Monday, October 31, 2011

Downtown Dallas Cultural Events Calendar: November 2011

Enjoy this monthly Downtown Dallas Cultural Events Calendar for November 2011, just in time for the holidays! Please find the calendar below. Use it, pass it on, and keep supporting the DFW art scene! 

For those of you outside of the DFW metroplex (or anyone who misses images and text about art history), I apologize for not being able to update and blog more often. I am still battling that evil dragon (my thesis) as well as working full-time, so what little spare time I have is too precious at the moment to be spent in front of the computer screen. Hopefully I will be able to return to some normality in posting in December. Fingers crossed all goes well with my thesis. 

Thanks for reading!

Friday, September 30, 2011

Downtown Dallas Cultural Events Calendar: October 2011

Enjoy the monthly Downtown Dallas Cultural Events Calendar for October 2011, just in time as the weather cools off! Please find the calendar below. It list events for the Downtown Dallas area and its environs. Enjoy it, pass it on, use it! 



Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Downtown Dallas Cultural Events Calendar: September 2011

To my Dallas readers, I have been working on a monthly Downtown Dallas Cultural Events Calendar. Finally, I finished it! Please find below the calendar. It will list events for the Downtown Dallas area and its environs. Enjoy it, pass it on, use it!  


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Interview: Berlin Art Link

I haven't had the chance to do an interview in quite a while, so I am really excited that my first one is with the founders of an organization that I love. I recently had the opportunity to talk to the ladies from Berlin Art Link.  From time to time I have the opportunity to contribute articles to and make editing suggestions on their website. This interview comes just in time for the "Official Launch of the Berlin Art Link Travel Program" during Berlin Art Week in conjunction with their 1 year anniversary. Please enjoy our conversation and take the time to explore their animated and informative website: http://www.berlinartlink.com

Explain Berlin Art Link in 1 sentence

We are an online magazine, as well as an art marketing, travel and events company focused on highlighting the Berlin art scene and connecting international individuals and groups to the network of art professionals and resources available in the city.

Why Berlin?


Berlin has become one of the most important European cities for contemporary art and has a highly influential presence internationally. It’s acreative city with unique social and economic factors that allow for the emergence of young and experimental artists. Although the city has developeddrastically in the last 10-15 years, it’s emerging urban landscape is endlessly interesting. We are committed to fostering this exciting culturalmoment.


How do you work?


We actively engage in the art scene by attending openings, exhibitions, events, and through visiting artists’ studios. We also have partnered with many international media partners and contacts to connect our content to an international audience and vice-versa. This keeps us knowledgeable about the latest trends, attitudes and opinions of the local art professionals, buyers and enthusiasts from a ground level perspective. We post our daily blogs, weekly selected exhibition listings, “Based in Berlin: Artist Studio Visits” series, articles and interviews in order to present and encourage interaction and exchange with the city's current creative activities that we find interesting and relevant to our audience. The magazine, as well as coordinating our own art exhibitions and events, keeps us engaged with the Berlin art scene, creating a strong network and specialized knowledge for us to then offer informed and valuable consulting services in both Art Travel and in Marketing in regards to the Berlin and international art world.


What are your backgrounds?


Monica Salazar: I’m originally from Texas. Before moving to Berlin, I was a corporate event planner, producing conferences, meetings and events internationally for corporate clients. However, I also assisted in coordinating and executing events for the Dallas Art Dealer's Association and Nasher Sculpture Museum outside of my normal work week. This stimulated my strong interest in wanting to shift my career to an art environment, and ultimately towards wanting to move to Berlin and work in the contemporary art industry. My sister has lived in Berlin for 16 years, so I was familiar with the city and thought, if I’m going to make a change now, I might as well move to one of the art capitals of the world and immerse myself quickly in order to find my niche. The Berlin Art Link Travel Program is a niche combination of my past experience in travel and event planning and Berlin Art Link's established network of art and tourism contacts in Berlin.


Anna Russ: I’m from Bielefeld, Germany. I studied history, sociology and literature in Paris and at the Freie Universität Berlin. After my studies, I started working for the state museum, Kunstbibliothek Berlin, and opened Kim Bar with 3 friends. Later, I became assistant curator at Hunchentoot Galerie (Mitte). Monica and I quickly became friends in 2009 when she, by chance, stopped in Hunchentoot during a visit right before she moved here. When I returned back from Italy on vacation last year, she presented the idea about Berlin Art Link to me and asked if I would be interested in partnering with her. Immediately, I said yes, because I saw a great opportunity to work with Monica on this multifaceted project and to help develop it on the basis of my past work experience.


