New perspectives abound at 10 must-see art exhibits in Dallas-Fort Worth for May

Must-see art

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June isn't here yet, but art is busting out all over. A landmark exhibit at Fort Worth's Kimbell Art museum, community events in Deep Ellum and Carrollton, and several collaborative group exhibitions are among the must-see art happenings in Dallas-Fort Worth in May. There's also one bummer gallery closure in downtown Fort Worth, but they're going out with a grand party and everyone's invited.

Put these 10 must-see exhibits and events on your list before month's end.

"Tempus Peregrinari: A Time Travel Exhibition"
Bathhouse Cultural Center, through June 3
Paintings, prints, photographs, video, and mixed media art explore the concept of time travel in this exhibit featuring Texas artists and guest artists from Poland, Belgium, and New York. Works range from themes in science fiction to whimsical and purely imaginary. A collaboration with the Dallas Public Library offers suggested reading to accompany the visual art experience.

"Diverse Perspectives" by M4 Collective
Granville Art Center, through June 5
Four American women comprise this collective of mosaic artists. Their work covers a range of diverse styles, materials, and visions in an art form that has been around for millennia. Join them for an opening reception at the Granville Arts Center in downtown Garland at 6 pm Tuesday, May 23.

"Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art"
Kimbell Art Museum, through September 23
The creators of this art from the Classic period (A.D. 250-900) depict the gods of Maya mythology which flourished in what is now Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Sculptures, vessels, and precious ornaments on loan from major Latin American, U.S., and European collections illustrate this facet of the Mayan culture. New discoveries from Palenque (Mexico) and El Zotz (Guatemala) are among the works on view in the U.S. for the first time.

"we are more"
Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, through May 26
The community group "we are more" was established to assist survivors of family and intimate partner violence in various stages of their recovery. Much of their work is collaborative and the exhibit includes art from multiple disciplines. One of the works, Broken Record, is a mosaic assembled from broken record pieces contributed by local community members. Each piece bears a word or phrase that explains how the contributor or a loved one is more. The arts center will host a reception with the artists on Friday, May 19 at 6:30 pm.

"Dark & Lovely II"
Kettle Art, opening May 20
In the spring of 2010, the original Kettle Art featured the work of four female Dallas artists in a show called "Dark and Lovely." This long-awaited sequel is an all-female group exhibition curated by artist Alicia Chapman. Artists Bree Smith, Chapis, Claudia Rivera, Eli Paek, Ferfetz, and RayTrill add their perspectives to the show, as well.The exhibition opens with a reception at 6 pm on Saturday, May 20.

"The Tipping Point: Echoes of Extinction"
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, May 20, 2023-May 1, 2024
Part of a multi-year outdoor sculpture program, this exhibition on the grounds of the Carter Museum focuses on endangered or extinct bird species. Each sculpture provides a visualization of a bird species that has reached a tipping point, and each includes a QR code containing an audio file of the bird's song.

Carrollton Chalk Art Festival
Mary Heads Carter Park, May 20
You'll have to look down to get the perspective at this event. Professional and amateur chalk artists will transform the sidewalks of this park in Carrollton with everything from whimsical wonders to eye-popping 3-D art. The free and family-friendly festival runs from 10 am-3 pm on Saturday, May 20.

Liz Ward: "The Grove"
Holly Johnson Gallery, through July 29
San Antonio-based artist Liz Ward creates works on paper inspired by her travels. Using trees as metaphors and bringing to life the awe and mysticism of Mexican cenotes, Ward explores the meaning of landscape through layers of human, natural, and environmental history, memory, and experience. The gallery will hold an opening reception with the artist from 5-8 pm Saturday, May 20.

Nancy Baron: "The Good Life"
Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, through August 19
A happy jaunt back in time to Palm Springs in the 1950s, this exhibition delivers the colors and style of the Mid-Century Modern period in vibrant photographs taken over the last 13 years. Baron's books include The Good Life: Palm Springs, Palm Springs: The Good Life Goes On, and Palm Springs: Modern Dogs at Home, and all illustrate how a nostalgic period lives on in modern day. Baron will be available to sign books at an artist reception on Saturday, May 20 from 5-8 pm.

Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair
May 27-29
A new festival celebrates 150 years of history in Deep Ellum with curated exhibits, concerts, food, and more. Hundreds of local artists will be part of this Memorial Day weekend celebration. Hours are 11 am-10 pm Saturday and 11 am-8 pm Sunday and Monday. Visit the website, Facebook event page or Instagram for more information.

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Prominent Hill Country winery cracks open new tasting room in Fredericksburg

Winery news

One of the most prominent names in Hill Country wines has uncorked a new tasting room in Fredericksburg. On September 22, Grape Creek Vineyard’s owners, Brian and Jennifer Heath, cut the ribbon to their latest property, Invention Vineyards, at 4222 S. State Hwy. 16.

