Reynier Leyva Novo's 'Invisible Houston' Explores Erased Histories Through Community Archive

Cuban artist Reynier Leyva Novo's multidisciplinary project 'Invisible Houston' debuted at the Transart Foundation for Art and Anthropology in Houston, Texas, structured around four bodies of work: 'Gut it, Forget it', 'Invisible Houston', 'Sacred Dust', and 'Open Archive Third Ward'. The project examines structural displacement, erasure, and memory in Houston's Third Ward, drawing on Robert D. Bullard's book 'Invisible Houston'. A limited-edition book accompanies the exhibition, featuring interviews with historian Raúl A. Ramos, architectural historian Stephen Fox, critic Valentin Diaconov, and researcher Lindsay Gary. In a conversation published on Glasstire, Ramos discusses the relationship between the University of Houston and Third Ward, describing it as a structural relationship where the campus turns its back on the neighborhood. He notes that Houston's lack of zoning, petro-industry, and freeways create pockets of neighborhoods that retain their housing and population. Ramos emphasizes the importance of community-owned archives, citing the African American Library at the Gregory School and the Hispanic History Research Center at Turkey Bend as examples. He warns against extractive practices in archival projects, advocating for self-determination and open-source tools. The project aims to extend beyond Third Ward to other historic neighborhoods in Houston.