Anatomy of Art

If they weren’t so terrifying, fatal diseases would be fascinating. Maybe they are anyway. The way an otherwise healthy body can be taken down by an unseen group of cells, how something so small can destroy so much—it’s perplexing. Just look to ABC if you don’t believe us. On Grey’s Anatomy, our primary source for medical information, the cutie-pie doctors of Seattle Grace approach potentially fatal ailments with gusto and curiosity. And when the late Dallas artist Scott Barber came across pictures of cancer cells, his reaction was an intense interest that found its way into his paintings. Not long after, in a shocking turn fit for prime-time drama, doctors diagnosed Barber with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Soon, his own cancer would be the basis for his art. When Barber passed away last year, the local art scene lost a talent and a friend, and Dallas would like to show its love. In conjunction with a retrospective exhibition to be shown at The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Barry Whistler Gallery will present Scott Barber: Works on Paper, a collection of the artist’s acrylic drawings on paper from throughout his life. The opening reception is Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesdays-Saturdays. Starts: Jan. 13. Continues through Feb. 25