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 Dallas Art News

Much of the old news here first appears on the Calendar or cover pages (back when we put stories there). News is usually pretty old by the time it makes it to this page — if it gets here at all. But the nice thing about news is that it just keeps getting older.

News Shorts no longer new

spring/summer 08

"Art&Seek is a service from KERA for North Texas and beyond that includes radio news reports, television programs and a website at artandseek.org. The Web site launches Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The first featured Art&Seek television program is Recapturing Cuba: An Artist’s Journey, a co-production of KERA-TV, which airs May 28, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. In June, Art&Seek presents A Conversation with Bill Lively, hosted by Lee Cullum. At artandseek.org you’ll find feature stories written by KERA’s Arts Reporter Jerome Weeks and contributors and related stories and headlines from National Public Radio. Join the discussion on the Art&Seek blog, check out insights from our guest bloggers – arts professionals from around North Texas – and tell us what you think."

I caught a longish, thoughtful, gentle art review by Jerome Weeks on KERA-FM Friday. First art review I've heard there in a long time, although Joan Davidow's fiancé said she still did those for that station sometimes.

EASL's Art Heist 2008 at ArtSpace 111 in Fort Worth August 23

See our exclusive coverage of the 2006 Dallas Art Heist
 

This artist deduction bill (S.548) would give artists the right to deduct the fair market value of their work when donating it to a charity.

We artists are always asked to donate work to charitable causes for fundraising purposes but when our work is auctioned, the buyer gets the benefit of being allowed to deduct their contribution above the market value, whereas the contributing artists and artisans can only deduct the amount of the material costs of creating their work (the cost of paint, canvas, clay, paper...)

This bill is non-partisan and fair. Please click on this link and simply by typing in your zipcode, a letter of support will be sent to your senators and congresspersons.

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=9521951  — submitted by Julia Echols

http://capwiz.com:80/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=9521951 — Two minutes is all it takes to tell congress you support the arts and art education.

The latest update on this bill.
 

Norwood Flynn presents Artful Wednesdays, open "late" till 7 pm for Wednesdays in March for wine, cheese and, one supposes, art

 

member Modern Dallas Luxury Magazine has a story about DARts Member Norman Kary in the current edition available free at local galleries.

Afterimage Gallery owner/director Ben Breard has notified us of a 3-minute, video of the late Fort Worth photographer Peter Feresten's work, and narrated by him, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV6uGSiwL3c&mode=related&search by StarryDynamoFilms

KERA (FM, TV) "is launching a multimedia, community-based arts initiative in late May that will bring unprecedented attention to the arts in North Texas.

Unified under the name Art&Seek, the project includes the upcoming launch of a new Web site developed as a gathering place for the arts. The site will include an automated calendar where organizations can post their own events as well as original Web content provided by KERA staff and community partners. In addition, the site will be home to the Arts+Culture blog where artists, curators, performers and other arts professionals contribute to discussions about what’s happening in the arts in North Texas. In addition, KERA will provide expanded coverage of the arts on its public radio and television stations through interviews, reviews and special programs."

See for yourself at www.kera.org/blogs/culture/?p=452#more-452 about Houston's Rowhouses that DallasArtsRevue published three years ago. See DARts contributor, Dallas artist Tracy Hicks' 13 Stories logging his participation — especially very short stories Spine and Tadpoles at the Rowhouses.

ArtCast is interviews with artists and art-related folk

"The Arts need a strong voice in this years elections. There may be artists on your mailing list that are unaware of what we can do to increase funding for the arts - if we lobby our candidate of choice - now. And then support the Arts Action Fund. More about Americans for the Arts." — submitted by TJ Mabrey

Latino Culture Center Media & Development Coordinator Gabriela Bucio leaves February 8 to work in Mareting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Art Conspiracy donated $14,500 to St. Anthony's Community Center in Dallas. See our story of Artists Arting at ArtCon3 for this annual acution to benefit a nonprofit community art organization.

Former McKinney Avenue Contemporary Director Elizabeth Hunt is the new Deputy Director of The Meadows Museum at SMU.
 

It's a scam. It's a scam. It's always a scam! If you get emails from South America or Nigeria or Irving, Texas promising to send you a "certified cashier cheque" (or other wording) for your art or your boat or your Sousaphone, pay attention. It is very possibly — if not likely — they are attempting to scam you.

The classic format involves them sending you a check for more than you agreed to charge. You are expected to go to a bank, cash the (probably bogus) check and send the difference back to the thieves who are preying on your desire to sell art.

That said, many people see something on the internet and assume it is for sale, even if no price is mentioned. They flail about attempting to buy it or multiples of it. There are legitimate buyers of art out there, and they may contact you, and you may do business with them. But pay attention. Google the phrasing they use, and you'll find pages warning about scams. I googed "certified cashier cheque" and found More internet scams, Wedding Photographer, Musical Instrument Sales and Fraud Attempts on your Classified Advertisements.

Warning: If it involves you cashing checks, then sending the difference between what you earned and what they sent you, it's a scam. Beware! You will be prosecuted. The Nigerians are out of reach of the short arm of the law.

Norwood Flynn presents Artful Wednesdays, open "late" till 7 pm for Wednesdays in March for wine, cheese and, one supposes, art

I caught a longish, thoughtful, gentle art review by Jerome Weeks on KERA-FM Friday. First art review I've heard there in a long time, although Joan Davidow's fiancé said she still did those for that station sometimes.

new EASL's Art Heist 2008 at ArtSpace 111 in Fort Worth August 23

See our exclusive coverage of the 2006 Dallas Art Heist

winter 07-08

Dallas sculptor John Snygg (stories in Small Sculpture in Texas and J R's Collection on this site) died from cancer February 28. The funeral was Monday March 3, and the obituary should appear in the Saturday March 1 Dallas Morning News. There is talk of a memorial exhibition of John's kinetic sculptures at a future date.

