“We are fortunate to live in a city where there are more people and groups wanting to creatively express their passion for bringing peace to Darfur than there is time in one evening,” explains Lilly Neubauer, a volunteer with Art for Darfur. “Adding a Preview Night to this year’s fundraising season gives us another night of talking with the community and a chance to show our patrons how much we’ve grown this past year.”

An example of Art for Darfur’s growth is the 2010 Imaginative Learning Darfur Art Residency that partnered with local non-profits Big Thought and Today Marks the Beginning to bring guest speakers and art supplies to DISD Hotchkiss and Rice Elementary Schools. Students were told about the lives of Darfurian refugees and asked to make art pieces answering the question, “If you were a peacemaker, what would you do to bring peace to Darfur?” The original reactions have exhibited at SMU’s Doolin Gallery and the South Dallas Cultural Center, and return to SMU for the Preview Night.

Art for Darfur is a movement in Dallas of students, artists, activists, faith communities, educational institutions and non-profit organizations who recognize the power of art to raise funds and awareness for the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. For more information, please visit www.artfordarfur.org.

Glance by Lisa Grossman, 2010

Lisa Grossman: Windings
Marty Walker Gallery
March 23 to April 17, 2010

Opening Reception Saturday, March 27, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Marty Walker Gallery presents Lisa Grossman, in a solo exhibition where deftly executed landscape oil painting flirts wildly with abstraction.

Lisa Grossman’s oil paintings of the wide open rural eastern Kansas, painted en plein air (or on location), are a meditation on open spaces, exploring the emotional responses to atmospheric shifts in light, color, and the vast distance of land and sky. Grossman’s paintings are devoid of objects typically depicted in landscape painting, such as trees, dwellings, and other human-made contraptions such as cars and electrical lines. She instead wipes them out with her confident brushstrokes offering uninterrupted, contemplative fields of color open to self-reflection. Subtle variations of color and contour suggest the pervasive presence of light and air while Grossman quietly punctuates the space with dramatic shapes of transient clouds, winding waterways, glowing sun bursts or glassy reflections.

Grossman’s color palette is reminiscent of early Impressionist paintings, but brushstrokes are languid and deliberate with a modern maturity and sensibility that expose a delicacy of sublime. Lisa’s work is described by Alice Thorson, art critic for the Kansas City Star, saying, “Grossman is not just another Sunday painter seeking to gratify with scenic views… a subdued paint handling and palette yield Rothkoesque quietude.”

Grossman’s work can be seen in the permanent collections of The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Spencer Museum of Art, KS, as well as in various corporate collections including The Hallmark Corporation, and H&R Block, among many others. A few of Grossman’s awards include a fellowship with The Kansas Arts Commission, and a project for Kansas City’s Art Through Architecture Program. In addition Grossman has exhibited in various national juried exhibitions, including ‘The Arts for the Parks Top 100’, National Park Academy of the Arts national touring exhibit.

Marty Walker Gallery is located at 2135 Farrington St. Dallas, TX 75207. For more information visit online at www.martywalkergallery.com. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

Sand River I by Lisa Grossman, 2010

Glance by Lisa Grossman, 2010

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth,in conjunction with the Andy Warhol: The Last Decade and FOCUS: Ben Jones exhibitions, presents our sixth Modern ’til Midnight event Saturday, April 10 from 6 p.m. to midnight. The community will enjoy everything The Modern has to offer during our extended hours including live music from well-known artists, films, gallery activities, and late-night fare from Café Modern. Dress like your favorite 80’s celebrity if you are in the mood! Check the Modern’s Facebook page for contest details.

Admission is $15 and free for Modern members. For advanced tickets call 817.738.9215.

Live music from local and national artists

DJ Gabriel and DJ Gwendolyn, also known as the Double G’s, bring an 80’s New York nightclub attitude to the Grand Lobby. The following lineup will perform outside, set against the Modern’s reflecting pond with its stunning view of the building.

