Introduction to Texas Art Asylum
A maximalist interior is not complete without a cabinet of curiosities. These "cabinets" have evolved to include bookcases and floating shelves in modern times, serving to reflect particular hobbies and interests of the curator. For those looking to populate these spaces with unique items, Houston is home to a perfect place to get started.
The History of Texas Art Asylum
In Houston’s East End, a historically-registered Art Deco building that opened in the 1930s as The Houston Coffin Company is now home to Texas Art Asylum, a creative reuse center. Since 2013, the building has been a hub for donated items and trinkets from every era of the last century. The owner, Ramona Brady, a self-proclaimed "hoarder," started the business when she realized that she couldn’t find the types of items that she required for certain crafts and hobbies.
The Concept of Texas Art Asylum
Brady acknowledges that people often begin hobbies that aren’t always a good fit, which is why she accepts donations of unfinished projects. There are tools and materials for every variety of arts and crafts, especially the non-traditional. The idea is for items found inside to be used to create something "new," but that’s not always the case. Many things, like vintage glass medicine bottles, leather suitcases, blueprints, and even matchbooks work well as standalone decor.
What to Expect at Texas Art Asylum
The space is more like a Mecca of upcycling, with items such as antique glass test tubes, vintage glass medicine bottles, and leather suitcases. Need a small amount of interior paint to add some pizazz to bookcase backing? Pick up one of the many opened paint samples. Break a panel in a stained glass window? They’ve got you. Want to retrofit a pendant light with a vintage or antique shade? They have that too. Bowls and jars populate just about every surface and contain just about everything, from buttons and keys to mixed poker chips and stray playing cards.
Donations and Community Involvement
Brady accepts donations by appointment three days a week, 18 appointments per day, and takes in 1.5 tons of items per week. That’s 3,000 pounds of items saved from the landfill every single week. Donations of school-appropriate art supplies like markers, crayons, pencils, etc. are shared with The Houston Center for Creative Reuse and help to supply the Teacher’s Warehouse, where educators can find items free of charge.
Tips for Shoppers
The broad selection can overwhelm newcomers, which is fair, considering its ambiguous identity. Brady offers some advice to potential shoppers or collectors who may not know where to begin. "Just focus on the stuff that you are interested in — it’s all here! You don’t have to consume it all the first day. You can kind of get a general idea that you’re not interested in the hardware stuff, or you’re not interested in a bunch of old crayons or whatever. Then there are the parts [of the store] you are interested in, and you just have to take a breath."
Conclusion
The next time a junk drawer or workbench clutter gets purged, consider making an appointment at Texas Art Asylum to donate one-off earrings, kid’s meal toys, and other random objects instead of condemning them to a landfill. With its unique concept and community involvement, Texas Art Asylum is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to add some personality to their space. Whether you’re a crafty person or just someone who appreciates the unusual, Texas Art Asylum is sure to have something that will catch your eye.