Clare Ros: I’m originally from Indiana and moved to Berlin in August 2010, shortly thereafter meeting Monica and Anna through a mutual friend. I came here on a Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Graduate Fellowship to study at the Institute for Art in Context at Universität der Künste Berlin. After meeting the girls and learning about BAL, I immediately thought it would be a great opportunity to become involved and acquainted with the city’s creative community. I also saw this collaboration as a possible resource through which I could connect my independent research and projects to a wider audience, while helping others do the same. So far I think the collaboration has worked out quite well between us, because we all have similar interests, but come from diverse backgrounds with different approaches, so we learn from one another.


Teaming with BAL was also a natural move for me because it allows my interests to coalesce. I’ve always been interested in art, and was exposed to the gallery side when I was young because my father was an artist who later ran an art gallery. My formal design education started at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I received a BFA, followed by an M.Arch from Ball State University. My professional experience includes architectural design, visual merchandising, marketing, public relations, and curatorial work. In the context of Berlin Art Link I contribute to web, graphic design, articles, and conceptual development of exhibitions and products.


Why do you do what you do?


We realized there is a major disconnect exists between Berlin-based creative professionals and accessibility to outside markets and vice-versa. A surplus of artists reside here that proportionally outnumber the collectors, art buyers, publications, etc. And while there are, of course, great numbers of people coming into the city for the purpose of art, navigating the scene can at times prove overwhelming and easily misguided. In general, there are noticeable gaps in information about the Berlin art community available online, as presented to outside markets in ways that facilitate connecting people, ideas and projects. Our focus is to provide a vivid picture of what is actively happening locally and extend accessibility to this network on an international level. We believe the cultivation of this creative environment is invaluably something worth promoting.


What information is Berlin Art Link interested in sharing?


Our aim is to share our enthusiasm for contemporary artwork and practices that prove compelling, inspirational, and provocative. However, we do this differently than most publications. We present our content in an accessible way, extending the feeling of a personal introduction between our audience and the artists, curators, gallerists and other art professionals that we present through our website. We pull the same concept through to our events and business services. Thankfully, Berlin is a city where we have endless art-related events and exhibitions to discuss, as well as a constant influx of emerging and established artists to reference that reflect the creative and thriving international culture of the city. In regards to art tourism, we have a Travel Program that is catered towards collectors, curators, gallerists and museum patron groups. It includes luxury hotel accommodations, Suggestion Lists to galleries, museums, nightlife and restaurants, as well as Customized Itineraries according to the guests' goals and objectives of their visit. The itineraries can include, among other things, artist studio visits, customized art and architecture tours, private collection tours, private dinners or cocktail hours at unique art venues (networking or leisure), exclusive access to special events, and chauffeured airport and city transfers.


The program serves as a much-needed filter for the large array of exhibitors, social events, and local exhibitions, resulting in a more focused and rewarding experience. With personalized itineraries, tailored in consultation with guests, invitations to openings and access to private collections, guests are provided an exclusive and more enjoyable visit.




For Berlin Art Link Travel Program pricing and availability, email Berlin Art link at travel@berlinartlink.com or visit the Travel Program Website: http://www.berlinartlink.com/about/2011-travel-program-berlin-art-week/

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Gallery Listings and Exhibition Reviews: Chihuly- Through the Looking Glass

On the second (and last) of my summer vacations, I was lucky enough to visit the Boston. Thanks to a particularly cloudy day and over-booked duck tour of the city, I ventured to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. A museum visit at this institution comes at a steep price, $20 per adult and $18 per students, but I quickly found out it was well worth the price.

Along with an impressive collection both of modern and ancient work, the museum's temporary exhibition Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass, was fantastic. For those of you from the Dallas area, Chihuly's glass pieces flank the sides of the atrium glass window near the cafe. His glass works are thematical and range from ocean scenes to American Indian constructions. They are colorful and fanciful creations that transport you to a dream-like world. Enjoy!