7 p.m.
Monastery
Showing off their classical, experimental and minimalist sounds, the night will begin with this band from Denton.

7:50 – 8:20 p.m.
Ben Jones
The FOCUS exhibition features the artist, Ben Jones, who will present his multi-media performance piece, Dr. Doo performing Black Math in conjunction with the gallery installation.

8:50 – 9:20 p.m.
The Orbans
Fresh from their album recording in LA, this Fort Worth-rooted band brings their indie style to the evening.

9:50 – 10:30 p.m.
Seryn
Also playing at South by Southwest music festival, this Denton spotlight offers an experience full of unique sounds, as well as passionate harmonies and melodies.

10:50 p.m. – midnight
Warpaint
Earning recognition nationwide, the psychedelic and melodramatic female trio from Los Angeles will wrap-up the live music portion with what has been considered “a fierce and mystic performance.”

Film Program

During Modern ’til Midnight, the Auditorium will present the film I Shot Andy Warhol at 8 p.m.
The featured film traces the madness of radical-feminist genius Valerie Solanas, and her life leading to the moment she shot pop-art icon Andy Warhol in 1968.

“An exemplary and dynamic work that goes about as far as a narrative film can in both analyzing a complex personality and portraying a cultural scene.” Todd McCarthy, Variety.

Happenings in the Galleries

Guests will experience the special exhibition Andy Warhol: The Last Decade by taking part in special activities throughout the evening including conceptual projects, interactive events, spotlight tours, and art explorations in the galleries. FOCUS: Ben Jones will also be on display featuring the work of Ben Jones, an interdisciplinary artist working in video, sculpture, painting and drawing.

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade

The Modern hosts the first local museum exhibition in decades to showcase Andy Warhol’s work, as well as the first U.S. museum exhibition exploring the work produced during his final years. Andy Warhol: The Last Decade features 55 works by Warhol and examines how he simultaneously explored new mediums and styles of art while redefining the Pop art genre. Created amidst the bustle of Warhol’s celebrity, the works included illustrate the artist’s vitality, energy, and renewed spirit of experimentation. During those final years, Warhol produced more works, in a greater number of series, than at any other period of his life. The exhibition is divided into thematic sections based on significant Warhol series: abstract works; collaborations (featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat); black-and-white ads; works surrounding death and religion; self-portraits; camouflage patterns; and a concluding section of the artist’s Last Supper series.

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade is organized by the Milwaukee Museum of Art.

FOCUS: Ben Jones

FOCUS: Ben Jones features the work of American-born artist Ben Jones. Jones’ work investigates new methods of pictorial storytelling in the digital age. An interdisciplinary artist working in video, sculpture, painting, light painting and drawing, his artworks and installations evoke environments and themes both familiar and bizarre. For years, Jones has sharpened his skills by working as an animator and comic book illustrator. Consequentially, his work has a colorful and playful visual language. Jones’ artwork reflects the wide-ranging influences that inundate the artist (and viewer) in their daily experience within contemporary society. The artist levels the playing field for such disparate references as minimalism, video games, dogs and “The Simpsons,” by equally favoring all in his work, and in so doing, he slyly merges high art with popular culture in a present-day vocabulary.

Café Modern and Lobby Bar

Cash bars and coffee bar are available from 6 pm until last call at 11:45 p.m. Enjoy a global assortment of Modern appetizers and Café Modern food service from 6 to 11 p.m.*

*Beverages and food are not included in admission price.

Promotional support generously provided by KXT, 91.7 FM.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
3200 Darnell Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Telephone 817.738.9215
Toll-Free 1.866.824.5566

www.themodern.org

When Dallas Art News started less than a year ago, Alyssa welcomed us with open arms. She invited us to review the Roberta Harris: UP exhibit and she even secured us an interview with Ms. Harris. Alyssa was also the first museum official on board with the Museum Express Tour.

