September 9 - December 9, 2023
From SITE 131:
“Dallas’ SITE131 celebrates its tenth anniversary opening the 2023 Fall season on Saturday, September 9 from 5 to 8pm closing December 9 from 1 to 3pm with a special exhibition memorializing its founding partner in …to see is a gift: Seth Davidow collection. Davidow, who passed away this summer from a grueling disease, assembled his bright, colorful, and commanding collection over a 10-year period.
Thirty artworks hugging the walls of SITE131 display the exuberance of someone wrapped in the dynamism of today’s art. The mostly oversized paintings present an appreciation of color, form, and freshness that define Davidow’s collection.
In a 2016 Paper City article about the opening of SITE131, Davidow explained his attachment to the art of our day: “I grew up in a home [that] lived and breathed contemporary art,” he remarked. For Davidow to gather his own assemblage of new art was a natural extension of the way he witnessed the world every day.
Curated by his SITE131 partner and mother Joan Davidow, the presentation is warm and charming and extremely personal. It’s not often one walks into an exhibition and feels as though you’re stepping into private territory.
In the Davidow home, charming and, kind of hiding, stands Scooter by Aaron Young. The innocent little fella makes sure you know this is a place where young people dwell. Across from him hangs a most dramatic artwork by British artist, Thomas Ruff, entitled m.a.r.s.01, of what could well be the landscape on Mars, or a huge desert scape.
Commanding the viewers’ attention is Jacqueline Humphries’ large dynamic Untitled painting. With strong calligraphic markings, Humphries sets the stage. Her oversized artwork hung above the open stairway at the home’s entry.
Nearby and just as compelling is Callum Innes’ Untitled No 32. The Innes painting simplifies its presentation defining two side-by-side masses in two distinct colors, purple and black.
Many more artworks noting creative approaches to how we see the world and how they entered the collection will keep the museum goers engaged. Dallas artist Linda Ridgway’s bronze arc, Eye Line, welcomed guests at the front door. This, her first-ever bronze piece is simple, elegant, and engaging, and was given to Seth & Marni as a gift from mom when they moved into their architected home on Abbott. The finely defined Richard Diebenkorn print which hung in the dining room, was the first art piece Davidow acquired ten years ago in 2014. The color woodblock print entitled Ochre from 1984 set the stage for all the art that was to follow.
In its new direction of returning to the North Texas art community, SITE131 presents cherished private art collections to a public audience. Texas has a healthy community of collectors who have been exceptionally private with their holdings. By sharing their resources with a larger audience, Texas may initiate a widening gathering of potential collectors.
SITE131 thanks the Seth Davidow Family for sharing its inventive art holdings with the North Texas community. During the exhibition, director Joan Davidow will appear in a special program to discuss her son’s approach to collecting contemporary art. Special thanks go to the SITE131 Foundation for its pivotal support of adventurous exhibitions of new art.
SITE131 located at 131 Payne Street, Dallas, TX 75207 in Dallas’ Design District, is free and open to the public Fridays, noon to 5pm and Saturdays, 1 to 3pm, and by appointment. Contact [email protected] for special tours and arrangements.”
Reception: September 9, 2023 | 5–8 pm
131 Payne St.
Dallas, 75207 Texas
Get directions