It's not truly fall around here until the public puking starts. It's always autumn when the frat rats come out, frolicking, binge drinking and sidewalk-hurling for Texas-OU weekend. Simultaneously, the carnival rats emerge all giddy, only to puke up their coveted corn dogs on the scary rides at the State Fair midway. Now, mid-October brings a mighty, dry heave of impressive art-viewing for any remaining rats who know, all too well, that rat is art spelled backward, uh, wrong, or something. Let the polite retching begin with an amazing exhibition of the best of the Dallas Museum of Art's century of art acquisition opening October 12. This is followed closely by the opening--finally--of the city's nearby and exalted Nasher Sculpture Garden on October 19. There's an Alexander Calder show at Gerald Peters Gallery all month, too. First things first: The DMA's Passion for Art: 100 Treasures, 100 Years displays masterpieces from nearly every point in art history--some 5,000 years of human creativity. See it all at 1717 N. Harwood St. The $10 ticket includes an audio tour. Call 214-922-1200 or visit www.DallasMuseumofArt.com. --Annabelle Massey Helber
10/11
Braniac Maniac
Fort Worth artist Vernon Fisher will showcase his work Braniac in tandem with New York artist Christian Schumann's Levels, Platforms, Paths and Obstacles in an exhibition of richly colorful and compelling contemporary works at the Dunn and Brown Contemporary in Dallas. The opening reception is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at 5020 Tracy St. Call 214-521-4322. --Mark Stuertz
10/10
Pop Tarts
Campbell's tomato soup cans, Marilyn Monroe, cows and high-heeled shoes. For Kip Frace, these icons of Pop Art and their kin are "kiddy pool" deep. He tries to shun this superficiality while honoring his influences with his new exhibit Casualties of Warhol, which opens with a reception from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at the South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar. Call 214-428-4848. --Shannon Sutlief