To celebrate 35 years of stimulating the local art scene, Dallas Contemporary threw a party unlike any other. Who says a birthday bash should be limited to just one day? The Contemporary said to heck with that rule and rolled out 35 consecutive hours of innovative and free programming for its Alive for 35 event.
The most art-minded socialites in Dallas — including Renee Rouleau, Barbara and Don Daseke, Stephanie and J.R. Roberts, David Nichols, Joyce Goss, Kenny Goss, Joanne and Charles Teichman, Michelle Moussa, Piper and Mike Wyatt, John Terlingo, Kelli and Allen Questrom, Gwen and Lel Echols, Matthew Simon, Anne Stodghill, and Maxine and Ben Trowbridge — packed the non-collecting museum to enjoy the Acceleration exhibit (with the works of 35 artists) as well as a slew of live entertainment.
Among the oh-so-exciting entertainers were the Harem Jewels belly dancers, African dance and drum group Bandan Koro, Folkorico Azteca, and gospel choir the Hensley Ensemble. And that's just for starters.
Los Angeles-based artist James Gilbert also performed his interactive wrestling with attendees — because, hey, a group that wrestles together stays together, right? If guests were feeling especially daring, there was also live tattooing by Saints & Sinners Tattoo artists Dru Bias and Will Card.
But let's not forget about the art itself. Exhibiting artist for this exciting affair included Morehshin Allahyari, Jesse Morgan Barnett, Andrew Blanton, Bradly Brown, Cassandra Emswiler, Vernon Fisher, Nathan Green, Timothy Harding, Judy Hearst, Nevada Hill, Quin Mathews, Margaret Meehan, Francisco Moreno, Michael A. Morris, Lisa Nersesova, Arthur Peña, Morton Rachofsky, Brittany Ransom, Michelle Rawlings, S.C.A.B. Collective, Trent Straughn, George Tobolowsky, Jason Willaford, Chesley Williams and Trey Wright.
Dallas Contemporary’s mission is to present the art of our time to the public — such as the upcoming Richard Phillips one-man show featuring the headline-making Playboy Marfa — which is exactly what it pulled off for this unprecedented anniversary. The lineup of festivities was thoughtfully put together by a host committee of 35 board members headed up by co-president board of directors Shelby Wagner and Muffin Lemak.
Needless to say this was a birthday bash that will not soon be topped — and that's coming from a group that loves to throw an good party.
Gwen Echols, Lel Echols
Game of Thrones ran on HBO from 2011 to 2019. thelastcover.net