Arts News

10 must-see art exhibits make their Dallas-Fort Worth debut in April

The Offing, Jennifer Pritchard, on exhibit at the Dallas Center For Photography.

With the Dallas Art Fair and Fort Worth's Main Street Arts Festival both taking place in April, the mood this month is nothing short of celebratory. Visual artists are well represented at Dallas Arts Month events, and local galleries and museums have special treats in store for art lovers, as well.

Given the abundance represented on our events calendar, it might be a challenge to see everything you want to see this month. Still, if you're ready to attempt it, put these 10 must-see exhibits and events on your list.

New Art Reveal Parties
Giddens Gallery, April 14-15

This charming fine art gallery in historic downtown Grapevine has recently begun hosting bi-monthly art reveal parties in the gallery. Enjoy wine and hor d'oeuvres while you get a first look at new works from one of the artists represented by the gallery. Attend the VIP Prosecco Preview Party on Friday, April 14 or the Art Reveal Party on Saturday, April 15. Both events are from 6-9 pm and are free.

"Transcending"
Visit Fort Worth Gallery at Fort Worth Arts, through April 29

University of Dallas student and Irving resident Mikey Hernandez creates large-scale works on paper incorporating a selection of traditional watercolor, gouache, ink, chalk, colored pencils, and charcoal. He also uses time as a medium as the paintings meld and dry in an act of surrender. Hernandez says his process as well as the finished works are comparable in some ways to a meditation. "Both in my meditations and artwork, I intuitively work on areas in hopes for growth and a better outcome by the end."

Join the artist for a guided meditation in the gallery at 10 am on Saturday, April 15. "Transcending" is on view at Fort Worth Arts through April 29.

"Japan, Form & Function: The Montgomery Collection"
Crow Museum of Asian Art, April 15-April 14, 2024

The collection of Jeffrey Montgomery is a landmark exhibit for the Crow Museum, as it marks the first time they'll host a sole presentation throughout the entire museum. Featuring Japanese folk art across a wide range of media, format, influence, and style, the exhibit will present one or more themes from a specific region of Japan in each gallery.

The museum has been closed and reopens to the public on Saturday, April 15. Entry is free but they welcome donations online. Join guest curator for the exhibit, Luigi Zeni, at a Curator’s Conversation event from 12-5 pm on Saturday, April 15; space is limited.

"Memory is a Verb: Exploring Time and Transience"
Dallas Center for Photography, April 15 - May 13, 2023

This major photographic exhibit features the work of 11 female photographers exploring the profound subjects of time, transience, and loss. While the creators come from different geographic regions and backgrounds, their photographs collectively express the universal desire to be connected and remembered.

An opening reception will be held from 6-8 pm on Saturday, April 15.

Dallas Art Fair
Fashion Industry Gallery, April 21-23

One of the premier Dallas art events for collectors, arts professionals, and the public, the Dallas Art Fair consists of three days, April 21-23, of curated exhibits from national and international galleries at Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G). A preview benefit takes place on April 20.

A single-day pass is $25, or $20 for seniors and students. A three-day pass is $55. Tickets are for sale on the Dallas Art Fair website.

Spring 2023 Exhibition Opening
Dallas Contemporary, Wednesday, April 19 · 7-9 pm

An El Come Taco pop-up and music by nosocial + Al G are on the agenda at the spring exhibition opening at Dallas Contemporary. Preview upcoming shows cerámica suro: a story of collaboration, production, and collecting in the contemporary arts and eduardo sarabia: this must be the place. Admission is free, with complimentary drinks for those over 21.

"Eyeboretum"
The Eyeball (across the street from The Joule hotel), April 21-23

In celebration of the Dallas Arts Fair, Headington Companies and The Joule are hosting of series of garden parties surrounding the trippy giant eyeball in downtown Dallas. Choose a day and timeslot to attend, stroll some surreal gardens, and quench your thirst at the bar. Proceeds benefit education programs of the Dallas Art Fair. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online.

Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival
Downtown Fort Worth, April 20-23

Now in its 36th year, this festival has been recognized as one of the top arts and music festivals in the nation. Art on display is from more than 200 juried artists. Food stands of all kinds abound and you can catch about 50 music and entertainment shows on two stages. City Center Fort Worth is hosting the Chloe Collection Wine Pavilion and Tarrant County College is presenting TCC Makers Zone, with demonstrations and activities for the whole family. Entrance is free.

The Dallas Pancakes & Booze Art Show
Deep Ellum Art Company, April 29

Popular pop-up is back this year at Deep Ellum Art Co. with all-you-can-eat pancakes, DJ music, live body painting, adult beverages, and more than 750 works of art on display. This is not your parents' art show: Plan on rocking to the music and viewing art from talented emerging artists till midnight. Tickets are $10-$20 and available on Eventbrite.

"Avedon's West"
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, through October 1, 2023

In 1979, the Museum commissioned a project, In the American West, from celebrity photographer Richard Avedon. The famed photographer took photos of everyday people in states from Texas to Idaho in 752 sittings over a period of six years. There are only two full sets of the series of photographs, and the Amon Carter Museum owns one of them. A select 13 of these photographs will be on display throughout the Museum’s collection galleries through October 1. Admission is free.

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Dance Off

Texas ballet company turns Timothée Chalamet dig into genius promotion

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It was a shot fired from Austin that rang out around the art world: In a recent CNN/Variety Town Hall featuring actors Timothée Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey, Chalamet offered an assessment of ballet and opera that immediately went viral.

During the onstage conversation at the University of Texas at Austin, Chalamet said, "I don't want to be working in ballet or opera, or you know, things where it's like, 'hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.' All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership."

Chalamet immediately seemed to experience a twinge of regret, awkwardly adding, "But um...damn, I just took shots for no reason." He also sang a note and hid his face behind the cards he was holding.

Stars of the art forms, from Andrea Bocelli to Misty Copeland, immediately began to leap (jeté, if you will) to the the defense of opera and ballet.

In a genius marketing move, Austin's hometown ballet company is taking the unique opportunity to turn a hot topic into a promotion for its next production: Ballet Austin is inviting anyone named Timothée, Timothee, or Timothy to claim a free ticket to its upcoming world premiere of Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles, running March 27-29 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

"Timothée… you were in Austin? We were literally down the street," a Ballet Austin post says. "Austin has brisket. Austin has music. Austin also has ballet."

All Timothées and folks with similar names will have to do to claim a ticket is send a message to Ballet Austin on social media and show identification. Everyone else who wants to see the supernatural show where "the line between victim and villain blurs" will have to purchase a ticket ($25-$125) at balletaustin.org.

Ballet Austin Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet Austin isn't afraid to add some edge to classic stories. Photo courtesy of Ballet Austin

Even if Chalamet's words were dismissive, he's obviously not wrong about the relative distribution of public interest between the classical arts and major films like Marty Supreme, the late 2025 film he stars in and is busy promoting. The film's commercially successful release set a record for A24, an already renowned studio.

Chalamet brought up ballet and opera in service of a larger point about pacing in movies. He said he exists in a middle ground as a consumer between wanting to be drawn in early and being more patient as a film progresses. Ultimately, he juxtaposed Barbie and Oppenheimer with the classical arts, pointing out that if the masses want to go see a film, they will "be loud and proud about it" organically, without needing performers to advocate for the seriousness of the art form.

Coincidentally, there couldn't be a better counterpoint to this argument than Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles.

As the title suggests, the story follows historical figure Marie Antoinette as she chooses to become a vampire, seeking "power, immortality, and vengeance," according to a press release. It takes a somewhat silly premise and gives it dramatic gravitas, with an original score by Austin composer Graham Reynolds, who is known outside of classical circles and sometimes composes for movie soundtracks.

"For Ballet Austin, the moment is an opportunity to remind audiences that ballet isn’t fading away," says a release about the new promotion. "It’s evolving, drawing new audiences and continuing to thrive in creative cities like Austin."

If Chalamet really does fall in the middle of instant and delayed artistic gratification, this sounds like the perfect production to draw him in.

And perhaps Ballet Austin should add people named Matthew to their promotion, since McConaughey threw the younger star a bone after his momentary walk-back, saying, "That's not a shot — I hear what you're saying."

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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.

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