Wake up. Make coffee. Car. Job. Sit. Flavorless lunch. Swallow it. Job. Car. More food. More sit.
It's human nature to lust after order, but when we fall prey to The Cycle, we neglect the beauty that exists when chaos is introduced. After all, without a little randomness, we wouldn't have the universe.
What would happen if you took some time for yourself today? A "doctor's appointment" you forgot to mention. (It's cool, I'll write you a note.) A long lunch?
Use it to see something entirely new, to create an experience that makes today a different day from all the rest. Break the cycle. Best of all, do it without spending a dime.
Three completely free events await you, after the break.
What did you do today? "Oh, you know, saw an original Matisse. I also explored the ever-evolving geographical and social narrative of inner city Los Angeles over the last 30 years, as told through mixed media and large scale paintings created by Mark Bradford -- winner of the 2009 MacArthur Foundation 'genius' grant. No big deal."
That's right, The Dallas Museum of Art opens it's astounding collection to the public on the first Tuesday of every month. Drop by from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and get lost in it.
If you have children, or for some reason just have a couple hanging out with you today, take them along. Everyone gets free admission, but kids also score an entire day of events. This month's theme is "Dress Up," which starts with paper doll construction and ends with The Story Time Theater's 1:30 p.m. production of The Ugly Duckling.
Channel Your Inner Statler and Waldorf
Fasten your monocles and clutch your pearls, because this afternoon at 1 p.m. you can take a free tour of the Windspear Opera House and learn the history of the cascading Starlight Chandelier. Advance from second fiddle as you walk through the orchestra pit. Get the dirt on what goes on in the catwalks after hours, and best: you can perform your finest muppet impression from the upper-level box seats. The guided tour meets in the lobby; I dare you to cause a massive echo.
Visit Graffiti, Don't Get Robbed
Local street artist, Soner, is a Dallas fixture. He's been working with various crews for more than a decade and Kirk Hopper Fine Art Gallery has given him a temporary courtyard wall. What he's done with it is precisely what you'll be deciding today, from noon until 6 p.m.
The 20' by 30' concrete mural is vibrant, fluid, and energetic. Spend a little time with it. And on your way there and back, check out Gary Bishop's photomontage. It's pinned to the gallery's inner walls, and is also completely free to view.
