Official behind-the-scenes blog of the Dallas Museum of Art
Sunday we wrapped up the month-long celebration of the Dallas Arts District, Art in October, with a day full of events throughout the district. The DMA hosted a free Carnival of Creativity and Doggies in the District. Below are few photo highlights from the day.
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'Afternoon Train' (1944) by Doris Lee, a print in the DMA collection.
While famous songs about trains by Gladys Knight, the Grateful Dead, or Bob Marley* might not exactly bring to mind Dallas’s DART system, a quick, easy, and scenic trip to the Museum by light rail or trolley does offer much to sing about. The DMA is a short walk from DART’s St. Paul Station, and the McKinney Avenue Trolley lets off visitors right at our front door.
Every day, more than 220,000 passengers ride trains, light rail, and buses to move across our city. Whether they’re on their way to the DMA and the Arts District or to another destination, everyone who rides DART encounters works of art. Through the Station Art & Design Program, local artists are commissioned to envision the design concept and theme for every DART station and to lead teams consisting of architects, engineers, designers, and contractors to create unique installations and environments at each stop. In addition to site-specific works of art—including mosaics, sculpture, and photography—the artists also design structural and functional elements like columns, pavers, and windscreens unique to each station.
Hatcher Station. Artist: Vicki Meek. Image: Courtesy DART
Lovers Lane Station. Design Artist: Pamela Nelson. Photo: Courtesy DART
Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station. Artist: Susan Kae Grant. Image: Courtesy DART
If you travel through one of DART’s fifty-five stations, look for the work of some well-known members of Dallas’s artistic community, such as Benito Huerta, Vicki Meek, Susan Kae Grant, and Pamela Nelson, among many others. You might also encounter works by artists who are represented in the DMA’s collections. Tom Orr and Frances Bagley, for example, were individually commissioned by DART for several stations. Orr was the station artist at DART’s Bush Turnpike Station, which is surrounded by both a large freeway as well as open, green space. To respond to the location of the station, he designed large steel and wire columns that were planted with vines to create large-scale topiaries.
Tom Orr's Installation at the Bush Turnpike Station. Image: Courtesy DART
Frances Bagley served as the station artist for Union Station, Convention Center Station, and Cedars Station (all along the Blue and Red DART lines); on each project, Bagley collaborated with other artists to create installations that reflect the particular site of each station.
In 2009 Bagley and Orr collaborated on a gallery-scaled installation that was included in the DMA’s special exhibition Performance/Art. The piece was based on the pair’s design for the Dallas Opera’s 2006 production of Verdi’s Nabucco. The installation recalled the setting for the opera’s biblical story and portrayed the artists’ interpretation of the Euphrates riverbank, the idol of Baal, and the Hanging Garden of Babylon.
Mural Detail from Union Station. Image: courtesy DART
Tom Orr and Frances Bagley's Installation in the DMA's "Performance/Art" exhibition.
Take advantage of this great spring weather and DART to the art . . . but don’t forget to explore the works of art along the way. Use DART’s guides to learn more.
* Take a look at this list of one writer’s Top Ten Train Songs.
Lisa Kays is Manager of Adult Programming at the Dallas Museum of Art
Nightlife in Dallas has a touch of jazz on Thursday nights. Our weekly event, Thursday Night Live, features an exciting vibe with great Dallas jazz bands, exquisite art, and thoughtful conversations. In this video, some of our most loyal fans describe what makes Thursday nights so special in the Dallas Arts District, including live jazz, Artist Encounters, and free student admission.
Every Thursday Night Live runs from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). Please leave a comment and tell us about your Thursday Night Live experiences.
On Saturday we were excited to launch Art in October in the Dallas Arts District with a free admission day of activities and even an exhibition sneak peek.
Art in October
There are so many wonderful cultural events happening every day in Dallas, and especially in the Arts District, that we need a month to celebrate them all! Here at the DMA we hosted a delegation from Dallas’s “Sister City,” Dijon, France–five Michelin-starred chefs and one sommelier–outside our Flora Street Entrance.
Chefs from Dijon shared some amazing dishes with visitors.
Some delicious French food prepared by our visiting chefs from Dijon.
For four hours they prepared and offered samples of food and wine from Burgundy, the land of The Mourners.
Visitors enjoying a free sneak peak at "The Mourners"
Inside, we had performances throughout the day, including spoken word pieces by Booker T. Washington students, flash mob dances, and an appearance by the Plano Senior High Chamber Singers in full medieval dress (see them again on the October 15 Late Night).
The Plano Senior High Chamber Singers
Masterpieces in the works at the Space Bar in C3
Your Museum staff happily joined in on the fun, even grabbing a few bites of escargot panini along with our more than 4,500 weekend visitors. We can’t wait for the rest of the Art in October celebration!
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