No messing around this week, just the general mayhem created by a load of openings:
Thursday:
“Michael Collins, Sojourns in the Shadowlands” at the Carillon Gallery, Tarrant County College South Campus — September 6, 6-8 p.m. 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76119:
Collins’ rich, haunting paintings have an air of expressionism about them, not surprising given that they draw their inspiration both from the Germanic countryside and the artist’s own processing of historical weight of the Holocaust on the landscape. After the show in Fort Worth, Collins’ large-scale paintings will travel to the Houston Holocaust museum.
“Four Nights, Four Decades” at The Power Station – September 6 at 7:30 p.m. 3816 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75226:
Just a reminder that the four-part video art retrospective at The Power Station continues Thursday with the eighties, which has to be the most must-see decade of the four decade program.
Friday:
“The State of Drawing” at The Gallery at UTA – September 7, 6-8:30 p.m. 502 S. Cooper Street, Arlington, TX.
“Edit 6” by Fred Spaulding, and “Black Hole” by Waleed Arshad, at the Haggerty Gallery at the University Of Dallas – September 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 1845 East Northgate Drive, Irving, Tx 75074
“The Gallery as Host” at the University of Texas at Dallas – September 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Tx 75080:
The university galleries get a head start on this busy weekend with a trio of openings on Friday night. I love the simplicity and clarity of Benito Huerta’s state-wide survey of artists who work primarily in drawing. And with the inclusion of artists like Michael Bise, Karin Broker, and Robyn O’Neil, it actually promises to be a pretty far-flung show, despite the singularity of the medium it showcases.
Huerta’s medium-based curatorial approach plays nicely in counterpoint to the more conceptual and critical project being staged at UTD. “The Gallery as Host” takes its exhibition title from American literary critic J. Hillis Miller’s essay, “The Critic as Host,” reapplying that consideration of the critic’s relationship to the text to the gallery setting. So is it the artist, the art, the lay viewer, or (still) the critic who is hosted or hosting in the gallery space? I imagine all of that is in-bounds for consideration as a group of artists under the curatorial direction of Stephen Lapthisophon explore the physical and conceptual confines of the gallery space. The key word here is “host” and its multiple meanings; expect to be wined, dined, and fed upon. For more, check out this interview with Danielle Georgiou, whose dance group will perform at the opening.
At the University of Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington professor Fred Spaulding will exhibit his assemblage sculptures which draw on urban materials and referential bric-a-brac alongside Iraqi-born artist Waleed Arshad. At least based on images of the artists’ work found online, this show promises to bring to the fore some surprising coherencies between the two artists, particularly in their use of color and geometrics, despite their widely divergent backgrounds, methods, and approach.
Saturday:
“A Dry Heat: Paintings by Jim Public and the Mojave Desert” at the Jim Public Art Truck – September 8 3-8 p.m. Possibly 1001 block between Payne and Howell:
Jim Public (aka James Hough) keeps on keeping on, demonstrating to you all that not having a gallery, an alternative space, wealthy friends, collegiate cohorts, a collective, or any other enabling factor is no excuse to not get your work out there. His art truck will be out again on a hot Saturday showing some hot art.
“PARD MORRISON” at the Marty Walker Gallery – September 8: 6-8 p.m. 2135 Farrington Street, Dallas, Tx 75207:
It feels a little odd that former Marty Walker artist stable-staple Tom Orr is opening across town with his first show with his new gallery, Barry Whistler. Walker, meanwhile, turns to the geometric abstractions of Pard Morrison, pretty, formal work that often hangs just off the surface of the gallery wall or stands on its own. Morrison toys with conventions of perception and color in ways inextricably associated with early 20th century modernists, yet having that hard-to-finger contemporary freshness. It’s that freshness I’m not sure about.
“NEW FUTURE” by Maya Hayuk, Nathan Green (OK Mountain), Kristen Schiele, Michael Dotson, Morgan Blair and Andrea Myers, at the Circuit12 Contemporary – September 8 : 6-10 p.m. 1130 Dragon Street, #150, Dallas, Tx 75207:
My concern with this show is that it features so many similar artists that nothing will pop, despite the fact that much of the work here is of the brightly colored, popping sort.
“Theatrical World of the Whimsical & Tragic Worlds” by Susan Kae Grant, “One Ordinary Day of an Ordinary Town,” by Mimi Kato, and “Final Boss of the Internet” by Kris Pierce, at the Conduit Gallery – September 8 : 6-8 p.m. 1626 C Hi Line Drive, Dallas, Tx 75207:
Mimi Kato (work pictured at top) has shown in Conduit’s project room, but she’ll have room to stretch out in the main gallery. Judging from images of a recent show in St. Louis, Kato has taken her tongue-in-cheek mash-up of traditional Japanese motifs and subterfuged pop-sexual domestication and expanded into Technicolor landscapes hung as screen reliefs, populated with redundant images of the artist in various roles and states of conflict and disarray: short-skirted school girls, grey-haired old ladies, and other off-the-wall characters. It’s hilarious, delicious, and surprisingly beautiful work that goes well with both Pizzicato Five and Midori. And Kato will also play well in between Susan Kae Grant’s suggestive silhouetted gothic dream-scapes, and Kris Pierce’s tacky-colored neo-Buddhist fat-pop fast-food mandalas.
