The third annual Arts District celebration “Art In October” kicks off this weekend. Here’s a rundown on some of the main events:
The Dallas Arts District Announces Third Annual “Art in October”
Three District-Wide Events; 70+ FREE Events Celebrate the Arts and the Grand Opening of Klyde Warren Park
The Dallas Arts District announces today the third annual Art in October line up of more than 170 events, many free or at a reduced price, during the month of October onFlora Street in Downtown Dallas. The month-long art celebration of the Dallas Arts District spotlights the district’s organizations, venues, exhibitions and programs with a variety of events while raising the bar from last year’s successes. Art in October 2012 is a diverse mix of stunning district-wide exhibitions and community-oriented elements designed to entertain and engage audiences of all ages.
October is a significant time for the Dallas Arts District; it is the anniversary of the opening of the AT & T Performing Arts Center and the Nasher Sculpture Center, it is the start of the season for organizations like The Dallas Opera and new exhibitions at the Dallas Museum of Art are frequently previewed during the month. This year will mark the grand opening of Klyde Warren Park. October is also National Arts and Humanities Month, providing a national as well as a regional cause for celebration.
“’Art In October’ is a celebration of the Dallas Arts District, spotlighting the district’s organizations, venues, and programs with a variety of events, including street performances, art activities, and a few surprises,” says Veletta Forsythe Lill, Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District. “We wanted to create a way to celebrate our unique cultural offerings and engage the community.”
Multiple events in October will also allow visitors to sample the various offerings of Dallas’ best known food trucks. Resident restaurants will also be featured with events like the Fall Block Party at One Arts Plaza on October 14, 2012. During several special event days, designated beer and wine gardens will also be integrated into events. As the Dallas Morning News noted in past years, “Food brings people to the street, which adds life and a human dimension that could reshape downtown Dallas.” Rated a top “Hit” of 2010 by the Dallas Morning News, Art in October showed the world, “what a draw the downtown Arts District can be with coordinated programming.”
Exhibitions during this time include: Legacy of the Plumed Serpent in Ancient Mexico, Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries, Variations on Theme: Contemporary Art 1950s-Present, and Difference? at the Dallas Museum of Art; Rediscoveries: Modes of Making in Modern Sculpture, Sculpture in So Many Words: Text Pieces 1960 – 80, and Sightings: Eva Rothschild at the Nasher Sculpture Center, and On the Silk Road and the High Seas: Chinese Ceramics, Culture and Commerce at the Crow Collection of Asian Art. The Dallas Opera commences their season with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, and the Dallas Theater Center begins production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents classical, family, and pops productions all month long with highlights including Bugs Bunny at the Symphony; Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx; Rufus Wainwright; Divine Dvorak and Simply Sinatra. The AT&T Performing Arts center presents performances by Leon Russell, Ricky Skaggs & Junior Brown, Twist and Shout and more. They will also be continuing their free Thursday night Patio Sessions series featuring live and local music and thefree Saturday morning fitness series, Local Motion.
Art in October Spotlight Days throughout the month include:
OCTOBER 6 – FIRST SATURDAY The Dallas Arts District will kick off Art in October with FREE admission to the Crow Collection of Asian Art and Nasher Sculpture Center. The Dallas Museum of Art will be open for general admission. Enjoy a day of art, activities, and food trucks. 11a-5p
OCTOBER 6: ART IN MOTION Bring that bike, wagon – any artistically decorated human-powered vehicle, for that matter – and join in the procession, presented by Dallas Observer! The best-decorated entries will win some very, very cool prizes! Extra points will be given for the use of light on your bike. At the end of the ride there will be drinks and live music by Ishi at One Arts Plaza. 7p registration
OCTOBER 6 – DANCEAFRICA A cultural experience celebrating the rich heritage of Africa featuring performances by the companies of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Also the DanceAfrica Marketplace will take place in Annette Strauss Square with food, clothing, crafts and more. 10a-6p; 7:30p ticketed performance in the Winspear Opera House.
OCTOBER 7 – FIESTA LATINOAMERICANA! Presented by DFW International Community Alliance, it’s Dallas’ only cultural festival of the Americas, featuring a Parade of Nations, Latino Cuisine Pavilion, four stages of entertainment, Principe and Princesita show, Mercado Latino, Tortilleria, Pinata and LatinoQuest games, Drum Circle, plus Mega 107.5’s Latino artists and the Cathedral’s Fall Carnival. 9a-7p
OCTOBER 14 – ONE ARTS PLAZA FALL BLOCK PARTY Join us for One Arts Plaza’s 3rd annual Fall Block Party. We’ll have cooking and cocktail demos, food samples, food vendors, live music, face painting and a dog costume competition. 12p-4p
OCTOBER 19 – DISTRICT AFTER DARK A FREE night of public art where 8 artists will illuminate the District with site specific installations of light, sound, performance, andprojection – a glimpse into Aurora 2013. Dallas Theater Center invites you to their Pay-What-You-Can performance of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. The activity continues at the other end of Flora St. with Crow Collection AfterDark (FREE), ‘til Midnight at the Nasher (FREE) and Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art (general admission). There will also be progressive tours, food trucks and activities. 6p-12a Visit DallasAurora.com for more information.
OCTOBER 26 – DALLAS OPERA OPENING NIGHT AND PLAZACAST The Dallas Opera opens their season with AIDA. Take your seat in the Winspear or, if you prefer, on the lawn for the FREE live simulcast broadcast to Sammons Park! 5p-11p
OCTOBER 27-28 – KLYDE WARREN PARK GRAND OPENING Enjoy two days of programming and public events showcasing Dallas’ newest park during this free grand opening weekend. The celebration will spill into the Dallas ArtsDistrict with food trucks, live music, and free admission all weekend at the museums. Enjoy Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s The Haunted Orchestra or check out the free matinee performance of Dallas Theater Center’s The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (subject to availability).Visit KlydeWarrenPark.com for more information. Park hours: Saturday 9a-11p; Sunday 9a-10p
For a full schedule of activities visit ArtinOctober.com.
For more information about the Dallas Arts District, please visit www.thedallasartsdistrict.org.
Photo by Elizabeth Lavin