We have been delighted to work with Alyssa. She can always be counted on for her tenacity and charm.

Bon voyage, Alyssa.

Elvis by Michael Kalish

Michael Kalish
Samuel Lynne Galleries
Opening Reception Friday, March 26, 2010, from 7 to 10 p.m.

You haven’t seen everything in art till you have viewed the work of Michael Kalish. Mr. Kalish takes the phrase alternative media to a new level. His depictions of classic American icons and roses are made out of old license plates. And they look stunning.

Mr. Kalish will be at the opening reception at Samuel Lynne Galleries on Friday, March 26, 2010, from 7 to 10 p.m. On display will be 20 plus sculptural works ranging in price from $8,000 to $18,000.

Michael Kalish

Internationally-acclaimed artist Michael Kalish is best know for creating iconic personalities (like James Dean, The Beatles and Beethoven) from a unique medium he developed over the last 15 years – license plates and vintage tailgates twisted and cut together into stunning images. His work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times to Art in America and hangs in the homes of musicians, world leaders, actors and professional athletes.

Samuel Lynne Galleries
1105 Dragon Street
Dallas, Texas 75207

Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

www.samuellynne.com

Flower Vase by Michael Kalish

Elvis by Michael Kalish

Dallas Museum of Art

Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art
Friday, March 19, 2010 from 6 p.m. to Midnight

Join the Dallas Museum of Art on March 19, 2010, at our Late Night for a trip through the looking glass as we celebrate the release of Tim Burton’s new film Alice in Wonderland. Enjoy concerts, performances, family activities, and Fresh Ink lectures inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Stay late for a screening of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, open mic, and karaoke.

Of special note, we’ll be screening three film versions of the classic story. The first film version of Alice in Wonderland (1903) which is approximately 10 minutes in length will be shown as a preview for the 1951 Disney animated version of Alice in the Horchow Auditorium at Late Night. Additionally, we will screen a 1933 film version of Alice in Wonderland starring Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, and W.C. Fields (as Humpty Dumpty!) in the Atrium Café earlier in the evening. Details noted below.

Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art
Friday, March 19, 2010
6:00 p.m. to Midnight

Late Night Programs are included in general admission to the Museum ($10 or less). The Lens of Impressionism exhibition requires an additional ticket.

CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES

Dinner and a Show: Alice in Wonderland (1933)
6:00 – 7:15 p.m., Atrium
Enjoy dinner and drinks from the Atrium Cafe while watching an all-star cast portray the fanciful characters in this film based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, including Cary Grant as Mock Turtle, Gary Cooper as the White Knight, and W. C. Fields as Humpty-Dumpty. This film is not rated (77 minutes).

Late Night Main Stage featuring Charming Gardeners
8:00 p.m., Atrium
Travel through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole with a whimsical performance by Charming Gardeners with a teen choir from Zound Sounds.

Performances in Galleries
European Galleries, Level 2

7:00 p.m.
Listen to short stories by Lewis Carroll read by actress Lydia Mackay.

10:00-11:30 p.m.
Hear DJ G spin a set inspired by the world of Alice in Wonderland.

Late Night Karaoke with DJ Mark Ridlen
10:00–11:30 p.m., Atrium
Join DJ Mark Ridlen for Late Night Karaoke and perform your favorite songs. Take the stage to sing a song and receive a coupon for 20% off a DMA membership.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Dallas Observer Appearance
6:00–11:00 p.m., Concourse

Register for a Dallas Observer electronic subscription or e-mail blast and receive a great gift.

Virtually View Original Alice in Wonderland Manuscript
6:00 p.m. – midnight, Learning Links Area, Center for Creative Connections

Virtually turn the pages of the original Alice in Wonderland manuscript, written and illustrated by Lewis Carroll. Look for the “hidden” picture of the real Alice on the last page. Carroll was unhappy with this illustration, copied from a photograph Carroll had taken of Alice Liddell at age seven, and pasted a photograph of Alice over it. This hidden drawing was not uncovered until 1977.
Manuscript is linked to and courtesy of the British Library’s website.