PDNB exhibiting artists Peter Brown and Kent Haruf were featured in an interview on KERA's Think program last week, discussing their book, West of Last Chance. You can view their interview with Kris Boyd on KERA's podcast website. Another PDNB-er, David Graham's exhibition in Pittsburgh was featured in the February 28 Dallas Morning News and is available online.

.

500X' recent P R person has moved away, leaving behind shambles in several long-term press relationships — for a change, I wasn't the only one she feuded with. Sure hope their next press personage does a better job. When a gallery takes an arts writer off their press list for daring to express opinions, it's obvious professionalism is not a goal.

DARts Member Warren Harris will teach photography classes in January and February at Cedar Hils Visual Expressions' new classrooms. The classes are every Wednesday for six weeks, beginning January 9 and February 20. Schedule here.

Beware of large-print inkjet printing companies in general. Many have lousy reputations. Nobody wants to say anything specific but several sources have mentioned Dragon Street's ArtiZen in this regard — making extra copies without telling the artist, not paying artists for work sold, damaging original artwork, etc. No single artist wishes to complain, but there's a general malaise. -JRC

Margaret Robinette has retired from the City Arts Program, and though The City may not have noticed, the Dallas art community will. Margaret was the kindness and human face there who knew what was going on and gave time to explain to those of us who were curious or confused. A gentle woman who was in it for the community. She will be missed.

The Kettle celebrated its second birthday with a UTube Myuvie.

Heard that George deMerle died. They don't make artists like that anymore — self taught & theory-free: his later sculptures, of fluorescent-painted gossamer, were deliberately ephemeral, impossible to reproduce, and of an unearthly beauty. From graywyvern:

George De Merle invented his own medium, vinyl webbing blown across wire armatures and spraypainted in fluorescent tones; and has brought it to such perfection that the pieces he makes nowadays, one or two a year, seem eerie lifeforms from an alien continuum. Yet their passionate human origin gradually unfolds as you ponder, in the illumined darkness, this indescribable complexity and unfathomable beauty that is, after all, part of the world we live in. (Since the technique is both fragile and impossible to photograph, visiting de Merle's latest in his Irving studio is less like museum-going, than being privileged to witness a rare natural phenomenon, an aurora or double circular rainbow. by Michael Helse

summer 07

Mulcahy Modern, which used to be on 8th Street in Oak Cliff, is closed for the summer while they relocate to a new space to open in the fall.

Texas State Artists of the Year

member James Michael Starr blogs on Hotels By City, a revenue-generating travel web site, where he writes short short stories each week about art-related events in the Dallas area.

The Dallas Morniing News no longer has an art critic or a regular art column. Neither does The Observer.

rumor "The Arlington Museum is closing or restructuring. Apparently they were having funding issues and could not overcome them. Not sure what's going to happen from this point," a friend told us recently, after talking with a very reliable source.

Informative online vid about Tunnel Vision with nice visuals of the wildly diverse art that once graced the walls of the Good-Lattimer Tunnel and what that place looks like now.

No M Street / Lakewood Art Tour this year this year, maybe one in April 2008, says organizer Silia Thornton.

member Long-time (the longest) DallasArtsRevue contributor Michael Helsem (his member page and his reviews) has a new book, Almucantar: Folksongs, lays, and chanteys of World War 4, a selection from his ghazal-blog Diwan: A Wind. It is available from www.lulu.com/content/715006.

before that

Angstrom Gallery on Parry is not dead, their current show, of and pertaining to the Minnesotal Muliphasic Personality Inventory 2TM tests we all took in high school to determine our personality is there (although it sounds like a traveling show and some who've seen it said it wasn't as good as their usual fare -JRC) through October 23. They are promising more shows.

questionable Studio 2600 is seeking art to go on their walls, but at least one Dallas-area artist smells something funny. See our feedback page for more information.

"art zombie is moving to los angeles..next week (insert record screech here) — yes an unanticipated move and the web site has yet to be updated, but hopefully friday night.. I plan to break the news — I was so ready to rock this gap in dallas.. but now beverly hills.. — awaits. — hopefully if logistics are kind in the future, dallas won't be forgotten by me anyway.
carrie
aka
art zombie"

Art is Art consignment studio at 6039 Oram Street near Skillman wants your art, retro furniture, accessories and gifts. 214 823-8222 or email artisartcs@aol.com

Studio 2600 may not be as ready as they seemed. Read the letter on the feedback page.

La Reunion, where life and art unite!

"This year's EASL fundraising concept is a non-auction event called Art Heist. Outstanding regional artists are eing asked to contribute a work of art, easily handled by one person, with a suggested maxiumum dimension of 12 inches and a minimum value of $200.

Art Heist will be September 30 in the basement of Southside on Lamar. Pre-sold tickets are $200 each, entitling the buyer to one work of art to be selected during the event under time and accessibility contstraints.

While the art heist is underway, a diversion party will be going on with the usual EASL suspects: cocktails, eats, fun and games. Admission for wittnesses is $25 at the door.

EASL is seeking a minimum of 150 artist accomplices, each of whom will be admitted free and given two drink coupons.

Might be more info at their new website at www.easl.us
 

"Looking to bridge the gap between ART and those who want it in the Metro-plex area," Art Zombie cometh.

