The visual art scene reignites for the fall season this weekend, with a plethora of openings throughout Dallas. If you land in the Design District at 6 p.m. Saturday, you can walk in just about any direction and find an exhibition to wander into. From Conduit Gallery (above photo) to Zhulong Gallery and so many more, it's going to be a busy night in West Dallas. But that's not all there is to do this weekend, so grab a few friends and paint the town red.
Thursday, September 4
Adam Ball & Michelle Rawlings at Goss Michael Foundation For much of its existence, the Goss Michael Foundation has been known as that George Michael art place. But lately, it's beginning to prove that it can be so much more. With Kenny Goss at the helm, the space has introduced innovative initiatives including (FEATURE), which presents the work of a local artist alongside that of an important, emerging British artist. Starting Thursday evening, GMF not only opens, The Space Between, a major solo show of UK artist Adam Ball, it also unveils its second feature artist, Michelle Rawlings. One of the city's most ambitious young artists, Rawlings works in both painting and video with a dreamy aesthetic. At 6 p.m. Thursday, attend the free opening reception for both Rawlings and Ball at GMF, 1405 Turtle Creek Blvd. More information at gossmichaelfoundation.org.
Jewish Film Festival One of the city's smaller film festivals, this weekend-long treat screens just five movies at four different theaters in Dallas. See some of the best work coming from contemporary Jewish directors, like Run Boy Run, which screens at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Spring Valley Studio Movie Grill, 13933 N. Central Expressway. Tickets to individual screenings are $11 and available at jccdallas.org.
PlayPride Festival This weekend, Teco Theatrical Productions hosts its first-ever PlayPride Festival, a new play fest that focuses on themes of the gay experience. See the first edition of the fest at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center or through September 14th. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More info at tecotheater.org.
Randy Guthmiller's Loot Shapes surround you. And artist Randy Guthmiller wants you to start noticing. In both his art practice and his local zine (called Shapes, of course), he paints shapes. It's a winsome, playful study of the human assignations for the world. He'll present a collection of his work at the Carillon Gallery in Tarrant County College. See it from 6- 8p.m. Thursday and meet the artist.
Buyer & Cellar One of the most charming shows you'll see on stage in Dallas this fall is Buyer & Cellar, the one man show about a man working in Barbra Streissand's underground shopping mall. It's storytelling magic and Plano native Michael Urie deserves every single superlative you can think of. It's not just for Barbra fans either, as it paints a moving portrait not just of a celebrity but of the human experience. See it at 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday or at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets at attpac.org.
Friday, September 5
Draped Up & Dripped Out Closing Reception (sort of) What's that saying about tides and ships? As the arts scene in Texas swells, so does the opportunity for cross-city collaboration. Whether it be sending Dallas artists to Austin, or bringing Houston artists here, as is the case with Draped Up & Dripped Out, a two-part exhibition at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center (223 W. Jefferson Blvd) and Mountain View College's Cliff Gallery (4849 Willinois Ave.). With 25 contemproary Houston-based artists on display between the two spaces, Draped Up & Dripped Out is a compelling exploration of our Southern sister's zeitgeist. The closing reception for part one at OC3 takes place from 7-11 p.m. Friday, with musical guest Bombon, four Latin musicians who throw tropical dance parties with a fresh combination of cumbia, salsa and moomhbaton. The Cliff's exhibition remains on display through September 26. More information at dallasculture.org/oakcliffculturalcenter
Lunch at Goss-Michael Foundation Friday lunches can be difficult. It's almost the weekend, but you'll have to go back to the office afterward. What is something to do that's fun enough for a weekend, but calm enough for a workday? How about eating with a couple of artists? A new initiative by GMF to get people into the space during the week is a Friday lunch series. For $15 you get delicious eats (from Green House Market this week) and you get to chat with some pretty interesting people.
Naughty Bits This burlesque show sounds like a nerdy dream of tits and video games. There will be playable video game areas and sexy Zeldas. Log out of Dungeons and Dragons and head to the Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Pkwy, at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $20.