Fresh Ink with Melanie Benjamin
7:00 p.m., Horchow Auditorium

Pick up your free tickets at the Will Call Table beginning at 6:00 p.m. in front of Horchow Auditorium. Following the program there will be a book signing outside of the Museum Store.

Delve into Melanie Benjamin’s debut novel, Alice I Have Been. This spellbinding historical novel, based on remarkable research, is an imaginative rendering of the life of Alice Pleasance Liddell Hargreaves, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll. Benjamin was inspired to write Alice’s story when she saw an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago called Dreaming in Pictures: The Photography of Lewis Carroll.

Late Night Open Lab: Concrete Poetry
7:00 – 10:30 p.m., Tech Lab, Center for Creative Connections

Make pictures and patterns with words and ideas as you experiment with poetry and technology in this drop-in, hands-on session.

Future Forward Forum
7:30 p.m., Cook Boardroom, Level M2

We want to hear what you think about the Museum – how are we doing and how we can improve! Join Director Bonnie Pitman and DMA staff for this forum where you can share your thoughts and ideas for the future of the DMA. Participants will receive a free DMA t-shirt.

Space is limited to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Forum will last an hour. Sign up at the table on M2 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Creativity Challenges inspired by Alice in Wonderland
8:00-9:00 p.m. and 10:00-11:00 p.m., Meet in the Center for Creative Connections

Stretch your mind and test your creativity! Teams compete against time and with limited materials to design unique creations. Limited to 10 teams. Teams may sign up for the challenge in the Center for Creative Connections starting at 7:30 p.m. for the 8:00 p.m. challenge and 9:30 p.m. for the 10:00 p.m. challenge.

The EDGE Radio Station Appearance
8:00-10:00 p.m., Concourse

Stop by the EDGE Radio Station table to meet on-air personalities and register to win prizes.

Visiting Artist John Grandits
8:30 – 10:00 p.m., C3 Theater

Award-winning book and magazine designer John Grandits will share insights into his creative process and information about the history of concrete poetry from A.D. 800 to the present (including one from Alice in Wonderland). Then you can write and design your own concrete poems inspired by works in the DMA collections.

Scenes from Lobster Alice performed by Second Thought Theatre
9:00 p.m., Level 4 Landing, American Galleries

Actors from Second Thought Theater perform scenes from their upcoming production of Lobster Alice. A story of Alice Horowitz, a secretary who wants life to be interesting, and Disney animator John Finch who wants Alice, Lobster Alice takes a turn for the surreal when artist Salvador Dali arrives at the studio and interacts with Alice and Finch.

Late Night Art Bytes
9:30–10:30 p.m., Tech Lab, Center for Creative Connections

Tech and art savvy creators share work with the community. Finished works, in-progress works, and creators of all ages are welcome!

Late Night Open Mic
10:30–11:30 p.m., C3 Theater, Center for Creative Connections

Hear Dallas’s hottest poets or share some of your own verses. Hosted by Tisha Crear of Reciprocity. Readings may contain adult themes and language. Spoken word performances only; no instruments allowed.

FILMS

Alice in Wonderland (1903)
9:30-9:40 p.m., Horchow Auditorium

The first-ever film version of Lewis Carroll’s tale has recently been restored by the British Film Institute (BFI). Made just thirty-seven years after the novel’s publication and eight years after the birth of cinema, this short film adaptation was directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow and was based on Sir John Tenniel’s original illustrations.

This film is not rated (10 min.).

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (1951)
9:45 p.m., Horchow Auditorium

Follow the White Rabbit into the fantastic world of Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. Often regarded as some of the finest animation work in Disney studio history, this magical film adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic books features unforgettable characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and her playing card army, and the Mad Hatter. This film is not rated (75 minutes).

Promotional support provided by Dallas Film Society.

