Free interactive art installation Horizon opens in downtown Houston

Avenida Houston, the entertainment district around the George R. Brown Convention Center, opened a free interactive installation called Horizon on July 4 and will keep it on view through Sept. 7. Six egg-shaped domes now line the Plaza between the convention center and Discovery Green, turning the corridor into a walkable stretch of public art for the holiday weekend and the rest of the summer.

Inside each dome, visitors sit in a chair and gently rock it to trigger a blend of light and sound. Houston First created Horizon with artist Olivier Landreville and Serge Maheu, a sound and light designer, and Creos and Init are partnering on the project. The installation is free of charge.

The timing gives Harris County families and downtown visitors a low-cost option that is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Discovery Green, at the other end of the corridor, is a 12-acre park open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., so the plaza and park together create a longer public-space route for people moving on foot through the center of downtown.

Parking is available, but it is not cheap. The Avenida North Garage at 701 Avenida de las Americas is connected to the north end of the George R. Brown Convention Center and charges $15 for the first hour, $24 for two hours and $32 for four hours, with a $42 daily maximum. Event pricing can vary, and the Tundra Garage on Jackson Street is also a short walk from the plaza, with rates posted by event. Avenida Houston also sits on the METRORail Green and Purple lines, and regular rail fare is $1.25.