It’s a quiet weekend for art openings, which, if you’re a film buff, is not a bad thing. Tomorrow the Oak Cliff Film Festival opens up, and it is likely that films like Manakamana (pictured), an exercise in a kind of filmic portraiture, and the experimental Cinema 16 shorts program will be the best art on display this weekend. Also, the Texas Theatre has invited the Austin-based Lumiere to set up in the theater’s little Safe Room gallery to take portraits of festival goers using 19th century photography techniques. Yes, I know, it very much falls within the bike-riding, beer-brewing, brimmed-hat-wearing ethos of the upstart neighborhood on the southern side of the river. If that kind of thing rubs you the wrong way (I won’t use the “h” word), well, ignore it. Otherwise, check out what films the festival has to offer, and maybe join the Michael Morris-organized, Steve Cossman–led Mono No Aware Direct Filmmaking Workshop and definitely head to Morris’ other event, Ghostwood Sessions VII, whcih will screen work by Cossman as well as a Kenneth Anger film.
It’s not all about film this weekend, though. Here are all of the openings, including Jeff Gibbons and Gregory Ruppe’s ongoing video project at Beefhaus:
WEDNESDAY
8 Weeks of Art and Madness, a film series at Cohn Drennan Contemporary — June 18, 7 p.m. 4118 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 74226.
THURSDAY
Tintype Photo Booth at The Safe Room at The Texas Theatre — June 19-22, 4 p.m. – 12 a.m. 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas, TX 75208.
Dallas Fashion & Art Show: Man as Machine at Three Three Three First Avenue — June 19, 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. 333 First Ave. Dallas, TX 75226.
:PURE DURATION: part one: a beetle on its back at Beefhaus — June 19-28, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. 833 Exposition Ave. Dallas, TX 75226.
FRIDAY
Summer Block Party at The Arts District — June 20, 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Flora St. and Harwood St. Dallas, TX 75201.
Ghostwood Sessions VII: Filthy Americans. An Evening of Film and Performance at Two Bronze Doors — June 2, 8 p.m. 5732 Richmond Ave. Dallas, TX 75206.
SATURDAY
Art Talk: Tim Best at Liliana Bloch Gallery — June 21, 4-5 p.m. 2919 Commerce St. Ste C Dallas, TX 75226.
Grand Opening of Liz London’s Art Gallery — June 21, 6-10 p.m. 13331 Preston Rd. Ste. 2220 Dallas, TX 75240.
Midtown ARTwalk at Gallery at MIDTOWN — June 21, 6-10 p.m. 13331 Preston Rd. Dallas, TX 75240.
Casual Encounters: New Paintings by Mark Brown at Homeland Security — June 21, 6-10 p.m. 1715 Gould St. Dallas, TX 75215.