“The 500X Annual Member’s Show” at the 500X Gallery – September 8: 7-10 p.m. 500 Expositon Avenue, Dallas, Tx 75226
Okay, I’ll admit it, it’s been a while since I’ve swung through 500x. A member show to kick-off the new season plus some new names on the roster is reason-enough to make the effort.
“Electric Labyrinth” by Tommy Fitzpatrick, at the Holly Johnson Gallery – September 8 : 6-8 p.m. 1411 Dragon Street, Dallas, Tx 75207:
Do you like graphic, architectural, geometric paintings that deal conceptually with space and representation, while looking decidedly inoffensive and slyly cool? Well you’re going to have an absolute riot of a good time this weekend hitting local galleries. This is the high-test version.
“List of Demands” by Howard Sherman, at the Cris Worley Fine Arts – September 8: 6- 8 p.m. 1415 Slocum Street, #104, Dallas, Tx 75207:
Cris Worley opens her new space with an artist that has stayed with her since her days at Pan American, Howard Sherman, whose work I always seem to enjoy. I’ll point you to a review from Renegade Bus that still hides in the internet archives – a rarity:
Taking cues from abstract expressionism, color-field painting, neo-expressionism and, most notably, graffiti, Sherman’s large paintings are a ferocious hodge podge of derivations that, because of their intense energy, seem entirely fresh. It’s the sort of layered, devil-ne’er care painting that’s testament to an artistic primal urge that can’t lay latent, and because of it,Sherman’s canvases feel like contained explosions.
“Dreams and Other Stories” by Nic Nicosia, and “Paintings of Paintings” by Francesca Fuchs, at the Tally Dunn Gallery – September 8 : 6-8 p.m. 5020 Tracy Street, Dallas, Tx 75205:
Houston-based artist Francesca Fuchs hasn’t shown in Dallas since her work was included in a group show in 2005, and she hasn’t had a solo exhibition locally since way back in 2000, so this show at Tally Dunn will serve as a local introduction to those who haven’t seen her work in Houston, New York, or elsewhere. Be careful, Fuchs’ pleasingly pastel-colored canvases are deceiving in their light touch and unassuming presence. Often utilizing (co-opting?) images of other paintings – both of the art historical variety and from thrift shop bins – Fuchs’ work is tangled in a question of aesthetic value, roping both the paintings and the situation of their exhibition into a “tantalizing tautology,” as Garland Fielder put it in this Artforum write-up.
“Delicious Poison” by Tom Orr, at the Barry Whistler Gallery – September 8 : 6-8 p.m. 2909-B Canton Street, Dallas, Tx 75226:
Very curious to see what Tom Orr has been up to. His last gallery show, in 2010, had Rebecca Carter spinning in infinity. At Brand 10 a few months ago, Orr employed a little slight of hand addressing light and a gallery window. All I know about the new work is this black Malevich-y square is about as sexy as anything I’ve seen in some time.
AKA by Heagan Bayles, Santiago Forero, Kerry Pacillo, and Elissa Stafford at Brand 10 Art Space – September 8: 1-9 p.m. 3418 West 7th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
Grant vs. Lee: The Work of Nina Schwanse at and x Art Space — September 8: 1-9 p.m. 3511 Locke Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107:
Brand 10 offers a twofer this week, with a group show featuring variations on disguise and masks by Heagan Bayles, Stantiago Forero, Kerry Pacillo, and Elissa Stafford at the original West 7th Street location, and over on Locke Street, Nina Schwanse’s video, Civil Realness: Grant vs. Lee, a green screen reenactment of a number of Civil War battles featuring the generals as drag queens. See, it all works together.
Recess & Relief by John Fraser and New Paintings by Otis Jones at William Campbell Contemporary Art – September 8, 12-9 p.m. 4935 Byers Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76107:
There are a lot of art opening this weekend, but this show feels a little like bringing a gun to a knife fight. Do I even bother to say it’s an effortless pairing of sock-to-the-gut painters working visceral wonders within the confines of their medium? Or do I just advise you to bring your bullet-proof vest?
Exhibition Closing:
Souvenir: A 19th-Century Carved Tusk from the Loango Coast of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art – Closes September 9. 1717 N. Harwood Ave., Dallas, TX 75201.
It’s the first time the carved tusk has been on display since the DMA acquired it in the late 1960s, which likely means it is the last chance you’ll ever get to see it.
Dallas Museum of Art Hires New Director of External Affairs
Consultant Anne Bergerson seems to know how to raise cash, and before she founded her own consultancy that advised numerous organizations in raising dough (as well as other administrative and marketing tasks), she worked for the National Writer’s Voice Project, the Missouri Arts Council, the American Federation of Arts, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Bergerson is also the last in a series of big hires DMA Director Maxwell Anderson has made as he set out reorganizing the administrative structure of the museum. The DMA is now just looking for a Director of Development to report to Bergerson. Get your applications in. Here’s the release.