Premiere Texas artist Luis Jimenez (1940-2006) died in a freak accident this week.

Read two eulogies for Bob "Hot Horse" Trammell, former DallasArtsRevue contributor, Dallas poet and founder of Dallas' Word Space literary organization.
 

The Texas Biennial (in Austin — see our extensive and fully illustrated coverage of last year's event) is calling for entries for their second exhibition (putting the bi in the Biennial) online at http://texasbiennial.com/submission.htm. This time there are only five jurors from five geographically representative Texas cities, considerably simplifying that endeavor.

Jurors include Austin's Blanton Museum of Art Assistant Curator of Latin American Art Ursula Davila; Ballroom Marfa's Executive Director Fairfax Dorn; Artpace San Antonio's Curator of Education and Exhibitions Kate Green; Houston's Contemporary Arts Museum Associate Curator, Valerie Cassel Oliver; and University of Texas at Dallas Assistant Professor (and artist) John Pomara.

Which represents the width and depth of Texas but is too heavy on institutional curators for a repeat of the edginess of TXB's first year shows. Last year's even dozen votes came from 15 jurors who were nearly all from Austin. Not surprisingly, so were most of the artists selected.

See our statistics page from last year's show.

The show itself will be at four independent Austin galleries — Bohm Studios, Dougherty Art Center, Okay Mountain and Site 1808 — March 1 through April 15, 2007.

See our venues page from last year's show for info on two repeating venues.

To further diversify representation, the "Advisors of the Texas Biennial 2007" (no duties listed but the parallel group from last year ran the show), include Oak Cliff's MFA gallery director and artist Steve Cruz; Houston's Contemporary Arts Museum Senior Curator Dana Friis-Hansen; Austin artist and Lombardi Gallery director Rachel Koper; and Galveston Arts Center executive director and curator Clint Willour.

From reading these lists, it seems that the only art professionals in Dallas willing to align with next year's TXB are independent gallery owners and teachers, both of whom are artists. No museum or art center administrators/curators from here, at all.

Strange, but it might help keep some inkling of the funk and edge ((Keep Austin Weird)) in next year's show, which from all these museum mucky-mucks may be headed for a backlash into conservative or institutionalized selections.

Last year there was no Dallas jurors and darned few Dallas artists in the multiple exhibition scattered among five independent galleries and art spaces in Austin. This is progress in some directions, may be disaster in others.

But I still expect the show to be amazing. - J R Compton

WARNING: artists whose email addresses are on the internet are targeted by "a couple in England" offering to "buy work." DARts member Heather Gorham researched the scam by Nigerian thieves. Read Heather's letter on the Feedback Page: ignore their emails and do not deposit any financial paper they send.

Rumors flying about The Dallas Center for Contemporary Art (formerly D-Art and DVAC)'s potential new digs. Some say it's next door to Craighead-Green on Dragon Street. Others insist, no, it's definitely the humongous space on Howell.

The Swiss Avenue Meadows Building is only The Contemp's for 10 years max, and although she poo-poohed the notion in my interview with Joan Davidow last year, the institution will have to move in the not-so-distant future, although a helluva lot of money has to be raised first, and I suspect us artists will be depended upon for a lot of that. They'll make great promises, then forget us in the mix, like institutions always do.

Gustavo Galvan is the 2006 winner of the $2,500 Dallas Art Dealers Association's first annual Edith Baker Art Scholarship. The young Dallas artist will receive his award at 6:30 pm May 19 in the LBJ Theater at Nolan Estes Plaza, temporary home for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts at 3434 R.L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas, Texas off Kiest Boulevard.

According to Edith Baker, "Gustavo Galvan's work embodied all of the criteria we were searching for. His work is exciting, mysterious, provocative, and elegant - which is unusual for such a young artist. Our organization wishes the artist much success in the arts as a profession, and hopes that he continues to provide us with food for our soul and a feast for our eyes."

DADA created the scholarship last year, on their 20th anniversary, to honor Edith Baker, founding DADA member Edith Baker, who owned and directed The Edith Baker Gallery for nearly thirty years before retiring in 2004. Proceeds from DADA events throughout the year continue to benefit the Edith Baker Art Scholarship Fund, which benefits a graduating senior from the Arts Magnet high school planning to attend college and continue their studies in the visual arts.
  

Jazz musician, scholar, composer, and educator José Antonio Bowen has been named dean of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. Bowen is currently dean of the School of Fine Arts and professor of music at Miami University in Ohio. He will assume his responsibilities at SMU beginning July 1. More info.

In the mid 1990s, Fort Worth artists created and contributed art to benefit the Contemporary Art Center of Fort Worth and that twork was displayed at the Angeluna Restaurant in Sundance Square. When the restaurant closed recently, Sundance Square Management asked the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, which operates the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, to assist in determining what would become of the collection.

The Angeluna collection is currently on exhibit at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center thru March 24, 2006. Exhibition hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

The final public viewing of the full collection will take place at a closing reception on March 24, 2006 from 6PM - 9PM at Fort Worth Community Arts Center. The reception is free and open to the public.

The next step for the collection will be determined by the individual artists who created the work. Artists may reclaim their work or donate it to the Arts Council for a future fundraising event to benefit the Fort Worth arts community. Artists may express their preference, by contacting FWCAC Gallery Manager, Elaine Taylor, at elaine@fwcac.org or by phone 817 738-1938 ext. 21.

 

Dr. Mark A. Roglán has been named director of the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, effective retroactively to January 1, 2006. Dr. Roglán, a native of Madrid and a specialist in Spanish art, had served as interim director of the museum since May 2005, when he succeeded former director Dr. Edmund Pillsbury.

Spanish artist Eduardo Chillida's Silent Music II, 1983 a large, table-like abstraction donated to the Met in 1986 by Dallas collector Frank Ribelin was almost auctioned by Sotheby's in London because, according the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "it has been on display [only] three times in 20 years and it's a very large work, and it should be seen outside." Mr Ribelin discovered the proposed sale online, protested, and the museum canceled the auction of their only piece by the artist. According to UPI, it was "unquestionably the most important work by Chillida to ever appear at auction" and was expected to fetch between $1.8 to $2.6 million.

According to a story by Dallas Morning News Theatre Critic Lawson Taitte, a $1.06 million grant will fund a ten-month plan to transform art education in Dallas. Donated by the Wallace Foundation of New York and implemented by Big Thought (formerly Young Audiences of North Texas)."

 

The fund may grow to more than $7 million "to put the plan into action for all Dallas Independent School District students from kindergarten to sixth grade." The theatre-heavy Big Thought will evaluate all areas of Dallas students' contact with the arts including arts instruction and field trips." Dallas was selected from 26 cities that were "already making progress in connecting schools, arts organizations and other civic groups."

Special thanks toDallasArtsRevue member Elisabeth Schalij for providing this information.
 

There's a bill before congress that will, if left alone, allow artists to deduct the value of donated art work, not just the cost of materials. Info online.

Studio space is available at the Shamrock Hotel Studios, 4312 Elm Street, Dallas 75214. For information contact Peter Ligon, 214 823-7089 or email ligonpa@yahoo.com

Those Who Play Together Stay Together is the odd title of a 2006 calendar featuring black & white photographs of 12 prominent Dallas sculpture couples. Naked. Though camouflaged. It benefits but is not sponsored by Texas Sculpture Association and Texas Visual Arts Association. $9.95 + $2 mailing and handling charges. Make checks out to The Studio and send to The Studio at 13602 Floyd Circle, Dallas, TX 75243 or call 972 437-3250

According to Brad Ford Smith, "Vance has just sent out the word that [last Saturday] was the last opening at the Gray Matters Gallery, and that this will be the last show before the doors close. This gallery has been a cornerstone to the art scene of Dallas, and the launching pad for dozens of Texas artists. The void that this closing represents will be felt by all those that are involved in the arts. I know that Vance and Stacy will continue to work and support the arts in Dallas, it is in their blood. I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with next. So Drop by the Gray Matters gallery this Saturday for great art, great people and good beer," said Mr. Smith.

Paper Routes — Dallas' premiere paper store will, by July 8, change its name to Paper Arts. Its address will be 118 North Peak (Dallas, Texas 75226). Business hours will be 10-7 Tuesdays, 10-5 Wednesdays through Fridays and 10-4 Saturdays. Phone will be 214- 828-9494, which was their old # on Exposition, and best of all, Terri Lenior will still own and operate the business, now with partner Robert Dorrell.

Dallas artist and teacher Scott Barber died Friday April 22, 2005. A memorial service was at St. Mark's School at 5 Tuesday April 26, and at Barry Whistler's. Please make donations to EASL (Emergency Artists Support League) P.O. Box 7895. Dallas, Texas 75209; 888 563-2316. EASL online.

Walter Hopps (1932-2005) has departed this world. His mind was full of art experiences and stories that he was always willing to share and he will be missed: Find Articles - Houston Chronicle - LA Times - NY Times

Ted Pillsbury is leaving the Meadows Museum as of May First (after 22 months) to pursue other projects. These last two stories are from DARts' Aesthetic Crisis Center.

 

Sonia King's Children's Medical Center Mosaic published

Sonia King's The Nature wall, one of four 8 x 17-foot mosaic walls at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, was just published in the Commissions section of the April/May '05 issue of American Craft, the official magazine of the American Craft Council. It was also on the cover of the architectural issue of Healthcare Design Magazine as well as featured in the new book, Mosaic Art and Style by JoAnn Locktov.

Created from a varied mix of materials sourced around the world, the mosaic walls are designed to be visually stimulating as well as texturally engaging. Over 30 different kinds of tile were used including hand-cut glass and ceramic, gold smalti and glass fusions.

Materials were sourced from the United States, Italy, France, Mexico, Portugal and Malaysia. The individual pieces not only change shape, size and patterning but also handle light in a multiple of ways, varying from shiny, matte, iridescent, glazed, clear and rounded surfaces.

Small surprises are hidden in the design, such as ladybug glass fusions and dichroic gems on the Nature Wall. The other walls are Shapes, Symbols and Balloons. The hand-colored fresco grout was created to add depth and visual stimulation, adding to the impression of floating and changing the look as one walks past the wall.

King is currently working on Phase Two of the mosaic projects for Children's Medical Center. Two sets of transparent glass mosaic on frosted safety windows are being created for the eleventh and twelfth floors of the hospital's new tower. In progress pictures of the windows can be seen on King's website at www.mosaicworks.com.

In other news, Sonia and Emma Biggs are co-authoring a new book, "Mosaic Master Class: Advanced Techniques", from Sterling Publishing. Sonia is the author of "Mosaic Techniques and Traditions" while London-based Biggs is the author of four mosaic books, including the "Encyclopedia of Mosaic Techniques." Sonia King, an internationally known mosaic artist, reinterprets the ancient art of mosaics as a contemporary sculptural medium.

