Rothko.

There is this place in Houston called the Rothko chapel.

It’s an octagonal room. The floor is paved in 7x7 black tiles tarnished with 54 years of foot traffic.

The walls are a soft gray and each wall adorns a rectangle piece of art in shades of black or gray, or maybe navy? I can’t tell: this making the space even more intriguing.

The ceiling boasts a skylight with vents to filter sun rays in the desired direction. My guess is to highlight the ambiguous colors of the aforementioned intriguing art.

18 dark stained wooden benches are scattered on the floor. Each 6-7 feet long, with two legs on both ends. Butts of all beliefs have rested here for more than five decades.

The room is silent. Mostly. The only detectable noises are the gentle and continuous hum of the A/C, the shuffling of feet as folks transition in and out of the chapel, the squeak of the old benches when someone squats to greet it and the occasional throat clear.

Three guards stand at three stations on the perimeter of the chapel, changing posts roughly every 15 minutes. They observe, without judgement, ensuring all guests are following the rules. They are also available for me to silently mouth the question “Can I take pictures?” To which they reply with a down turned smile and a head shaking side-to-side.

At the front (or what I am calling the front) there are three circular black pillows on the ground spaced about 6-feet apart. People kneel, sit on these worshiping whomever or whatever they worship. Praying to whomever or whatever they pray to. No one cares, no one bothers anyone or tries to change anyone to be more like themselves. In this space, everyone just… is. A holy place open to all religions and belonging to none.*

I adore this space. I want to build a space like this in my home.

My life buzzes with overstimulation and a constant state of sensory overload so perhaps it is the calmness embodied at the Rothko which draws me in so intensely. Or, perhaps it is the complete acceptance of anyone. Any faith. Any feeling. Any personality. Any culture. I wonder if this is the only place in Houston that can offer 100% unconditional love to its guests?

I wish I had taken Maria here. She would’ve loved this place too.

- Aubrey

*Thanks Wikipedia, well written. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothko_Chapel