Another Art Collective — More Beef
Remember when we used to sit around and talk about how it would be great if there were groups of local artists who banded together to stage their own shows in off-beat locations. How very 2009. Here in 2012, there’s a new collective almost every week. And for some reason they all really like beef.
All the Other Openings:
“Jessica Drenk” at the Galleri Urbane Dallas – September 8 : 5:30-8:30 p.m. 2277 Monitor street, Dallas, Tx 75207.
“Rings of Granite” by Jesús Moroles, at Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery – September 8 : 5-8 p.m. 1202 Dragon Street, Suite 103, Dallas, Tx 75207.
“Between Heaven and Earth” by Roger Winter, at the Kirk Hopper Fine Art – September 8 : 6:30-8:30 p.m. 3008 Commerce Street, Dallas, Tx 75226.
“Four Artists from Austin” by Debra Broz, Jerry DeFrese, Brooke Gassiot and Chris White, at the Cohn Drennan Contemporary – September 8 : 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM; 1107 Dragon Street,Dallas,Tx75207
“Made in America” at Art Hotel Gallery – September 8 : 7-9 p.m. 1112 South Akard, Dallas, Tx 75215.
“David Crismon, Yrjo Edelmann, and Jeri Ledbetter” at the Craighead Green Gallery – September 8 : 5:00 PM – 8 p.m. 1011 Dragon Street, Dallas, Tx 75207.
“Industry“ at Red Arrow Contemporary — September 8 : 6-9 p.m. 1130 Dragon St. Suite 110, Dallas, Texas 75207
“Best Friends” by Linda Helton at the Davis Foundry Gallery – September 8 : 6-10 p.m. 509 W. Davis Street, Dallas, Tx 75298.
“Translations” by JD Miller, at the Samuel Lynne Galleries – September 8: 5-9 p.m. 1105 Dragon Street, Dallas, Tx 75207.
Two Way Street: Sante Fe Comes to Dallas at Mary Tomás Studio Gallery – September 9: 6-9 p.m. 1080 Bldg. at1110 Dragon Street Dallas, Texas 75207.
“Momentous” by Rance Jones at Gallery@1300 – September 8 : 5-6 p.m. 1300 Dragon Street, Dallas, Tx 75207.
“Texas : Bold and Abstract” by Leanne Venier, Rhonda Dore, Matt Anzak, Kay Dalton, and Judith Seay, at the LuminArte Fine Art Gallery – September 8 : 7-10 p.m. 1727 East Levee Street, Dallas, Tx 75207.
“45th Year Anniversary” by Lynwood Bennett, Fran Digiacomo, Gene Brown, Ann Hardy, Don Sahli, Clinton Broyles, Kay Walton, Bob Hogan, Bob Rohm, Buck Mahaney, Manuel Garza, John Pototschnik, Andrea Peyton, Dennis Johnson, George Kovach, Paul Walden, Tony Bass, Mark Whitmarsh, Harold Kraus, John Cook, Martin Eichinger, James Frazier, John Austin Hanna, Randy Browning, Xiang Zhang, John Booth, Jonathan Hardesty, Mary Kay Krell, and Allison Cantrell, at the Southwest Gallery – September 8 : 1-5 p.m. 4500 Sigma Road, Dallas, Tx 75244.
“WILD LIGHT” by Keith S. Walklet, at the Sun to Moon Gallery – September 8 : 5-8 p.m. 1515 Levee Street, Dallas, Tx 75207.
“A Talk By Barnaby Fitzgerald” at Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden – September 8 : 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 6616 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, Tx 75254. Note: This has been postponed
“45th Year Anniversary” by Lynwood Bennett, Fran Digiacomo, Gene Brown, Ann Hardy, Don Sahli, Clinton Broyles, Kay Walton, Bob Hogan, Bob Rohm, Buck Mahaney, Manuel Garza, John Pototschnik, Andrea Peyton, Dennis Johnson, George Kovach, Paul Walden, Tony Bass, Mark Whitmarsh, Harold Kraus, John Cook, Martin Eichinger, James Frazier, John Austin Hanna, Randy Browning, Xiang Zhang, John Booth, Jonathan Hardesty, Mary Kay Krell, and Allison Cantrell, at the Southwest Gallery – September 9 : 1-5 p.m. 4500 Sigma Road, Dallas, Tx 75244.
“The Age of Outrage and Other Paintings” by Bernard Bortnick, at the Dallas Public Library’s Central Library’s Lillian Bradshaw Gallery – September 9: 2-4:30 p.m. 1515 Young Street, Dallas, Tx 75201.
“Portraits: Self and Other” at the TVAA Gallery – September 9: 2-4 p.m. 700 North Pearl, Dallas, Tx 75201.
“Way Out West” by Timothy Hearsum at Smink – September 8 5-8 p.m. 1019 Dragon St. Dallas, TX 75207.
Image at top: Mimi Kato, One Ordinary Day in an Ordinary Town, detail, 2011, archival pigment print, 74×129″
Have a listing or news item? Email [email protected]
