2013 Retrospective

Looking back at 2013 is a representation of what I saw or experienced that I thought was worthy of another mention.  Of course this is not intended to be a top 10 list or even representative of all the great exhibitions that took place in North Texas during the year.  Met lots of wonderful people and had a chance to help work on an important exhibition for one of my best friends.  I still found myself focusing on a few galleries where I have found, in most cases, consistency in quality and friendly people.   As a gallery owner, if you want people to visit your gallery you have to offer challenging, fun, thought-provoking art without being cute and most importantly you have to be able to communicate with those that show an interest and taking valuable time to visit your gallery.  It does no good if you can't even say hello.

Finally started going back to the DMA on a regular basis and they have not disappointed either.  Stupid - in the early 1990's I visited the museum at least 50 times a year and I was a paying member too.   When they started charging admission I bet I didn't average one visit a year until they dropped the admission fee.

Congratulations to the Dallas Museum of Art for three great exhibitions!
 

Jim Hodges: Give More Than You Take  Photograph: DMA

Concentrations 56: Stephen Lapthisophon                                                  

Cindy Sherman: Untitled Film Still #21 (1978). Photograph: MoMA, NY

 

A trip to Houston to see the Forrest Bess Retrospective at The Menil Collection.  Visited lots of galleries during this trip and for the first time Hiram Butler Gallery where Mark Fox (I think I have that correct) and Tony Fehr had solo exhibitions.

Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible

It was nice to catch-up with Robyn O'Neil at Talley Dunn Gallery for her solo exhibition We Spoke Mirage.  Wonderful new work  that was somewhat reminiscent of the Forrest Bess exhibition at The Menil

 

 

To kickoff the fall exhibitions Oliver Francis Gallery started the year on a high note

Anthony Keith Giannini Crossing The Line

 

Absolutely one of my favorite artists and has been since the mid 90's is John Wilcox.  When I was at VAL doing exhibitions and artist's talks John showed up and made my year...I think that was around 2008.  The much anticipated exhibition of John's work since his passing at his former home/studio hosted by Barry Whistler Gallery

 

Michael Bise exhibition Life or Death at The MAC blew me away.  I want to see more! and more! and more!  Michael Bise - Can I please visit next time I am in Houston?

My good friend Brad Tucker was everywhere in 2013.  I think I saw every exhibition in North Texas.
   

Circuit 12

El Centro College

Old Jail Art Center

Congratulations to Michael Wynne on his "Life's Short Play Naked" retrospective exhibition at Ware:Wolf Haus.   Thanks Michael for being a great friend and allowing me to help on this exhibition.  Thank God 2013 is almost over.  My friend 2014 will be a BIG year!  Looking forward to seeing exhibitions from NYC to Houston with you!

 

Stephen Lapthisophon continued his positive influence on North Texas...

MyMyMisfire 

 Deep Ellum

Richland College

 

Conduit Gallery

Dallas Museum of Art

 

Some individual works that I saw in 2013 that will definitely keep you wondering and then some are just wonderful.  They all resonated one way or another.

Lana Paninchul at Oliver Francis Gallery

David Aylesworth at Holly Johnson Gallery 

Vincent Falsetta at The MAC  -  Vincent!!! 

Celia Eberle at CentralTrak - so nice to see some older work by one of the most important Texas artists working today.

 

 Suzan Frecon at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  I have fallen for Suzan Frecon works on paper.  I want want want to live with her work!
 

Waddy Armstrong at Liliana Bloch Gallery - Absolutely stunning!  Congratulations Liliana on your new adventure.  I am looking forward to seeing what you bring to the gallery scene.

 

Congratulations to a fairly new friend to me

Pedro Vélez for being selected to the 2014 Whitney Biennial.  Pedro, I will be at the Whitney to celebrate this important event with you!  I can't wait to visit and see the studio too. 

Courtesy of Pedro Velez.

 

Congratulations everyone! Happy New Year! Looking forward to a great 2014!



Last exhibitions of 2013

Took a short trip south of Dallas to Webb Gallery to check out Tom Sale's The Florence Project.  The installation was spread across the entire first floor of Webb Gallery.  The installation includes artifacts from the adventures of Florence Nightingale as collected by Sale.