Let's Dance Since joining the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has created some of the most lively programming the Meyerson Symphony Center has ever seen. This latest installment is meant to put you in the dancing mood (although the word is out on whether or not dancing will be allowed in the aisles). The orchestra plays waltzes, fox-trots, jazz numbers and cha-chas as professional dancers fill the stage with movement. See it at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Meyerson (2301 Flora St.). Tickets www.mydso.com or by calling the box office at 214-TIX-4DSO.
Ruth Pinnell: Retrospective One of our favorite spaces in the city, The Power Station, presents Ruth Pinnell: Bridging the Gap. Sure, she happens to be Power Station owner Alden Pinnell's mother, but this doesn't look like nepotism, so much as an homage to the woman who inspired his interest in art. Ruth worked as a diverse artist for much of her life and her work has been exhibited all over the world. Opening Friday, September 5 this exhibition focuses on her serial photography, drawing, painting and print from more than three decades of her career. See it at the opening reception from 5- 7 p.m. Friday.
The Singapore Slingers at The Kessler Theatre Kick off the weekend with the city's beloved vintage swing band. Wear your flapper dress, grab a cocktail from the Kessler Theatre bar and dance the night away. The show starts at 8 p.m. Friday and tickets start at just $15. Saturday, September 6
Geoff Kern at Photographs Do Not Bend Photographer Geoff Kern earned his name for his combination of high art and fashion, with a dash of surrealism. What we've seen of this exhibition thus far is stunning. Kern made artist books for fashion designers and photographed for, among other clients, Neiman Marcus. See it at the opening reception at 5 p.m. Saturday at Photographs Do Not Bend, 1202 Dragon St. #103.
Meyerson Symphony Center's 25th Birthday The Dallas Museum of Art was first to the downtown neighborhood we now know as the Dallas Arts District. Quickly thereafter, the Meyerson Symphony Center opened its doors, becoming one of the city's most elegant buildings and one of the finest concert venues in the world. Designed by I.M. Pei and occupying the corner of Pearl and Flora Streets, this stunning building is about to celebrate its quarter-century birthday, its managers are throwing quite the bash. And you're invited.At 10 a.m. Saturday, September 6, a week of music-focused, family-friendly activities launches with a parade down Flora St. Then, from Monday September 8 - Thursday, September 11 there will be free, daily concerts.
Casey Gray: Of Land and Sea In much of Casey Gray's art, there's a humorous tension between message and medium. Imagine if the 17th century Flemish painters had worked in spray paint. Conversely, picture Peter Paul Rubens on a skateboard. See? Funny. This was the crux of much of San Francisco-based Gray's early work, some of which has been seen at Circuit 12 Contemporary in group shows. Lately, Gray has been focused on painting things a little closer to home. Of Land and Sea, Gray's first solo show in Dallas, features the same spray paint layering technique, but with new subject matter. See his vibrant work at Circuit 12 Contemporary (1130 Dragon St. Ste 150) during the opening reception at 6 p.m. Saturday. More information at circuit12.com.
Ludwig Schwarz, Margaret Meehan, and Claire Colette Conduit Gallery presents Dallas-based Ludwig Schwarz's WALKINCLOSET, which falls into the artist's oeuvre of exploring social constructs and societal mythology using found objects as sculpture. This three-part exploration also features Margaret Meehan's Paper Moon and Claire Colette's Last Light Before a Long Night. Here's hoping these exhibitions are as clever as their names. Opening reception is at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 6. More information at conduitgallery.com.
Gary Sweeney's Problem Child Sweeney has earned a name for his wit and playful aesthetic. He incorporates text into his work, engaging the viewer with his work as he attempts to say something about the human condition. Red Arrow Contemporary presents his work in an opening reception at 6 p.m. Saturday. More information at redarrowcontemporary.com.
RO2 Art Closes One Exhibition, Sells Some Ceramics You've got one more night to see Dallas Prints at this downtown art gem. The closing reception of this collaboration with Iron Frog Press is from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Simultaneously, you can see the Ceramic Magic of Brooks Oliver. More information at RO2Art.com.
Sunday, September 7 The Local Hang Arguably, this event belongs on the music blog because it's a curated night of local music at the Doublewide, dj'd by Pete Freedman of CentralTrack.com. But, it's a slow Sunday, so we're counting it as culture. Starts at 10 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m. Totally free, but those Yoohoo Yeehaws will cost ya.