Ikebana Boat, 2011

 Northwest Room, Tabac Baskets, 2011


 Mille Fiori, 2011


Persian Ceiling

Chandeliers

Neodymium Reeds on Logs, 2011

* Of course, on all for all of these works:

Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 
© 2011 Chihuly Studio, all rights reserved 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Events: Art on the Rocks!

It's been a busy summer! For those of you who kept up with my posts from last summer, then you know that the art world shuts down after Art Basel. However, the summer is great time for museums to get events going for tourists and stay-cationers. As a Dallasite, I have been lucky enough to attend the free Jazz Under the Stars nights at the Dallas Museum of Art and also some of the Nasher Sculpture Center's Til Midnight (the latter of which I will discuss more in a future post).

As with most of you, I recently took some summer trips, one of which was to Birmingham, Alabama. Thanks to a visit to the Nasher Sculpture Center from the Curator of Education at the Birmingham Museum of Art, I decided to visit the website and see what the museum had to offer. I am glad I did! Not only is the museum free, but it also has a fun event called Art on the Rocks! Seeing as my sister recently moved to Birmingham, I took the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone- visit her and attend the Art on the Rocks event- not to mention loading up on some delicious Southern cuisine.

Although Art on the Rocks is not a free event, $20 for non-members and $10 for members, it was worth every penny. I dragged my sister to the event that was promoting the upcoming exhibition Who Shot Rock and Roll set to open on June 24th. I missed the photography exhibition, but did enjoy the themed  event's which featured dueling DJs, live graffiti on the Museum walls, and a funky band. Art on the Rocks caters to 20-30 somethings, which is rare in a museum world that  has been focusing on families. The museum had (free) appetizer and (at cost) drink stations littered around the forum and outdoor sculpture arena. Another activity, of which I took part, was having museums patrons 'graffiti' on the sculpture pit walls alongside the real graffiti artists. Please enjoy the pictures of this and other highlights from the Birmingham Museum of Art's Art on the Rocks event.








Thornton Dial, Nobody Knows What Go On Behind the Jungle, 1989
Paint and Mixed Media


As a preview of what's to come:

Inside of the BMA, with a Chihuly sculpture. 


Monday, June 6, 2011

Recap: Dallas Art Fair 2011

A few months later, and I can finally post the pictures I took of the events surrounding the Dallas Art Fair and most importantly---the art! Enjoy!



Harriet Bart, Helicon Volumes, 1993
Unique; bronze work
Babcock Galleries, NY




Asya Reznikov, Packing Art History, 2011
Video and cardboard
Nancy Hoffman Gallery, NY

Joel Ross
Monique Meloche, Chicago

John Adelman, Concordant, 2005
Gel ink on paper
Holly Johnson Gallery, Dallas

Angela Musco, Avernus, 2010
Edition 1/5; C-print
Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago


Coming up next: 

Birmingham, Alabama. What's up with the art scene there?

And then, a review of the Museum scene in Boston!


Monday, May 23, 2011

The Great Blog Catch-Up & CityArts Festival

Yes, I disappeared. This time without excuses and sans apologies. Life was moving at warp speed and I kept moving with it, unfortunately this blog could not keep up. As such, I am now in the process of beginning (and hopefully completing) the great catch-up. First thing will be posting Dallas Art Fair pictures, I know I am a month behind, but better late than never. 


In major news, I now have my very own place to furnish. This means that not only have I become addicted to craigslist, etsy, and 20x200- but I am also scrounging the plentiful Spring Art Festivals in and around Dallas for some great (and inexpensive) art pieces. I will be keep my posts updated on all festivals and super artist finds. Speaking of, this weekend is the CityArts Festival in Fair Park. Here's the scoop:


What: CityArts Festival
Where: Fair Park in Downtown Dallas
When: May 27-29
Times:  6 – 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday;  12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free


As always, Enjoy!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Event: Dallas Art Fair!

Tonight I got to preview the Dallas Art Fair, and I can say that it matches my expectations. Galleries ranged from New York to Santa Fe and from Rome to Dallas. For the most part, the mood was very chill and easy going. I am sure that the copious amount of wine, liquor, and champagne helped with that. Not to mention the amazing appetizers provided by the Mansion at Turtle Creek. Because of these tasty delights, I didn't get any photos. But I do think that everyone should spend the twenty bucks to enjoy the Dallas Art Fair and do something different this weekend. 