TOURS

Dallas Museum of Art meets Alice in Wonderland
8:30 p.m., Meet at the main Visitor Services Desk

Tour the DMA’s collections and explore themes that are shared by works of art and the Lewis Carroll novels.

Insomniac Tour
10:00 p.m., Meet at the main Visitor Services Desk
Tour the collections until the wee hours with the Dallas Museum of Art staff.

FAMILY EXPERIENCES

Materials & Me
6:00–7:30 p.m., Arturo’s Nest, Center for Creative Connections

Just for 2-4 year olds! Investigate materials artists use and then look at a work of art in the galleries.

Late Night Creations
6:00–9:00 p.m., Art Studio, Center for Creative Connections

Search for hats in the Museum’s collection and then visit the Studio to create your own Alice in Wonderland inspired hat.

Yoga for Kids!
6:30–7:00 p.m., Center for Creative Connections

Join our resident yogini, Michelle Mock, for meditation, relaxation, and some very pretzel-like poses.

Mad Hatter Treasure Hunt
6:30-9:30 p.m., Center for Creative Connections

Pick up your free Mad Hatter hat and take a trip down the rabbit hole with a self-guided scavenger hunt inspired by Alice in Wonderland! Find hidden gems in the Museum’s collections and have your scavenger hunt stamped at each work of art. Submit your completed treasure hunt at the Center for Creative Connections for a chance to win a pop-up version of Alice in Wonderland by Robert Sabuda. (Hats are limited to the first 300 children under 12).

Bedtime Stories with Arturo
7:30 p.m., C3 Theater, Center for Creative Connections

Kids, wear your pajamas and bring your pillows to hear Bedtime Stories with Arturo, told by our award-winning storyteller, Ann Marie Newman.

FOOD SERVICE

Atrium Cafe

Enjoy casual dining 6:00–10:00 p.m.

Menu features soup, fresh salads, handcrafted sandwiches , Starbucks coffees and kids combos.

Full bar, beverages, and snacks until 11:00 p.m

Late Night Friday Tapas Lounge
Seventeen Seventeen Restaurant

6:00–10:00 p.m., south end of the building on Level 2
Featuring a sophisticated small-plate tapas menu, half-price bottles of wine, and desserts.

Reservations recommended for parties of five or more. Call 214-922-1858.

Seating on Wisteria Terrace weather permitting.

Artist Reception on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Christopher Rabb’s paintings represent slices of selected comic book compositions in their bare visual elements exposing the raw expressive power of the climax. Rabb’s source is comic books for their inherent expressive visual language. Comics are seemingly simple because they are comprised of three major elements: the image, text, and sequence. Rabb removes the characters and text, leaving activated space, visual movement, and visual time gaps between planes.

The flattened planes emulate cutouts, as if they have been physically removed from the original context and placed inside the composition, creating a culmination of climaxes. This climactic energy aims to capture and immerse the viewer, compelling them to investigate what is taking place. Where there are planes of color exploding, twisting, and distorting space in the compositions, there are remnants of Rabb’s original visual sources, comic books.

Rabb is a native Texan who currently resides in Irving and attends the University of Dallas in pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts in Art. This exhibition is presented in partial fulfillment for the Master of Fine Arts in Art at the University of Dallas, 2010.

Mokah Art Gallery, an extension of Life in Deep Ellum, serves to promote culture and art in Deep Ellum and surrounding communities. At the Cultural Center, Mokah Art Gallery exhibitions feature contemporary art of local artists from the experimental, the emerging, and the established.

Mokah Art Gallery is located at 2803 Taylor Dallas, Texas 75226. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.

“Sunbelt Stone is excited to be a part of the Arts of Collin County and the impact it will have on our region,” stated Carpenter, founder and President of Sunbelt Sandstone. “We are very proud to be able to showcase our stone on this tremendous property for generations to come.”