 

Dallas rates #6 nationally for arts-related businesses

According to the Americans for the Arts analysis of the number of arts-related businesses — including arts institutions and organizations, Dallas is 6th in the United States, after New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC and Chicago — with more than 14,200 arts-related businesses.

Houston is #10, Austin #22, and San Antonio #31, although on a per capita basis, Austin is rated highest in Texas and third in the nation and Dallas is #19.

The data from this Creative Industries Study shows, among other things, how many arts-related businesses, identified in the Dun & Bradstreet database of 12.8 million active U.S. businesses, are located in each of the 276 standard metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The study combines Dun & Bradstreet data (as of January 2004) and geo-economic analysis to map the presence of these arts-related entities in six creative industries: museum / collections; performing arts; visual / photography; film, radio, TV; design/publishing; and schools / services. The creative industries are composed of arts-centric businesses, institutions, and organizations that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies.

Nationally, such businesses within the creative industries number 548,000 (4.3 percent of all U.S. businesses), and they employ 2.99 million people. These numbers are inevitably conservative, since the Dun & Bradstreet database under-represents nonprofit arts organizations. These numbers are even more conservative since the study does not look at unincorporated arts entities nor most individual artists. In the future we hope to be able to incorporate such organizations, which will yield even higher numbers.

On June 28, Americans for the Arts issued a press release which presented the data for only the 20 largest MSAs. That release has created some confusion about how many metropolitan areas were included, how metropolitan areas beyond the 20 largest compared, and how all the metropolitan areas compared on a per capita basis. We now realize that it should have been clearer. To ensure that there is no lack of clarity going forward, we have listed below each of the 276 MSAs and ranked them by population, by the number of arts businesses wiithin each of them, and by the number of arts businesses per 1,000 residents.

 

 

Cash raised for cancer treatments

Ludwig Schwarz - Untitled 1/4, 2004
oil on canvas - 18 x 24 inches
Angstrom Gallery

Stories + Photographs by J R Compton

January 2005

 

A Friend in Deed was a one-night art sale at Barry Whistler's with proceeds to Dallas artist Scott Barber's cancer treatment. According to the gallery, "over $35,000" was raised.

 

Mark Babcock - Miagra, 2002
biaxally oriented polystyrene ink,
neodymium magnet - 4.5 x 3.25 inches
Angstrom Gallery

 

Works were on display during Satur day (when I shot these samples of the very diverse but depthy show), but no sales were made until 7-10 Saturday January 22.

 

Sara Ishii - Princess, 2005
oil on masonite - 8 x 8 inches

 

One DARts contributor who attended, said "The event seemed to go very well, with its sardine can abundance of people, goodwill and plenty of red dots."

 

Randall Garrett - Companeros, 2005
glass, lotus seeds, enamel
5 x 4 x 1 inches
Plush Gallery

 

The sale featured art by more than fifty Dallas artists, including Mark Babcock, Frances Bagley, Bryan Billingsley, Christine Bisetto, Kelli Connell, Michael Cross, CJ Davis, Vincent Falsetta, Brian Fridge, Anthony Gambino, Randall Garrett, Linnea Glatt, Robert Hamilton, Jin-ya Huang, Benito Huerta, Sara Ishii, Chris Jaggers,...

 

Kelli Connell - Interim (B), 2004
1/6, digital color photograph
24 x 20 inches
Barry Whistler Gallery

 

Otis Jones, Ted Kincaid, Bill Komodore, Keitha Lowarance, Kirsten Macy, Greg Metz, Michael Miller, John Ryan Moore, Roberto Munguia, Pamela Nelson, Betsy Odom, Michael Odom, Tom Orr, Monica Pierce, Steven Price, John Pomara, Johnny Robertson, Andrea Rosenberg, Derrick Saunders, Cameron Schoepp, Ludwig Schwarz,...

 

 

Marjorie Schwarz, Jay Shinn, Tom Sime, Allison V Smith, Charlotte Smith, Ann Stautberg, Tachael Stine, Lorraine Tady, Terri Thornton, Frank X Tolbert, Michael Tole, Ellen Tuchman, John Wilcox, Bob Wilhite, Danny Williams and Michael Wynne. Music by Shibboleth.

 

 

 

 

Galleries quit, move and don't

 rumors+realities

January 2005

 

We're saddened to hear that Cidnee Patrick Gallery (formerly Edith Baker) has closed on the eve of what would have been Edith's 30th anniversary.

Cidnee's been a friend and a supporter, and her gallery has always been a warm and welcoming place filled with bright art.

I'm really going to miss “The Cidnee Pat.”

 

Related info had both Craighead-Green (now two doors down from the Cidnee Pat at 2404 Cedar Springs) and Dunn & Brown (5020 Tracy in nowhere north McKinney / south Highland Park) seriously considering moving to the Design District (Trinity Industrial Area) south of I–35.

Talley Dunn, however, counters, “Lisa Brown and I own the property at 5020 Tracy Street, and we have no intention of moving.”

 

 

Craighead-Green's old space in early January '05 sun

 

Kenneth Green (of Craighead-Green) told me, “We are trying to buy a building on Dragon Street ... We are very excited, will have around 5,600 feet and be close to Holly and Nancy [Whitenack of Conduit].”

Already in that busy area are Conduit (1626-C Hi Line), Holly Johnson (1411 Dragon), Joel Cooner (1605 Dragon), Banks (1231 Dragon) and Beaux Arts (1505 Hi Line) galleries.

More info on Dallas galleries 
on our Gallery Information page.

Wow! Dallas could have a real gallery district again, with plenty of parking and no tow-away zones or parking creep neighbors.

