Dallas Wrap Up: Live Large, Think Big.

by Margaret Meehan April 16, 2012

A crazy whirlwind of art and reunions in Dallas this past weekend. It was really hopping and I am exhausted. I’ll be moving back this Fall and I have to admit the past 3 days gave me hope and got me excited about rejoining the DFW art community.

Shamrock Hotel Studios exterior being done up by artists Sunny Slinger and Marianne Newsom

I drove up to participate in the Fallas Dart Air held at the Shamrock Studios and spent my time seeing and talking art with old friends and new all over town. I’m putting tons of links in this blog post and expect you to hit everyone. Friday after installing I had a chance to finally visit Oliver Francis Gallery which hosted the opening reception to the THE DALLAS BIENNIAL (DB12). The small back room housed volume 1 and was an impressive start. I especially liked Petra Cortright’s video Footvball/ Faerie. 

Dates for the THE DALLAS BIENNIAL are:
DB12 Web Exhibition (April 13, 2012 – April 13, 2014)
DB12: Volume 1. Web Exhibition (April 13 – June 8, 2012)
DB12: Volume 1. At Dick Higgins Gallery (located inside Oliver Francis Gallery) (April 13 – May 5, 2012)

George Horner poster from DB12 at Oliver Francis.

After that I headed over to the Dallas Contemporary for the first and only dallas Biennale. What’s the difference between the two? Well from what I heard it’s complicated… but they are different in spelling, organization, timing and scope. Be sure to check out each website for more details. I first stopped by the Leslie Street location around the corner to see the work of Michael Corris and Micheal Smith.  Dealing with drumming, youth culture and a wish to hold onto not only youth but iPhones and eye wear as well. Michael Smith’s work is hilarious, forebodingly sweet and just plain good.

Michael Smith, Practice, Practice, Practice, 2011-12. The first installment of “Excuse me, I am looking for the Fountain of Youth”. Photo: Gregory Vershbow.

On site at the Dallas Contemporary one of my favorite artists Erwin Wurm’ s Beauty Business is a great installation of work positioned atop styrofoam pedestals. Most of which I’ve only seen through images over the years, I recommend you go and see them in person.

Erwin Wurm- Guggenheim, 2005.

Erwin Wurm- Guggenheim (Melting), 2005. Cast resin. 18 x 33 3/4 x 54 3/8 in.

dallas Biennale locations and dates:

Neiman Marcus (March – April 2012)
Dallas Art Fair (12-15 April 2012)
Goss-Michael Foundation (13 April – August 2012)
Dallas Contemporary (13 April – 19 August 2012)
Design District area (April 2012)
Oliver Francis Gallery (April 2012)

Dallas-based artist Erick Swenson also had an opening, Sightings, at the Nasher Sculpture Center which will be up until July 8, 2012. I love his work and missed the opening but will be sure to head back to town before it closes.

Erick Swenson, Schwärmerei (in process), 2012 Acrylic and oil on urethane resin and silicone, dimensions variable Courtesy of Talley Dunn Gallery © Erick Swenson. Photo: ManTiger Studio, 2011.

On Saturday afternoon I did a super quick pass through the Dallas Art Fair. I spent much of that time catching up with old friends from Texas as well as New York and LA. The fair had less Texas presence than in previous years which I can only guess had to do with the over saturation (2 fairs in Houston this year and Art Brussels which is happening this week) and the high costs vs. income of art fairs. But the DFW area represented strong with good looking booths from Conduit, Webb Gallery and Marty Walker. Read fellow GT blogger Kelly Klaasmeyer’s The Dallas Art Fair: It’s back and it’s better for more..

Bret Slater, CELESTIAL CROWN, 2012. Acrylic on Canvas, 11 X 9 3/4 X 1 3/4 inches. Courtesy Marty Walker Gallery.

My favorite out of town booths were Leo Koenig, D’Amelio Gallery, Feature Gallery, and Canada from NY.  Horton Gallery also from NY looked good as well and had strong work from Austin artist Brad Tucker. Green Gallery in Milwaukee which is artist run like Canada Gallery was solid and had more Tony Matelli, that guy was all over the fair! CB1 Gallery from LA was pretty great too.

Tony Matelli. Wipe 2011 Enamel on mirror 48 x 72 inches. Image courtesy artist website.

Saturday night I was at the Shamrock which drew an amazing crowd. I want to thank everyone who came out and especially Mai Koetjecacov Editions from Wichita Falls who proudly presented the first official Fallas Dart Air. Outside the Shamrock OccuLibrary worked their mission using aesthetically-informed strategies to lure awareness toward information that empowers the 99%.

OccuLibrary staff in front of the Shamrock Hotel.

Then off to Angstrom Gallery which opened it’s doors once again this weekend (has it ever really closed…) for a primarily painting exhibition entitled Passenger.  Highlights included Dallas artists Ludwig Schwarz and Jeff Zilm, his painting Shock Corridor is on the far right in the image below, as well as work by Robert Lazzarini, Phyllida Barlow, and collaborative work by Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe .

Angstrom Gallery's Passenger Exhibition- overview. Photo credit: Kevin Todora.

Well that was a lot to report and I KNOW I missed some good things in addition to what’s listed above but for now the city did what the slogan says and did it in a good way:
Live Large, Think Big. Dallas.

1 comment

1 comment

Carla Hollis April 21, 2012 - 09:56

Wow! Thank you for recognizing the progress!!

Reply

Leave a Comment

Funding generously provided by: