
It isn’t hyperbole to say that this is the biggest week of the entire year for visual arts in Dallas. In terms of scope, quantity, and quality, there is nothing to compare to these next five days. If you don’t go to at least one visual art event this week, shame on you. If you are able to go to all of them – I will personally award you a medal. This started as just trying to list some things for some of my friends, and then became a bigger list for The 500, and now it has become this length of a Bill Simmons' column.
Speaking of The 500, everyone who knows that they should have subscribed to The 500, please take a second and do that now. When you join the 500 you get me to tell you about stuff like this, except every single week. Oh and then I throw you a party at the end of the month. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
Without further ado – the Biggest, Baddest, Bestest, Sweetest, Most Awesome, Exciting, Head Exploding, Week for Art In Dallas.
Wednesday
Dallas Arts: A Creative Conversation
(art panel discussion hosted by the Mayor)
Dallas Performance Hall 5:30 p.m.
Panel Starts at 6 p.m.
Need to RSVP http://dallasartsweek.eventbrite.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/165107213647597
Deetz: Free wine, Free To Attend, Need To RSVP, Arts District
The Mayor of Dallas, Mike Rawlings, (1) whose daughter Michelle is a visual artist (2)and shows with Oliver Francis Gallery (3), anointed this week Dallas Art Week (4). He also set up a panel. This is going to be great! First its at the new Dallas City Performance Hall (5) which you probably haven’t ventured into yet. Second, it has my homie Kevin Jacobs (6) on it. Actually you can just call this week Sweet Kevin’s Baadaaassss Song (7). Already controversial because the organizers (the Mayor/his people/”they”) did that thing where they didn’t pick any women for the panel (8). Organizers of public panels that are supposed to be representative of a major city, please include a female and someone not white. Just a great rule of thumb.
"Tobias Madison, Emanuel Rossetti & Stefan Tcherepnin"
Power Station 6 p.m – 8 p.m.
3816 Commerce Street, Dallas, Tx 75226
http://www.facebook.com/events/468502099883176/
Deetz: Free drinks, Free To Attend, Fancy ppl, Expo Park
Everyone likes The Power Station (8). They don’t do a ton of programming compared to other art institutions, but they tend to do a really good job. Also they tend to have a pretty fancy crowd that doesn’t regularly attend other local art openings. I have a feeling this will be doubly so because of the Art Fair.
Thursday
Dallas Art Preview Gala
Fashion Industry Gallery
1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, 75201
7 p.m – 10 p.m.
Deetz: $250 (9), Super Fancy Party, Super Fancy PPL, Feel Free To Invite Me As Your Plus One, Arts District
So, everyone cool from all over the world is going to be here and they are going to drink a bunch of champagne, give one armed hugs, and kiss each other on the cheek. Depending on who you are this is the best thing and/or the worst thing happening this week. Drop the money if you got it. Make fun of the whole deal if you don’t.
Official Dallas Art Fair Preview Gala After Party
The Joule Hotel (10) (rooftop deck)
1530 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201
10 p.m – 2 a.m.
Deetz: Downtown
Yeah, I bet you can probably crash this. Wear a nice suit, crazy dress, and be fearless.
Matthew Cusik – Motor Transgressions
Texas Theatre
8-11 p.m
http://www.facebook.com/events/276206602514043
Deetz: Free To Attend, Oak Cliff
The Texas Theatre (11) is cool. So this might be cool too.
Color, Colour, Colores
South Dallas Cultural Center
6:30 p.m. Bites and Drinks
7:00 p.m. Screening Ozwald Boateng: A Man's Story
http://www.facebook.com/events/132658416917668/
Deetz: Free Drinks, Free Bites, Free To Attend, South Dallas
South Dallas Cultural Center (12) is probably the best art place you have never been to. You should go there more. I should go there more. My fashion people, especially my men’s fashion people, will probably like this. Plus, you know, it’s good to support black and brown people (13).