Can you imagine an Art Walk where patrons could actually walk between galleries?

 

Long-time DARts friend Terri Thoman, still of Paper Routes, is selling the popular paper store, but needs customers to keep coming back to 4440 Lawnview Avenue in Dallas TX 75227 (mapquest gives wrong directions), so she'll have something to sell, 214 381-2400.

Hours are 10-4 Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. Terri's new Fine Print studio is at 118 Peak, where she's back to teaching and making prints.

 

 

Pillsbury quits Peters to direct Meadows

June 2003

 jrc

James Surls and P&PFA

Dr. Edmund P. Pillsbury, whom New York Times art critic John Russell characterized as "one of the most gifted men in the American museum profession," has been named the director of the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University. Dr. Pillsbury, former director of Fort Worth's Kimbell Art Museum and Yale University's Center for British Art, will assume his new post on July 1.

And how did the established feathers at SMU like Dr. P dissing SMU's mu's colors and paint in the Dallas Morning News? Some say it was a crisis. Others thought it was a great way to start a new regime.

Dr. Pillsbury resigned his position as CEO of Pillsbury & Peters Fine Art, Ltd., the Dallas gallery he and Gerald Peters formed as a limited partnership in 1999. Under Dr. Pillsbury's direction, the gallery doubled in size, added more than a dozen artists, and became Dallas' best and most extensive art gallery. Now what, you might wonder. We do. -JRC

 

Legends this Time

Paul Rogers Harris
Self-Portrait with Daddy Figures - full info
 

Popular independent curator, former Waco Art Center and Dallas Crafts Guild director, educator and digital artist Paul Rogers Harris is the winner of this year's prestigious Arts Professional Legend Award. And I can't imagine anyone who deserves it more.

I'm proud to say Paul is a friend and sometime advisor, and I was privileged to design the catalog for his retrospective exhibition, Paul Rogers Harris: 50 Years in Art at Mountain View college in February 2001. That book includes his illustrated, biographical essay, I Never Thought of Myself As an Artist, which has been on this site since then.

Also raised to Legend status were art collector and real estate entrepreneur, gentle benefactor, historic preservationist and superb photographer David Gibson and his late wife, educator and gardener Lorine Gibson; and Dallas painter, Art Lies magazine co-founder and UTA gallery director Benito Huerta. All these legends will be honored at a banquet this fall.

JR Compton, Editor 

 
Edith Baker Gallery is changing its name to reflect its new owner Cindee Patrick Gallery. We worried about it some months ago, becaise Edith Baker has developed such a great reputation over the years, but she still works there and is happy with the plans. The new owner has obviously differing tastes and style. The name becomes official at this September's Dallas Gallery Walk. -JRC

 

Some news is exciting. Some hardly matters. From the latter category comes these two gems:

Danny Wettreich of the schmaltzy Eurpean Art Gallery, citing 9 11, which he says, "has caused us to review our priorities," has decided to "refocus our energies on our charitable activites, and consequently I have decided to close our two galleries ( in Dallas and London ) and retire from most of my business ventures." But their collection of 19th and 20th Centry European paintings is still available online and by appointment.

In an even longer winded press release from the Arlington Museum of Art comes "news" that former AMA Manager Anne Allen has been named Director, succeeding founding Director Joan Davidow, who "resigned" last year. Apparently the only applicants interviewed were Allen and former UTA Center for Research in Contemporary Art ( CRCA ) Al Harris-Fernandez. When he dropped out of the running at AMA to direct the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, "Ms Allen was the obvious choice," AMA board chair Bill Barter is quoted. Duh. - JRC
 

 

Love Field Project winners announced

The winner for the Love Field Parking Garage Expansion Public Art Project is the collaborative team of Dallas artists Susan Magilow and Philip Lamb. Congratulations.

 

Furor at Dallas Visual Art Center  (formerly D-Art)

2001

New DVAC director Joan Davidow is causing a furor in the Dallas art community.

She fired the popular volunteer coordinator Barbara West, quietly cancelled future Critic's Choice Shows, ripped up colorful art ( above ) and painted over colored walls -- to appeal to rich collectors -- and set size limitations on the once open, membership show. And although they have been paying for it for months, DVAC still has no website or E-mail.

The new director has raised membership fees and is charging for participation in meetings not even held at the center. She's abysmally ignorant of DVAC history -- it recently celebrated its 20th anniversary -- on its 21st birthday. And if she has a vision for its future, she has communicated it poorly.

Many DVAC members are seeing red. Some are refusing to renew. Others are boycotting. Only 200 works -- from nearly 900 members -- were accepted at the current membership show. And staffers lies to members asking about Ms. West.

If you're out there, Ms. Davidow, we'd love to hear from you.

JR Compton

 

Mary Washowiak Ward founded D-ART.

I get so tired of repeating this, but despite her and DVAC's constant repetition of this stupid bit of bullshit revisionist history, Patricia Meadows did not found D-ART, as much as she'd like to think so herself — and have us believe that lie.

Neither did Judy Smith-Hearst.

Meadows came along well after Ward had presented her concept of a center for Dallas artists to Artists Coalition for Texas ( which later became D-ART ) in a series of public meetings, and after ACT had turned over its organization and its precious 501 (c) (3) nonprofit status to the newly named institution.

Meadows brought social and financial connections at an important juncture in D-Art history. But she didn't originate anything.

Well after Mary Washowiak Ward founded D-ART, her " friend " Judy Hearst Smith, along with Patricia Meadows, wrested it from her over a tempest in a teapot excuse and wrote Ward out of D-ART ( now DVAC )'s history.

Last summer, DVAC celebrated its " 20th Anniversary " on the eve of its 21st year in existence -- just so its true founder could be safely written off. As if D-ART didn't begin until Meadows found that dilapidating old building that finally had to be razed just down the street from their current, Meadows ( sound familiar? ) Foundation digs ( which, after 8 more years, reverts to some other arts organization ).

At the opening of the above exhibition, Mrs. Meadows asserted that she was not a visionary. That much, at least, is true. It takes a visionary to conceive of something unique, even if it was -- and may still be -- needed

Meadows also stated that before D-Art " no gallery in Dallas showed Dallas artists or Texas Artists." This is another absurdity she has repeated for at least a dozen years.

Dallas galleries were showing Dallas artists well before D-ART came on the scene. They continued when D-ART blinked out of existence for a couple of years in the late 80s, and they still do.

Will DVAC ever own up to their own truths? -JRC

  

For much more info on the various other controversies swirling around DVAC these days, tune into the DARts' News Page. For way too much information on this particular, continuing idiocy, click to DARts' D-Art Revisionism Subindex.
  

Protest Letter to DVAC Board

 

DVAC controversy sizzles

Dallas sculptor Stuart Kraft wrote the following letter in response to my DVAC story immediately above:
  

Dear Friends, and members of DVAC

I am convinced that firing Barbara West was a wrong minded decision. Someone needs to hire her now and pay her the salary she deserves. The DVAC building will only become colder without her caring presence.

Some of us know what bad financial condition DVAC was in, prior to Ms. Davidow's leadership. Our fees and donations from the artists were not enough to keep the facility going. Fund raising, planning, and growth are the responsibility of the board of directors. What is their role in the decline of the facility, once most responsive to the needs of the artist community? Or, in other words, I ask the Board, What are you doing? What are you thinking? Who's the Boss?

Those board members who "quit in protest," wasted our potential clout, by relinquishing your votes.

I would be slow to blame Joan [ Davidow ] for the collapse of DVAC. The fatal flaws were in place long before she came with a mandate to rescue the organization. Some of those flaws are of our making.

I disagree strongly with her methods, but they are problems and panicked solutions typical of an unhealthy organization. It is a very tough job she accepted, she will fail without our support and guidance.

Her apparent disrespect of artists as human beings is troubling, as it reflects her focus on the structure of the organization, not the individuals that comprise it. Joan could spend more time with Ms. Manners as a tutor if she cares to maintain member support for her program modifications.

We can kill DVAC with a boycott. It is so fragile. We can walk away with no fight to reclaim what was ours. We can give it to the socialites and money brokers. We as members have responsibilities and power..... lets use it. Attend the board meetings, open your wallet with discrimination, get yourself elected, and tell Joan ,"NO" when she needs to hear it.

Take It Back ! Don't turn your back.

Stu Kraft 11-17-01   

"Not to exceed a perimeter of 96 inches"

This poem is about My Piece of the Wall, the DVAC Membership Show November 30 through December 31. It was writtent by former SMU-art professor and Dallas sculptor William Verhelst, who literally wrote the book on sculptural materials.
  

Smothered

Twenty Four
by twenty four
by twenty four
by twenty four
Creativity smothered
there is no more
Limited by that
ridiculous trick.
It is no more
with ninety six.
Forty two and forty two
and six by six
I still feel smothered
by ninety six.
I would like my sculpture
to be taller
But ninety six says
it must be smaller
So I enter the show
knowing there is no more
Suspecting the show
might be a bore
Any exhibition designer
that is reasonably wise
knows that an installation
can be ruined
when limiting the size

© 2001 Bill Verhelst

See Bill Verhelst's Supporting Membership page for examples of his work.

Barbara West Fired from DVAC

Reader and friend Leisette E-mailed me with the sad news that Barbara West, whom many artists considered the heart and soul of DVAC for the last two years, has been fired. The rationale was that she does not fit the image that DVAC is now trying to project.

Q:  Why is it so important that someone got fired from a local art center?

A:  Simple. It shows a trend away from serving Dallas artists, which was Ms. West's specialty, and toward making the Dallas Visual Art Center just another Contemporary Museum of Art, where new, even avant art is king, and local artists are just not that important anymore.

We're afraid this firing means that instead of being the center for Dallas artists that it has been becoming for the last decade, DVAC will be all about making a name for itself, and its new director.

As Leisette said in her E-mail:

She is the consistent presence who kept DVAC functioning during the several changes of director and fellow employees/volunteers during the past three years. As you know, she is the person who organizes the events and provides refreshments ( often preparing the food herself ).

She encouraged artists and gave them practical advice. She knows about everyone in the DFW art scene. Her knowledge of the art world has been very helpful to many beginning and more experienced artists. She [ did ] all this for low pay and no benefits. She has given me important encouragement when I was discouraged.

Every time I walked into DVAC, Barbara was there with a big smile and a great story. She attended almost all the functions, especially the ones for artists. I have never seen the current director, Joan Davidow, at any of the functions for artists. When artists go to Joan for evaluations of their portfolios, she is a harsh and callous judge.

Joan told me once that she herself is an artist, but couldn't stand the isolation of the studio. She likes to be around people. I find it hard to believe that Joan is an artist. Her attitude is more that of a bureaucrat.

Several artists I've talked with recently fear for the future of DVAC with Joan Davidow at the helm. Part of DVAC's mission statement is that it provide programs and support for local artists. I fear that Joan may cater to the collectors and corporate sponsors and consider DVAC as a stepping stone for her own career.

I cannot support the changes in DVAC and will not be renewing my membership, and therefore I am not exhibiting work in the membership show. I consider this no big loss as the membership show is so crowded that it is very difficult for any one artist's work to be noticed.

The artist members of DVAC ( unless they qualify for the Mosaics exhibitions ) have no opportunity for a one-person show at DVAC. This is the only art center I know that doesn't accept exhibition proposals from its members. Why?

From now on I'll be supporting other local arts organizations and praying Joan Davidow doesn't do too much damage."

When this editor spoke to Barbara about a week later, she emphasized that she didn't want people to boycott DVAC on her account. It should, she said, be their own decision. -JRC

Arlington Museum of Art names architect

Fort Worth architects Cauble Hoskins and Loose will renovate the museum's 50s style department store building, adding an elevator, and expanding the Children's Education Center in the basement. Weren't they raising funds for a whole new building last year before they fired Joan Davidow, who was purpoted to be a great fund-raiser.

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The winner for the Love Field Parking Garage
Expansion Public Art Project on display at DVAC
through November 10 hasn't been announced yet...

But I'm including the following description of one of the teams proposals, just to give readers an idea of some of the thought and planning that goes into this kind of public project. My friend Carol Wilder E-mailed it to me when I asked, and I thought you'd be interested, also.

She's collaborating with her husband Larry Enge and University of Dallas Art Professor ( and the guy who first turned me on to art, when I aced his Art History class at UD 37 years ago ) Lyle Novinski. There are three other proposals at the DVAC showing that are at least as involved. It's really a fascinating exhibition. -JRC

The project involves designing artwork for 5 sections of walls ( approximate size 13' x 182' -- all different lengths ) to correspond with 5 moving sidewalks to be built to carry patrons from the new garage to a new skywalk and into the terminal.

Harrison Evans photo

The artists are also to design terrazzo flooring for three elevator lobbies and one main lobby, the barrel vault ceiling that goes along with the sidewalks, and artwork for the main lobby wall -- DARts' current cover image, Air Traffic ( link image above ) is for this space.

Our walls consist of 125 aluminum honeycomb panels ranging in size between 5' x 7' and 5' x 3 or 4'. Each panel will have 2 rounded corners on the top or bottom and will be cut with its part of a curvilinear line that, when installed, will show an implied line that moves down the concourse and reflects the lifting and lowering of flight. It also reflects the curving glass curtain wall on the opposite side of the concourse and the landscape design that will be installed on the grounds.

The plan was to use photographs from 5 sections of Dallas ( SE,SW,DT,NE, NW ) to show patrons images of Dallas as they go along the concourse. We are going to recruit photographers from the pool of students at Arts Magnet HS and any others who might want to contribute ( Wanna join in? ). We already have photos from a photographer Larry met while shooting in Fair Park. All the images in the NE section model are from him.

After we collect the images, we will design in a collage fashion ( similar to what we do with images in our own collaborative paintings ) each panel, hire college art students to do the prep and underpainting and finish them up ourselves so they will ultimately be a collaboration between us and myriad of students, artists, photographers and will ( hopefully ) reflect images of Dallas as seen from the eyes of its residents.

The lobby designs will have simple lines that reflect flight movement through the space. The barrel vault and sidewalk sections run roughly east to west, so the vault ceiling will have images of clouds from N. Tx skies and will go from sunrise through day to sunset in the west before you get to the terminal.

In the Main Lobby "Air Traffic" ( I'm so glad you're using it on DART! ) will be an 8' circle on the wall that can be seen best as you leave the airport and come toward the garage. It will consist of clouds printed on the same material as will be on the vault ceiling and will have 40 images of "flying things" painted on it. The green images on the model represent "mythical flying machines" and some early gliders and planes. The yellow ones are birds and other flying animals, red are insects and mythical flying beasts.

All will be the same size and equi-distance. This will give the illusion of space (the insects will appear close-up due to scale and the machines further in the distance). We envision this painting to be fun and informative as well-the funny machines were important in flight history-the people who invented and built them (or simply thought them up) helped aviation history.

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DMA no longer free to the public

Don't you just love bureaucratic doublespeak? In a letter to Dallas Museum of Art members, DMA Director John R Lane stated, "the Museum will charge a general admission fee that will provide free admission to special exhibitions and access to all the galleries of the Museum's collection. Members will continue to enjoy free admission to the Museum, as well as to special exhibitions."

Got that? The museum is free, except you gotta pay to get in, unless you're a member, in which case you get in free, after you pay. - JRC

Non-member general admission is $6 adults, $4 senior citizens and children over 12. Children under 12 and members, are "free." And everyone is free 5-9 Thursdays and 11-5 on first Tuesdays.

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Art in the 21st Century never
quite makes it to Dallas

The four episodes of Art in the 21st Century (website has gobs of info, many artists, forums and beyond) -- featuring too many artists to mention, especially since the much-ballyhooed NPR TV show didn't happen here - may eventually air in two, 2-hour segments, Place and Spirtuality and Identity and Consumption, we keep getting reports that one or another television guide lists the event, but it keeps being Sister Wendy instead. Big disappointment.

Anita Horton, who does Art Movie Night at 7 on the Second Tuesday of each month, has purchased the tapes, and she'll be playing them the next two months.
  

The Dallas Foundation has a brochure called Walking Sculpture including 30 public sculptures in downtown Dallas. The map inside is clear. What a fine resource! Get your own copy from Pillsbury Peters, call 214 741-9898, or visit the Dallas Foundation's site for more info.

© 2001 by JR Compton

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