Here is the link to the Dallas Art Fair


And here is some basic info:


What: Dallas Art Fair
Where: f.i.g. 
                 1807 Ross Avenue, Suite 250 
             Dallas, Texas 75201 When: April 8th- April 10th
Cost: Dependent on Pass Type


Hope to see you there on my second and third passes. I will post recap articles once this very cultural weekend in Dallas ends. 


Best,


Ester




P.S. Laura Bush attended, so you should too. 

Friday, March 18, 2011

Exhibition Review: Art in Austin during SXSW

For those who don't know it, this is the last weekend for SXSW in Austin, Texas. I was lucky enough to be in Austin last weekend, and although I couldn't afford tickets to the festival- I was able to enjoy the atmosphere of this great city! I also got to enjoy the awesome art venues. Here is a review of the exhibitions I got to attend at Arthouse at the Jones Center and the University of Texas Blanton Museum of Art.

Arthouse


There were three exhibitions going on at the Arthouse that excelled at piquing the curiosity of its viewers. In the front room the walls showcased the private letters from a doctor to his patients. While in the center of the room a project displayed an intimate short Hitchcockian film displaying the relationship between a man and his only companion, a finch. There was also another projector displaying offset images of contrasting but related photographs. The entire display was organized as Two Birds, Eighty Mountains, and a Portrait of the Artist and displayed Lisa Tan's Les Samouraïs (2010), Letters From Dr.Bamberger (2001), and National Geographic (2009).

In the private room, for access by adults only, four screens flooded the viewers with a sensory overload of imagery pertaining to a sexually charged and provocative drug den. Dorian, a cinematic perfume by Michelle Handelman explores "Dorian’s hallucinatory journey through a deviantly decadent underworld roiling with ambition, seduction, and betrayal."

On the second floor sits Graham Hudson's Rehearsals at Astoria, a wonderful piece that plays with concepts of nostalgia, musical stimulation, and the concept of space. Set in a dangerous, mid-construction platform that echoes the architecture of the London's Astoria Theatre, the viewer is invited to climb along the structure while they experience the creations of the varied musical guests. Of the list of artists, one particular musician who performed in the space was Austin native Suzanna Choffel.

If none of these exhibitions sounds particularly interesting, then you may be tempted by two other features. First, thanks to Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects the architecture of the Arthouse is absolutely amazing- the arts center lives true to its claims of being an interactive space. Second, it is free. Enough said.

The Blanton Museum of Art

It's no secret to anyone who knows me well that I am currently in love with all things related to Buenos Aires. But this is especially connected to the graffiti/street art that emerged in the 1990s, post dictatorship. Boy was I ecstatic when I discovered that the Blanton has a new exhibition called "Recovering Beauty: The 1990s in Buenos Aires." Life does not get sweeter (well, traveling to the city would rock). The imagery was bright and colorful. The styles varied from abstract, geometric, figurative, and sculptural. I especially loved Miguel Harte’s El Jardin Filosofico (The Philosophical Garden), La Intrusa (The Intruder), and Como una pierda que suena (Like a Dreaming Stone). His miniature worlds forced the viewer to get very close to the work in order to see all the intricate details of the half-man, half-fly creations. Other artists in the exhibition include Feliciano Centurión, Sebastián Gordín, Benito Laren, Jorge Gumier Maier, Marcelo Pombo, Cristina Schiavi, Fabio Kacero, Graciela Hasper, and Omar Schiliro. While you are there don't forget to venture upstairs and check out their permanent collection, it is much more expansive and impressive than I imagined.

Another opportunity to partake in is an interactive installation by a very good friend and artist, Tex Jernigan. He will be hanging out around town this weekend. He was one of the first artists I interviewed over a year ago, and he will be in Austin for SXSW with his big red dot to create images that celebrate Japan. He is setting up the Japan flag in the streets, and his crew is doing the Star Dollars at the Lose Control Party. Keep up with him on his twitter. On Saturday night he will be at Vice, a club on San Jacinto & 6th st. This is what they are doing: http://texs.org/lovemoneyHopefully you can run into him!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Berlin Art Link, Artist Studio Visit Series: Romeo Alaeff

Hey Guys! I know it's only been a little while (well, less than a day), but check out another recent article I co-wrote for Berlin Art Link on artist Romeo Alaeff!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Berlin Art Link, Artist Studio Visit Series: Ultra Violet

It's been a busy few weeks here in Dallas, but it is back to the daily grind. Check out my latest co-authored article for Berlin Art Link on one of the muses of both Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol- Ultra Violet!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Events: February Art Events in DFW

We may have reached mid-month, but there are still plenty of FREE (or incredibly cheap) art events happening throughout DFW in the remainder of February. Here is a list to give you something cultural to do, and as always- Enjoy!