"Platonic Solids" by Matthew Koons
TractorBeam Gallery
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
325 Cesar Chavez, Dallas, Tx 75201
http://www.facebook.com/events/442140689195547
Deetz: Free To Attend, Free Drinks, Downtown
Tractor Beam (14) knows how to throw a great party. This will be no exception. The hipster glitterati will be out in force. (15)
Friday
Dallas Art Fair
11:00 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fashion Industry Gallery
1807 Ross Avenue Dallas 75201
http://www.dallasartfair.com/
Deetz: $25, one day pass, Arts District
The Dallas Art Fair will have a ton of art from a ton of galleries and will be generally awesome. Just go. It’s worth it. Oh and Culture Map Dallas has a deal for a free ticket on Friday. (16)
Sightings: Nathan Mabry
Nasher Sculpture Center
2001 Flora Street, Dallas, 75201
6 – 8 p.m
Deetz: Free To Attend, Arts District
It’s the Nasher (17). You have to go to it before Museum Tower (18) finishes melting it (19). Just kidding, I love Museum Tower and want to do awesome things there before the year is over. Seriously, it will be great.
Dan Rees
Goss Michael Foundation
6:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m
1405 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, 75207
Deetz: Free To Attend, Free Wine, Design District
Sweet Kevin’s Baadaaassss Song continues at the Goss Michael Foundation (20). You want to see the beautiful people. You want to feel beautiful. Go to GMF.
Stutter, slip, stack – Kristen Cochren
Re Gallery
6 – 10 p.m.
1717 Gould Street, Dallas, TX 75215
http://www.facebook.com/events/441759859236292/
Deetz: Free To Attend, Free Wine, The Cedars
I love RE Gallery (21). I love it is in a house. I love it is run by Wanda Dye (22). I love it shows (so far) smallish art objects. I love there is often a small bonfire. I love you that there is a gang of young artists who has carved out the turf as their home base (23). I love turf. But what I love most is how easy Wanda makes it for you to see the art. Art viewing is often social. We like to look at art with other people, particularly at openings or closings, and particularly with a drink in our hand. I’m sure that doesn’t apply to you, but it does apply to the majority of people who look at art in Dallas. Wanda has openings, closings, and an artist talk. Every single show. For this show she is having a double opening because it is an insanely busy week. Check it out Friday or Saturday, and fall in love.
High Contrast – Lucas Martell
Mountain View College
7:00 p.m.
http://www.facebook.com/events/561758993847324
Deetz: Free To Attend, Just Google Map It
I also love Lucas Martell (24). I think most people love Lucas Martell. Every time I see him I say his name in a sing songy voice that is to the tune of the opening of Lupin III (25). LUCAS MARTELL. LUCAS MARTELL. LUCAS. LUCAS. LUCAS. LUCAS MARTELL. So that’s why I am driving to his closing and showing love. You should too.
Moonlight In Dallas (Red iD 5th Anniversary)
Avanti Fountain Place
1445 ross avenue, suite 150
dallas, tx 75202
http://www.facebook.com/events/181314802016213
RSVP: http://moonlightindallas.eventbrite.com/
Deetz: Free To Attend, Downtown
Red iD Agency (26) is a wonderful PR and Branding company and Teresa Nguyen is an awesome person. And 5 Years is no joke. Plus, The Danny Church Band (27) and magic! For Free!?!? You are too good to us Teresa.
Caja Dallas
Dallas Contemporary
8:00 p.m – 12:00 a.m
161 Glass Street, Dallas, 75207
Deetz: Free To Attend, Free Drinks, Design District
Oh where to begin? First, if you attend one art event on Friday – it has to be the Dallas Contemporary (28). I love the Contemporary. I thought the scandal earlier this year was horrifying (29). I think the shows can be incredibly uneven, fashion dominated glitzy affairs. I think the shows that aren’t that are often really great. I think it was great that people called Peter Doroshenko (30) out for being largely invisible on the local art scene, and I think it is great that I have seen him out and about the last three weekends. I think the institution has done the best job at attracting a diverse crowd of any arts institution in Dallas. I think it also does a great job at helping local talent reach the next level. Most importantly, I think the Dallas Contemporary is an institution that is wonderful barometer for where we are at as a city. Which is why everyone will be there Friday night.
Wax Addicts
Circuit 12
9 – 2 a.m.
1130 Dragon St Suite 150
http://www.facebook.com/events/626736250686601
Deetz: $10, Design District
This is what you should do after the Dallas Contemporary. Three of the best most consistent DJs in Dallas, and the new show, Milestone #1 (31) that opened up last weekend is one of my favorites from this gallery.
Saturday
Dallas Art Fair
11:00 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fashion Industry Gallery
1807 Ross Avenue Dallas 75201
Deetz, $25, Arts District
If you didn’t go Friday. You should go today. If you went Friday, you should also go today. There is A LOT OF ART TO SEE.
Panel Discussion – Navigating an Art Fair
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Dallas Contemporary,
161 Glass Street, Dallas, 75207
Deetz: Free To Attend, Design District
Might be interesting for my artist friends who want to form a wandering art fair tribe.
Panel Discussion – Why Can’t We All Get Along?
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dallas Contemporary,
161 Glass Street, Dallas, 75207
Deetz: Free To Attend, Design District
Sweet Kevin’s Baadaaassss Song continues as part of this panel that I wish will be Dallas-centric but have a feeling will probably be general talk about artists and galleries. Oh and Papa Heyd Fontenot (32), Defender of the City, and Guardian of Centraltrak (34) will be on the panel as well. Heyd is the best and will probably say worthwhile things and doesn’t do a lot of public panels so you should go listen to him.
360 Speaker Series: Nathan Mabry
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Nasher Sculpture Center,
2001 Flora Street, Dallas, 75201
To reserve seating, please email 360RSVP@nashersculpturecenter.org
Deetz: Free To Attend, Free Wine, Must RSVP, Arts District
See the show, hear the artist talk, and get free wine. Perfect for those who missed the opening.
Innate
Oil and Cotton
837 W. 7th Street, Dallas, Texas 75208
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
http://www.facebook.com/events/645472422135410
Deetz: Free To Attend, Free Wine, Oak Cliff
Oil and Cotton is really cool (35), and I have slept on it for a while. No more! Shout out to Sally Glass, editor of semigloss. (36) for getting me to see the light.
Fallas Dart Air: Low and Slow
Mama Faye’s BBQ
7:00 p.m – 11:30 p.m.
http://www.facebook.com/events/145838148923936/
Deetz: Free To Attend, Deep Ellum
I am really hopeful that this will be the best thing ever and change my life. Seriously these are my expectations. I love subversion or transgression or whatever you want to call it. Had a chance to chat with Ludwig Schwarz (37) last week and he seems like a swell guy. And can you hear that sound? It’s the tune of Sweet Kevin’s Baadaaassss Song. Finally, have you had Mama Faye’s BBQ (38)!?
Stutter, slip, stack – Kristen Cochren
RE Gallery
6 – 9 p.m.
1717 Gould Street, Dallas, TX 75215
http://www.facebook.com/events/441759859236292/
Opening so nice they had to do it twice. I will probably be attending the Saturday opening.
TINAY/IDNCTBH (SRTAMHMWF)
Oliver Francis Gallery
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m
209 S. Peak St. Dallas, Texas 75226
http://www.facebook.com/events/500095190026121/
Sweet Kevin’s Baadaaassss Song comes to a glorious climax at the house Kevin Rubens Jacobs built – OFG. I really hope they burn things. I also hope there is an ice chest. Maybe Green Bandana (39) will revive our pop-up bar concept (40). I hope there is a dance party til 4:00 a.m. Seriously what is there to do after 10:00 p.m? Maybe we’ll throw a pop-up party. Ash Studios (41)? I’ll ask Fred (42).
Landscape Is Motorized
500X Gallery
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
500 Expositon Avenue, Dallas, Tx 75226
http://www.facebook.com/events/589861854358410
500X (43) is like your favorite t-shirt. No matter where you are going, you are always going to take it with you. New things come and go, 500X is forever. That is why you should always go to there show openings.
Sunday
Dallas Art Fair
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Yep – you finally have to cave in and go the actual Dallas Art Fair (44). It was crazy. Let’s do this more often. Oh yeah, and I hear there is some international film festival (45) that is happening too.
xoxo art ppl,
Darryl