern Questions for an Ancient Faith
Off-Site Collaboration with the Boniuk Center

April
26 – Walking in Air
Collaboration with Aurora Picture Show
21 – Geography Comes to an End
Intersection New Music Collective
20 – Off-Site Collaboration with Arab American Educational Foundation
Marcel Khalife and Al Mayadine Ensemble
17 – No Culture Without Freedom
Marcel Khalife
14 – Turkish Orchestra
Menil Community Arts Festival Performance
Family Drum Circle presented by Da Camera
Menil Community Arts Festival Performance
Valerie Hartzell, Classical Guitar
12 – The Anguish of the Journey: Central American Migration through Mexico
Father Heyman Vazquez

March
15 – Rothko and the Menils: A Houston Legacy
Stephen Fox, Geraldine Aramanda, and Suna Umari
10 – The Spirituality of Stewardship, Sustainability, and Food
Dr. Norman Wirzba, J. David Bamberger, Darwin Nelson, and Rev. Jeremy Rutledge
5 – Fact, Fiction, and Interpretation: Conversations about Red
Kate Rothko Prizel, Gregory Boyd, Dr. Terrence Doody
3 – Thomas Moore, Ph.D. on Art, Dreams, and Spirituality

February
25, 26 – Fragments for the End of Time
21 – Religious Freedom in Houston
17 – Music For Peace: Musicians in Exile
11, 12 – Bernie Glassman on Spirituality Based Social Action and Peacemaking

January
23 – Tariq Ali on the Uses and Abuses of History
15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance
12 – Answering the Knock at Midnight: Martin Luther King's Legacy in the Contemporary
Black Church with Dr. Tamelyn Tucker-Worgs
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2011 Programs

December
16 – 40th Anniversary Year-End Celebration with Sara Hickman
09 – Music Doing Good: Bells in Spiritual Traditions, Song, and Celebration

November
17 – Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
13 – Oscar Romero Awards Ceremony Honors Nassera Dutour, Algerian Mother and
Champion of Missing Algerians
01 – Off-Site Cooperative Event, I Shall Not Hate: A Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and
Human Dignity with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish

October
20 – The Idea of Justice: Human Rights as Global Imperative with Amartya Sen
15 – The Foundation of Happiness with Michael Ciborski
11 – Exploring a Course in Miracles with Sondra Ray and Mark Sullivan
01 – Through the Lens: The Early Days of the Rothko Chapel as Seen by François de Menil

September
24 – A Conversation about Barnett Newman with Carol Mancusi-Ungaro
18 – Houston Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Interfaith Prayer Service
17 – Museum District Day
Performance/Demonstration of Middle Eastern Sacred Songs (Piyutim)- From Pulpit to Pop Chart with
Galeet Dardashti
Tai Chi Demonstration with Henderson Smith
08, 11, 13 – Pieces of 9/11: Memories from Houston
Community Conversations about 9/11, Remembrance and Honor: Why do we Remember? How do we
Honor?
Song Cycle with Houston Grand Opera
Journey to Hope: How do we Heal the Wounds?

August
28 – Labor in the Pulpit, on the Bimah, and in the Minbar

June
28 – Cipriana Juardo, Mexican Activist, Tells Her Story
05 – SPECIAL PROGRAM AND WORKSHOP, “Storytelling Workshop”
04 – SPECIAL PROGRAM AND WORKSHOP, “Monkey King: Journey to the West”
Diane Wolkstein
02, 09, 16, 23 – Tai Chi Series
Henderson Smith, Instructor

May
9 – Community Dialogue with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
26 – Your Name Means the Sea
A Chamber Opera Presented by HGOco

April
29 – Spirit Matters: A Series Exploring Identity, Religion, and Human Rights,
“The Rights of Others: Citizens, Migrants and Residents”
Seyla Benhabib, PhD
15 – “A Pilgrimage to Easter” with Saint Romanos Chorale
12 – Spirit Matters: A Series Exploring Identity, Religion, and Human Rights,
“The Humanity of Solders: Spiritual Injury and the Right of Moral Conscience in War”
Rita Nakashima Brock, Jr., PhD
07 – Spirit Matters: A Series Exploring Identity, Religion, and Human Rights, “The Path Beyond the Path: Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest for Universal Singularity”
Elliot R. Wolfson, PhD
02 – Riyaaz Qawwali at the Rothko Chapel
Sonny K. Mehta, Lead Performer
Performance co-sponsored by the Asia Society

March
23 – Spirit Matters: A Series Exploring Identity, Religion, and Human Rights,
“Political Economy and the Holistic Spirituality of Jesus”
Obery M. Hendricks, Jr., PhD
19 – Spirit Matters: A Series Exploring Identity, Religion, and Human Rights,
“Human Rights, Universality and Sovereignty in African and Islamic Perspectives”
Abdullahi An-Na’im, PhD
11 – Music For Peace
The Foundation for Modern Music, Raúl Orlando Edwards, Artistic Director, and Guest Performers

February
25, 26, 27 – Da Camera Honors the Rothko Chapel with “Music for Rothko”
Presented in Collaboration with Houston Chamber Choir
19 – The Rothko Chapel and the Transformative Power of Art, A Series, “Acts of Faith”
The Reverend Susan J. Barnes
12 – The Rothko Chapel and the Transformative Power of Art, A Series, “Painting and Patronage”
David Novros, Artist

January
29 – The Rothko Chapel and the Transformative Power of Art, A Series,
“About Painting and What It Can Do”
Brice Marden, Artist
17 – Renewing the Chapel’s Spiritual Vocation through 40 Days of Silent Meditation
15 – Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2010 Programs

December
10 – The St. Romanos Chorale
Dr. William Attra, Choral Director
09 – Gaza in Crisis
Ilan Pappé, Israeli Historian
07 – In the Lateness of the World: Singing in Dark Times
Carolyn Forché
03 – SPECIAL TICKETED EVENT PRESENTED BY DA CAMERA

November
12 – Water and the Spirit: Exploring Spirituals and Gospel Music
Kenneth Gayle, Tenor
Rodney Waters, Piano
Sheldon Nunn, Lecturer
10 – Music of a Distant Drum
Smadar Levi

October
23 – Robert Schumann Meets Lithuanian Composers
Petras Geniušas
20 – An Evening of Poetry at the Rothko Chapel with Internationally Acclaimed Poet Adonis
19 – Juárez: A Killing Field, “The Most Dangerous Place to Practice Journalism”
Alfredo Corchado, Journalist
12 – Juárez: A Killing Field, “City of Death; City of Hope”
Dr. Cecilia Ballí, Journalist
05 – Juárez: A Killing Field, “Murder City”
Charles Bowden, Author

September
29 – Faith, Labor and Justice: The Struggle for Worker Rights in Houston
Christine Diaz, Moderator
25 – Museum District Day
25 – Transformative Encounters with the Rothko Chapel
Helen Winkler Fosdick
Carol Mancusi-Ungaro
Christopher Rothko, Ph.D.
Harry Cooper, Ph.D., Moderator
17 – Not for Sale: The Scandal of Human Trafficking in Houston and Beyond
David Batsone, Ph.D.

August
03 – Environmental Care in Islamic Teachings
Imam Muhammad N Haq

June
06, 09, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 – Compassion: The Key to Peace?
Co-Sponsored by the Rothko Chapel and the Magdalen Community, Facilitated by The Reverend Betty Adam

May
20, 21 – Song Salon: Fragments from Augustine the Saint, A Chamber Opera
Kenneth Gayle, Tenor
Lauren Anderson, Dancer
William B. Parsons, Professor, Rice University Religious Studies Department
Presented by Divas World Productions
15 – Members Event: A Concert of Sacred Sound
13 – Three Rabbis Respond to “Encountering the Jewish Future” As Presented by Marc Ellis
Rabbi Barry Gelman, United Orthodox Synogogues of Houston
Rabbi Steve Morgen, Congregation Beth Yeshurun
Rabbi Roy A. Walter, Congregation Emanu El
Gregory Kaplan, Anna Smith Fine Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies, Rice University
08 – A Life of Zen: Making Peace with the Commonplace
Karen Maezen Miller, Author and Zen Buddhist Priest
03 – Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi: A Voice for Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East

April
29 – Encountering The Jewish Future
Marc Ellis, Director
The Center for Jewish Studies, Baylor University
08 – Amiri Baraka: Living Legend
Amiri Baraka
06 – Gaza on the Ground

March
25 – In the Sufi Tradition: Poetry and Music Celebrating A Face That Does Not Bear the
Footprints of the World
13 – Menil Community Arts Festival
A Conversation with Houston Chronicle Art Critic Douglas Britt
East/West Improvisational Music by The Language of Peace
11 – Nelofer Pazira Speaks on Afghanistan: Fact or Fiction
Afghan-Canadian Filmmaker, Writer, Journalist and Human Rights Activist
04 – MURAL in Concert
Kim Myhr, Guitar
Jim Denley, Woodwinds
Ingar Zach, Percussion

February
20 – Chanting in the Chapel
Monks from the Monastery of Christ in the Desert
12 – Lunar New Year Celebration

January
29 – Song Salon: Tonal Transcendence — Composers and Human Rights
Sonja Bruzauskas, Mezzo Soprano
Presented by Divas World Productions
15 – Salvation Army Harbor Light Choir / Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration