I’ve been friends with Hal Samples since I wrote this story about him for the Dallas Observer in 2005. I probably get more out of the friendship than he does, because I always leave a conversation with him inspired in some way. Not necessarily by what he’s doing — though that often is the case. It’s just that you can’t talk to him and not start thinking about bigger issues. Maybe it’s in his life, maybe it’s in yours, maybe it’s neither. He makes you engage like few other people I’ve come across.
And now, after two years running his eponymous gallery in Deep Ellum, he’s going back to doing that full time (through video, photo, and simply talking to people). But first, one last show: HOME?, featuring the works of Willie Baronet. It sort of brings this chapter of Hal’s life full circle. For 14 years, Baronet — who formerly ran the MasonBaronet design studio — has bought signs from homeless people, treating them like folk artists instead of ignoring them or tossing some spare change their way. HOME? collect them for the first time, and it’s a fitting last show: an artist interested in helping people who walked away from a successful business to do it. I’m not sure where Hal will turn up again, but I know it will be worth paying attention to.
The show opens tomorrow with a reception tomorrow night from 6-10 p.m. at Hal Samples Gallery, 2814 Main. Proceeds go to The Stewpot.
