The Stark Cultural Venues are closed temporarily because of Tropical Storm Harvey, but Stark Foundation CEO Tad McKee said only Shangri La gardens had damage.
The Stark Museum of Art, Lutcher Theater and Stark House did not have water, but about half of the employees at the Stark Foundation had flooded homes, he said.
McKee talked to KOGT’s Gary Stelly during The Morning Show. McKee said his house was also flooded and told Stelly his home rain gauge recorded more than 50 inches during Harvey’s deluge.
The employees are being paid during the time and McKee said he is assuring them they still have jobs. Construction on a new Stark Museum of Art annex was finished and became ready to move in days before the storm. He said some employees are being moved into offices on the second floor of the annex.
The Lutcher Theater has canceled the first scheduled shows of the new season. McKee said one reason is because local hotels are full with people who can’t live in their houses and out-of-town contractors. The hotels do not have the rooms to spare for the actors and crews that come with shows.
The theater will have its first presentation on November 16, he said. That show is “A Very Electric Christmas” by the Lightwire Theater. The Symphony of Southeast Texas fall performance at Shangri La will be rescheduled. Information on refunds for ticket-holders is available at the website lutcher.org.
The Stark Museum of Art did not have water and the staff is currently working to set up a new major exhibit of Paul Kane, the 19th Century painter. The museum will open in October.
Shangri La along Adams Bayou sustained the most damage. All the buildings were flooded, but McKee said the gardens are fine. The storm surge flood after Hurricane Ike in 2008 had brackish water with salt content. Harvey’s flood was from rain and all fresh water.
Building restoration crews were on site at Shangri La the day after the water subsided. McKee said they plan to open in time to have a fall festival, but will probably cancel the popular scarecrow festival.
Schools, civic groups, businesses and families create elaborate scarecrows that are displayed through the gardens. McKee said because of the devastation after Harvey, people won’t have time to work on scarecrows.
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