Heath Family Brands has used the name for some time, first as a vintage from the Grape Creek portfolio. A 2022 purchase of Slate Mill Wine Collective cleared the way for Invention to be born as its own estate label.

Under longtime winemaker Jason Eglert, Invention crafts mostly Texas blends. The line also includes several single-varietal wines, focusing on Old World grapes like Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, and Viognier.

The property echoes that approach. The tasting room is on the former 35-acre site of Pioneer Flour Mills founder Carl Hilmar Guenther’s original mill. The entrepreneur did business in Fredericksburg for eight years before volatile weather conditions prompted a move to San Antonio.

A handful of Guenther’s original stone buildings still stand near the entry to Invention, but new construction houses the brand’s tasting room and state-of-the-art production facility. Nodding to the original structures, the rustic-industrial facility utilizes weathered brick and a corrugated roof.

Though the business has been open during the build-out, the grand opening marked the first opportunity for guests to see the completed compound.

For hours, memberships, tastings, and more, visit the website.

Cidercade cider and games venue opens mega-facility in heart of Arlington

Cider News

Cider and games are coming to Arlington with the opening of Cidercade, a new entertainment venue opening at 500 E. Division St. in the heart of Arlington on September 29.

Cidercade has hundreds of arcade games, shuffleboard, pool tables, and more, all available for playing with a single admission fee, as well as dozens of drinks on tap. It's all ages during the day then turns 21+ at 8 pm.

Arlington is the fifth location in Texas, following existing Cidercades in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston, and is the largest yet with a huge space spanning 25,000-plus square feet.

It houses more than 300 retro and modern arcade games, pool tables, ping pong tables, shuffleboard courts (a Cidercade first), party rooms, and event spaces for groups of all sizes.

In a statement, co-founder and CEO Joel Malone says that with Arlington's reputation as an entertainment destination, he knew they had to build "something awesome."

"Cidercade Arlington is not only our largest location yet, but it includes a much larger variety of games and experiences," he says.

Cidercade customers pay an admission fee of $12 and get unlimited play on all the games and activities once inside. Cidercade also offers a $20 monthly membership that includes unlimited admissions as well as discounts on drinks and merch.

Beyond the games, multiple bars serve a big lineup of adult beverages on tap, all made by Bishop Cider, and soft drinks from soda machines with unlimited refills.

Customers are allowed to bring their own food or have it delivered from nearby restaurants.

In addition to the Arlington expansion, Bishop is also relocating the Dallas Cidercade to a new site near Love Field Airport, where it will be expanded dramatically to 79,000 square feet, nearly 10 times larger. It will feature concepts, games, and activities that aren’t offered anywhere else in Texas, and will open in 2024. The current location will remain open until then.

Malone and and his wife and partner Laura Malone initially founded Bishop Cider as a quaint 704-square-foot cider bar a decade ago. The company has since grown into a leader in beverage manufacturing and beverage experiences comprising four brands:

TexBev, a co-packer for carbonated soft drinks, juice, energy drinks, wine, beer, and RTDs.
Cidercade, the cider and game venue
Bishop Cider, the hard cider company
Wild Acre Brewing, a brewery and beer garden venue in Fort Worth that produces seasonal brews and year-round core beers like Texas Blonde, Juice Slinger IPA, and Sundance Wheat.

Dallas can now rent pickleball and tennis courts in people's backyards

PLAY BALL

Dallas-Fort Worth pickleball and tennis lovers can now play on courts that were previously inaccessible: in people's backyards.

The service is from Swimply, the online provider that has previously let homeowners rent out their private pools by the hour. They've now expanded their services to include courts.

Swimply says in a release that other backyard spaces for rent were the "logical next step" -- especially given the popularity of pickleball.

"Pickleball is a phenomenon and there aren't enough courts to meet demand," the release says."Tennis, likewise, has historically been an exclusive leisure activity where people pay upwards of $100 an hour at private clubs for court time."

In addition to tennis and pickleball, basketball courts will also be listed for rent on the site, beginning at $25 an hour. There are currently nine pickleball courts for rent in the DFW area and one tennis court, spanning from Allen to Aubrey to Mansfield to McKinney. (The DFW service has just started and will surely amass more options.)

These join 200 spaces in Austin, and 300-plus available across markets in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles.

Swimply founder and CEO Bunim Laskin says this new launch is a "game changer" for communities whose members want greater accessibility to recreational spaces.

"We're excited to offer this new opportunity for families and friends to have fun, exercise, and connect with each other in a safe, affordable, and convenient way," Laskin says. "Our mission has always been about democratizing access to exclusive spaces and creating positive social impact, and we believe that court rentals are a natural extension of that vision."

It won't stop there: Swimply is looking into expanding their recreational offerings to include backyards for events, music studios, and more.

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