What: Artist Demonstration by Nan Phillips & Art Wells
Where: Oak Cliff Cultural Center
When: February 18th from 7 PM

What: The 2011 Marlon Riggs Film Festival
Where: South Dallas Cultural Center
When: February 18th and 19th at 8 PM; February 20th at 3 PM
Admission: $5

What: Exhibition Opening
             “TransFORMation: Miller & Waggoner”
Where: Samuel Lynne Galleries
When: February 19th from 6-9 PM

What: Exhibition Opening
             “Justin Ginsberg, Gary Shafter, and Brad Ellis
Where: Craighead-Green Gallery
When: February 19th 5-8PM


What: Exhibition Opening
             “Linear Thinking”
Where: Marty Walker Gallery
When: February 19th from 6-8 PM


What: Exhibition Opening
             “Virginia Fleck: CONSUMED”
Where: Holly Johnson Gallery
When: February 19th from 6-8 PM

What: Preview Night
            
“Texas & Neighbors Regional Art Exhibition”
Where: Irving Arts Center
When: February 19th from 7 PM

What: Exhibition Opening
             “Sedrick Huckaby & Barbara Riley”
Where: University of Texas at Arlington: The Gallery
When: February 25th from 6-8:30 PM

What: Exhibition Opening
             “Nobody Knows My Name: The African American Experience in American Culture"
Where: MAC: McKinney Avenue Contemporary

When: February 26th from 5-7 PM

What: Exhibition Opening
             “Earth & Ether: Paintings by Pamela Burnley-Schol”
Where: Norwood Flynn Gallery
When: February 26th from 6-8 PM

Friday, February 11, 2011

Artist Studio Visit: Donna Huanca

Part II of the Recap Miami Satellite Fair images will be going up next week, but in the meantime enjoy my co-authored article on artist Donna Huanca, featured on Berlin Art Link!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Recap Miami: Satellite Fairs Part 1

A snow-day in Dallas has made it possible for me to finally update my blog! Since I already showed the recap for the main fair in Miami back in December, this recap will be filled with pictures of the Miami satellite fairs. Excuse my brevity and enjoy the images!

Scope Miami



Shi Jindian, White Wire No. 1, Unique
Coloured Stainless Steel Wire, 185 x 65 x 40 cm
Contemporary by Angela Li (LA/Hong Kong)



Jose Maria Mellado, Hotel by Tequendama Falls
Giclee, Pigmented ink print on fiber based paper, 110 x 223 cm, edition of 5
Crown Gallery (Brussels)


Anthony Ingrisano, Power Lines #2
Ink on paper, unframed 42 x 40 inches
Muriel Guepin Gallery (Brooklyn)



Design Miami



Jean Prouve, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier, and Jean Royere
Galerie Patrick Sequin




Ingrid Donat, Hommage a Klimt Fils, 2002
Chiseled and partially gilded bronze, 45 5/8 x 29 1/2 x 15 3/4 in, edition of 8
Barry Friedman Ltd.



Simon Hasan, Chair
Johnson Trading Gallery



Johnson Trading Gallery



Ceres



Graft Architects, Phantom Table
NADA Art Fair



Baer Ridgway Exhibitions (San Francisco)



Toshiyuki Konishi
Arataniurano (Tokyo)


AIDS 3D (Daniel Keller and Nik Kosmas)
Andreas Melas Presents (Athens)



Nolan Hendrickson, images from Faggot Carnival 
Above Right:  Last Resort Wear, 2010, Acrylic and Latex on Canvas, 72 x 48 in
Ramiken Crucible (New York)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Artist Studio Visit: Jose Lerma

Recaps of Art Miami will be going up later this week, but in the meantime check out my new co-authored article for Berlin Art Link on New York and Chicago based artist  Jose Lerma


Enjoy!