From Webb Gallery site
Blurring the boundaries between truth and fiction, education and amusement, THE FLORENCE PROJECT provides indelible memories.

The exhibit is hugely extensive.  It ranges from dioramas in trunks, incredible created artifacts, photographs, artist made handbills, cast body parts, a beautiful decorated dress, to the words of Florence, facts of Florence, an incredible artist leather tooled wheelchair, and taxidermy.

Suitcase with Ship 

LtoR: Golden Pets, Wax 1850 Model w/French Knot Diagram, Letterpress Nightingale Quotes

 

Lead and Plaster Feet

Crimean Wren

Mermaid's Net with Frame

In the upstairs gallery is a small exhibition of  works by Penny Nickels and  Richard Saja curated by Tom Sale.

Richard Saja "The Darwins"

Penny Nickels "Surgery I"

The Florence Project will be on view until January 29th, 2014 at
Webb Gallery
209 W. Franklin
Waxahachie, Texas 75165
972.938-8085

____________________________________________________________________________

Stopped by Kirk Hopper Gallery to checkout the latest exhibition.   Two solo exhibitions; Carlos Donjuan "Let Me Be Your Favorite Nightmare" and Luke Harden "Maw N Paw".

Carlos Donjuan "Te Portas Bien", 2011

mixed media on birch panel, 60x48

 

Luke Harden works

 

Through January 8th, 2014

Kirk Hopper Fine Art

Susie Phillips at Conduit Gallery

Still Crazy

Susie Phillips moves between pastel drawing and cut paper collage in the newest works in Still Crazy. Referencing the quilting tradition of Crazy Quilts which utilizes irregular pieces of fabric and asymmetrical designs, Phillips mines and assembles cut paper into elaborate patterns in a compressed picture plane which create dizzying and joyful compositions. In addition to the collage works, a number of new pastel still lifes, for which the artist is known, will also be on view. Susie Phillip’s works continue to indulge in romantic energy and speak to modernist traditions of skewed perspective, flattened subject matter and a bold palette in the vein of the later still lifes of Cézanne and Matisse.

Conduit Gallery

 



Highlights from the Collection II

Next stop was Conduit to welcome both Nancy and Danette from Miami.   As well to get another peek at Arthur Koch's exhibition in the project space. 

On to Goss Michael to take a look at the Highlights from the Collection. 

 

Jake & Dinos Chapman

Forehead, 1997 and Platinum Joey, 1996-97

Marc Quinn

Mother and Child (Alison and Parys), 2008

Tracy Emin

Fuck Off and Die You Slag, 2002

Creative Differences

We checked out the exhibitions at Public Trust and Lilliana Bloch Galleries then headed over to 500X to see "Creative Differences: 35 Years at 500X".   



Creative Differences: 35 Years at 500X celebrates the 35th anniversary of 500X, one of the oldest artist-run galleries in Texas and a noted Dallas art space. This exhibition features a variety of media, including painting, photography, installation, assemblage, video, drawing, and performance by a selection of thirty former members spanning from the founding group of artists in the mid 1970s to the most recent alumni.

 

Randall Garrett (member 1992-96). Eating, Drinking 2013 and Last Dance 2013

Celia Eberle (member 1986-91). Foreign Policy, 2013.

 

Anthony Wright (member 1991).  Into Drawing, 2012

Greg Metz (member 1982-83).  Cathedral, 2013.

Tom Orr (member 1975-79). Aug 6th 1962 - Aug 6th 1950, 2011

Vance Wingate (member 1989-91). Fleshy Gems(#10-#14), 2012

Simeen Farhat (member 2003-05).  Speeding Ticket, 2013

Matt Clark (member 2008-12).  Jaune Prince Banane, 2013 

Paul Booker (member 1999-2001). Pink and Gold Hexagons 1, 2013

Lesli Robertson (member 2006-09). Vestige, 2013 (note: 2 of the 3 panels)

500X
The exhibition is on view from December 14 to January 5, 2014.  Not much time to catch this exhibition.