The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s School Art Program: An Overview

 

School Art Program
Image: rodeohouston.com

Attorney Hugh M Ray III, a member of the state bar associations of Texas and New Mexico, practices law as a board-certified business bankruptcy specialist at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Houston, Texas. Outside of his professional work, Hugh Ray III supports charitable organizations including the Houston Young Lawyer’s Foundation and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Founded in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo provides family-friendly entertainment that showcases Western heritage and traditions. A philanthropic organization, the rodeo advocates for agricultural causes and has provided more than $450 million to Texas youth and educational efforts.

One educational effort supported by the rodeo is the School Art Program. Founded 50 years ago, the program allows students from more than 135 school districts to participate in art competitions. To foster artistic growth, participants also have access to art workshops at the Houston Museum of Fine Art’s Glassel School of Art and Schreiner University’s Western Art Academy.

In addition to art competitions and workshops, the School Art Program features a scholarship component, with $20,000 in collegiate scholarships awarded to 15 high school students annually. For additional information on the School Art Program, visit rodeohouston.com.

Hiking Trails in the Mountains around Santa Fe

 

Santa Fe Mountains
Image: santafe.org

A well-established Houston attorney, Hugh M. Ray III has been involved in diverse cases centered on the Texas oil and gas bust. He has represented official committees of unsecured creditors as the bankruptcy process proceeds. Aside from work, Hugh Ray III is an avid traveler who maintains a property in the scenic mountains above Santa Fe.

The Santa Fe Mountains are part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which represent the southernmost stretch of the Rockies and straddle Colorado and northern New Mexico. Among the popular excursions in the area is the La Piedra Trail, which connects a pair of longer trails and traverses three miles of shaded creek side that features pine forests and expansive Tesuque Valley views.

Situated on the Pajarito Plateau, the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Trail is known for its unique geologic features that include cone-shaped volcanic formations that were created by major eruptions some 6 million years ago. The area provides an important natural refuge and is particularly popular among birdwatchers.

Cordillera del Paine – Geologically Unique Patagonian Mountains

 

Cordillera del Paine
Image: intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com

Based in Houston, Hugh M. Ray III is a partner with the insolvency and restructuring practice at the global law practice Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP. Passionate about travel, Hugh Ray III has visited locales ranging from Europe to Patagonia, where he went skiing.

One of Patagonia’s most spectacular locales is the Torres del Paine National Park, which is on the Chilean side of a border with Argentina. Visible from far away across the steppes, the dramatic, windswept peaks of the Cordillera del Paine rise suddenly and vertically from rugged foothills.

The Cordillera del Paine occupy a unique spot at the transition point between the Patagonian steppes and the Andes, and they also sit at the head of the third-largest ice cap worldwide, the Southern Patagonian ice field.

The mountains feature a distinct white band that stretches a full kilometer wide in places and is a product of glacial erosion and tectonics. These forces have exposed a white magmatic intrusion into dark layered sandstones and turbidites. Initially formed at the bottom of the sea, the unique geologic feature is now, thanks to Andean uplift, at the top of high mountains.

What to See During the Houston Grand Opera 2017-18 Season

Houston Grand Opera
Image: houstongrandopera.org

Partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, Hugh M. Ray, III focuses much of his work in the realm of energy bankruptcy law. Outside of his professional pursuits, Hugh Ray, III enjoys attending performances of the Houston Grand Opera.

Each season, the Houston Grand Opera puts on a number of world-class productions that delight and thrill members of the local community. Here are a few shows that you shouldn’t miss during the 2017-18 season:

La traviata – The Houston Grand Opera will open the season with Verdi’s La traviata, a romantic work that follows the life of courtesan Violetta Valery. Audiences will behold stunning set pieces and a soaring score that will accompany the heroine’s story of love and loss.

The Barber of Seville – Between January 26 and February 10, 2018, the Opera will present a production of The Barber of Seville, one of the most famous works of Rossini. Following the barber Figaro, this comedy features many well-known arias and ensemble pieces.

Norma – Based on the ancient tragedy Medea, Norma will make an appearance at the Opera after a 25-year absence. Bellini’s show is best known for pieces such as Casta diva and its story of a priestess who must make a decision to pursue love or adhere to her religious duties.