Fantastic Hispanic

Mexican art tends to be dominated by the larger-than-life personas of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, at least in perception. And while either one could rightfully hold the title of the definitive Mexican, there's a case to be made for Enrique Chavarría as well. Chavarría's paintings and drawings are what would happen if Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali had little babies—a dose of the hyper-surreal that balances a little bit of folk art and a whole bunch of LSD. Most of his pieces combine mythological or fantasy objects (unicorns are a recurring theme) with ordinary pieces of architecture or other common objects. Human figures may be disconnected or sympathetic. And unlike much of Kahlo's or Rivera's work, there's a wry sense of humor embedded in Chavarría's pieces. While Kahlo beats you over the head with heavy visual interpretations of miscarriages or political unease, Chavarría's work sparkles with a sense of amusement at the world around him. Enrique Chavarría: Surrealism and the Fantastic will have newcomers gaping at his vivid, surrealistic paintings, while those familiar with him will be treated to an assembly of work that has never been exhibited before. The free exhibit will be held between Thursday and October 27 at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Visit dallasculture.org for more information.
Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Starts: Sept. 6. Continues through Oct. 27, 2007