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!



Collage: Now Then & Again

Made it to Barry Whistler Gallery on the last day of the Collage exhibition.  So much to see in this exhibition.  It was nice to see work by Doug MacWithey again, Mark Williams is always pushing the grid in new and exciting ways, Margaret Meehan, see post below, just can't get enough of her work and new to me Dana Harper's work so nice.

Left to Right:
Terrell James, FS 545, 2011, collage on paper, 20x26
Lawrence Lee, Star No. 6, 2012-13, graphite, ink and tea stains on paper, 22 1/4 x 30
John Wilcox, Feedbag Blood, 2001, paper, dye, glue and string, 22 x 3 1/2

Barry Whistler Gallery
2909-B Canton Street
Dallas, TX 75226
214.939.0242    
info@barrywhistlergallery.com    

John Wilcox

Catheral

Trying, 1996, oil on canvas, 46 x 46 inches

LtoR: Catheral, Trying, Blacks

LtoR: Blacks, Cotton Bowl

 

LtoR: Paradise, Blacks, Lost

Please visit this website dedicated to John Wilcox.  This website is sponsored by The Ioannes* Project. The Project is dedicated to the art and legacy of John Wilcox, a Texas artist whose contemporary, minimalist style was unique and powerful in its depth and simplicity. Wilcox worked primarily with canvases but also produced innumerable works on paper and multimedia. In the wake of his death in June 2012, efforts were begun to catalogue and photograph Wilcox’s rich legacy of work as well as create opportunities for others to see and experience his art. This website is one venue for realizing those efforts. Another is the creation of a space in Dallas, Texas where rotating exhibits of Wilcox’s work will be installed in 2013 and 2014. Each installation will have a special curator. The first installation will be curated by Barry Whistler who represented Wilcox’s work for decades and is the owner of Barry Whistler Gallery in Dallas. The second installation will be curated by Richard Brettell, Margaret McDermott Distinguished Chair of Art and Aesthetic Studies and Co-Director for the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Museums at The University of Texas at Dallas. The third installation will be curated by noted fellow Texas artist and friend of Wilcox, James Magee.

Future efforts are being planned including a published work on Wilcox’s art.  As projects evolve and the digital archive develops materials and information will be posted on this website.

*Ioannes (pronounced: ee-o-an´-nace) is the ancient Greek for John and is derived from the ancient Hebrew, J^əhôħānān ,which means God is gracious.

John Wilcox

Stopped by Barry Whistler Gallery today and saw this wonderful painting by John Wilcox.

RIP John Wilcox

pieces of wood drifting away - a day with john wilcox by c j davis

John Wilcox

John Wilcox
New York City
1988 - 89
Text Drawings and Related Paintings

March 6 - April 17, 2010
Barry Whistler Gallery

Absolutely a stunning exhibition of John Wilcox's work from the late 80's. This exhibition continues a long history of knock out exhibitions at Barry Whistlery Gallery proving that his gallery is at the top of the best in Texas.



From Barry Whistler's Blog