Art for Social Change

Ambitious Dallas LOVE Project envelops the city as JFK 50th anniversary nears

A big deal was made recently about Nasher Xchange, Nasher Sculpture Center's public art program going on now through February 2014. But perhaps overshadowed by that was the Dallas LOVE Project, a city-wide exhibition designed to honor the memory of President John F. Kennedy leading up to the 50th anniversary of his assassination.

The exhibition, which ends on Friday, November 22, was conceived by 29 Pieces, a local nonprofit that uses art to enact social change. To counteract the label of "City of Hate" that was given to Dallas following the assassination, they invited anyone — artist or not — to create 18-by-18 pieces of art that incorporated a quote about love from famous peacemakers, artists, musicians or writers.

The project placed around 10,000 pieces of art in 65 different locations around Dallas, making it one of the biggest public art exhibitions ever.

Those pieces were then placed in various spots around the city starting on September 21, which is International Peace Day, including several along the route of JFK's fateful motorcade. Locations start as far south as South Dallas Cultural Center in Fair Park and go as far north as Galleria Dallas, and they range from actual art galleries to sandwich shops.

All in all, the project placed around 10,000 pieces of art in 65 different locations, making it one of the biggest public art exhibitions ever. A map of all the locations can be found on the Dallas LOVE Project site.

Karen Blessen, artistic director and founder of 29 Pieces and executive director for the project, thinks it was a success on a number of levels.

"The Dallas LOVE Project is utter madness in its idealism, its belief in art and creativity and its pure beauty," she says. "It has been total joy to see the depth of heart and mind that so many artists put into their interpretations of words of love and peace from great peacemakers, poets, artists, musicians and from John F. Kennedy."

Blessen is also glad that the project provided an artistic outlet for so many different people.

"The Dallas LOVE Project gave thousands of artists, ranging in age from 5 to 83, the experience of joining in something bigger than any one person, and devoted to the highest ideals of our consciousness," she says. "Does it get any better?"

Blessen hopes the success of this project will lead to other similar endeavors. "The Dallas LOVE Project took wings very early on, for reasons that I will be mulling over for a while," she says.

"The full realization of the 29 Pieces of sculpture that our organization is based on will be a project of enormous scope. I do envision more on this scale [in the future]."

The Dallas LOVE Project was conceived to combat the "City of Hate" label Dallas received after the JFK assassination.

Photo courtesy of Dallas LOVE Project

The Dallas LOVE Project was conceived to combat the "City of Hate" label Dallas received after the JFK assassination.

unspecified

Music and Fashion

Miranda Lambert's 'Velvet Rodeo' wardrobe stars in new DFW exhibition

“Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo” at National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame

Photo by Tyler Conrad

“Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo” will open on November 7 at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame.

Country star Miranda Lambert is bringing a bit of Las Vegas glamour and bling to North Texas. Her one-of-a-kind wardrobe from her "Velvet Rodeo" residency will go on display at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth when its new Icons Gallery opens November 7.

According to a release, the exhibition, called "Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo," was created in collaboration with Lambert, and will feature costumes from the singer's Las Vegas residency, which ran from September 2022 to April 2024.

Lambert said her inspiration came from an earlier visit to the Fort Worth museum, where she spotted historic Western pieces that she photographed and sent to her stylist, Tiffany Gifford. They combined those influences with the glitz of Elvis Presley's heyday to create the "Velvet Rodeo" wardrobe.

“Seeing these pieces now have a life beyond the stage as part of the Museum’s new Icons Gallery feels really full circle and special,” Lambert said in a statement.

Visitors will now have the opportunity to study garments usually seen in motion and under stage lights, appreciating the details that help transform clothing into an essential part of a performance.

The Icons Gallery is part of the Museum’s 16,000-square-foot expansion, which introduces new galleries and experiences that explore the accomplishments and influence of women of the West. The $19 million expansion features a new entrance facing Dickies Arena, new galleries including a photography gallery, an event space accommodating up to 250, and the new Cowgirl Carousel.

Miranda Lambert, right, with rodeo queens onstage at the 45th Cowgirl Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon at Dickies Arena. Photo by Ashley Gongora

Lambert, who was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2021, is an active mounted shooting competitor and horsewoman, giving her a connection to the West that reaches beyond her music. "Velvet Rodeo" brings together Lambert's identity as a cowgirl and her creative expression as a performer.

“Miranda’s confidence, determination and independence make her a wonderful representative of the women we honor,” says Pat Riley, executive director of the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, in the release. “Opening our Icons Gallery with this collaboration celebrates her accomplishments while giving visitors a new way to connect with a cowgirl they know and admire.”

According to a museum spokesperson, the temporary exhibition will remain on display for at least one year; no specific end date was given.

In preparation for the expansion grand opening, the Cowgirl will be closed to the public beginning October 19 and will reopen November 7, with a members-only preview at 10 am and a public opening at noon.

celebrities country music exhibitions-visual-arts fashion miranda lambert museums music national cowgirl museum temporary exhibition