Home art invasion
Dr. Joseph Kupersztoch recently retired as a professor of microbiology at UT-Southwestern Medical School to pursue his "other passion" -- art. He says his family ran Galeria Mer-Kup in Mexico City for 34 years, and after taking early retirement at the age of 55, Kupersztoch planned to return to his artful roots and establish a gallery in his North Dallas home that would be a "gateway for Latin American art into the U.S." Kupersztoch represents several Mexico-based artists, in addition to artists from China, Spain, and Dallas. "I have had great success with the artists I represent so far," he says. "The contribution of Latin American artists to contemporary art is clearly acknowledged by major museums, galleries, collectors, and auction houses. My mission is to bring such art into the reaches of the metroplex."
The idea of a "home art gallery" sounds innovative for Dallas, and particularly one with a North Dallas address -- but Kupersztoch was unpleasantly surprised when he felt the wrath of the Prestonwood Neighborhood Association and the City of Dallas after sending out December 16 opening-night invitations to "Adani Gallery," the gallery space he created in his home on Shadybank Drive. "Something very unhappy happened," Kupersztoch says. "Shortly after our opening, the City of Dallas came to visit me and told me I cannot have an art gallery in a residential area. They gave me a very bad time." As did the PNA, he says. He has since negotiated "a few months" of permission from the City of Dallas to operate Adani Gallery in his home while he looks for a nonresidential space, possibly in State-Thomas or near Fairmount Street's gallery row. For now, examples of the work can be seen on the gallery's Web site at www.adanigallery.com or by appointment.
The deal of the art
It's not too late to cash in on a year-end tradition for many commercial galleries, and, in some cases, for individual artists who are trying to start the new year on a high note. For about another week, galleries are offering smaller, older, or more obscure pieces of art by gallery artists for sale at "ridiculously low" prices -- the sort of claim that is, of course, highly subjective. Check out bargains by Aaron Baker, Bill Davenport, Jack Hallberg, Elliot Johnson, Daniel Johnston, Jody Lee, Victoria Reynolds, and others at Angstrom Gallery's aptly titled "Fire Sale 2000" through January 8. Edith Baker Gallery's done the same thing with "Masquerade" and the smallish works of more than 50 artists, available through January 15. And even Kathleen's Art Cafe is selling the works of independent local artists (notably including Shug Jones) through January 15. 
— Annabelle Massey Helber