The Sunbelt Stone sandstone donation brings the Arts of Collin County one step closer to a possible groundbreaking in April or May of 2010.

“We are in the final stages of assembling all the pieces of financing for the project and these significant private donations will help us reach the full funding goal very quickly. We are continuing to work closely with the Owner Cities to finalize the agreements by the end of March,” states Mike Simpson, executive director of the Arts of Collin County. “The Arts of Collin County is grateful to Sunbelt Stone and the Carpenter family for their contribution. The interior sandstone will be major focal point of the performing arts halls and will showcase Sunbelt’s quality,” continues Simpson.

Located on 155 acres on Formation #3 in San Saba County, Sunbelt Stone’s quarry produces some of the richest colors and structural properties when compared to other sandstone formations. Therefore, it is preferred sandstone for architects, builders, landscapers and masons because of the vast colors and minimal waste produced from working with the stone. As a local, natural product, the eco-friendly sandstone fits into the sustainable design of the Arts of Collin County project.

Editor’s Note: High-Res Image Available Upon Request

About The Arts of Collin County

The Arts of Collin County (ACC) is a nationally recognized, innovative, public-private partnership to develop a 100+ acre arts park. Co-owned by the cities of Allen, Frisco and Plano, with operational support by member cities, Fairview and Melissa, the development of the arts park is supported with $57 million in bond monies, up to $3 million in Collin County Open Space Grant funds, and an additional $12 million financial support from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Located at Sam Rayburn Tollway/ 121 just east of Custer Road, the arts park will be completed in phases, with a 2,100-seat performing arts hall, sculpture garden, performance meadow, and hike and bike trails included in Phase One. To contribute, view the virtual tour of the project and learn more, visit www.artsofcollincounty.org or call 214-495-5810.

Two films about Palestine by noted artist Suha Shoman deal with critical issues concerning the Israeli occupation of her homeland.

Charif Benhelima’s photographic project, Welcome to Belgium, illuminates the plight of Arab immigrants in Europe. An essay by noted Belgium painter, Luc Tuymans, describes Charif’s project as “a testimony, beginning at the beginning and covering a research period lasting nine years.”

Santiago Forero presents a singularly perceptive perspective on life in the United States through his cryptic photographs. Santiago is a graduate student from Colombia attending the University of Texas.

Saluto Romano by Czech artist Martin Zet is a series of photographs portraying himself as an object within various environments. This is his ongoing attempt to find freedom and his true identity in a post-communist world.

Houston artist Ed Wilson’s steel sculptures are based on photographs that he took of concentration camps in Germany. They convey moral outrage at the same time as they represent his powerful sculptural identity. His photographs will be exhibited along with his sculptures.

The Station Museum is also presenting a group of mystical paintings by Elliot Wolfson who, in addition to being an artist, is one of the world’s most important authorities on the Kabbalah, understood as esoteric teachings concerning about mysticism and nature of the universe.

These exhibitions will be on view: March 13, 2010 – May 30, 2010

The Station Museum is located in Midtown on the corner of Alabama and La Branch. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call: 713.529.6900

Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald (photo by Bob Jackson)

A Photographers Story: Bob Jackson and the Kennedy Assassination
The Sixth Floor Museum
Through October 17, 2010

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza has extended its popular seventh floor exhibit, A Photographer’s Story: Bob Jackson and the Kennedy Assassination, through Sunday, October 17, 2010. Featuring photographs, artifacts and historic footage, A Photographer’s Story provides Jackson’s personal and professional chronology of three chaotic days in November of 1963—from President John F. Kennedy’s arrival at Dallas Love Field to accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald’s murder. The exhibit also tells the larger story of Jackson’s decades-spanning career, including his images of Jack Ruby’s murder trial, school desegregation and Beatlemania.

In 1964, Jackson was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his iconic image of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald in the basement of Dallas police headquarters; it was the first such prize awarded to a Dallas newspaper—The Dallas Times Herald.

A Photographer’s Story also features artifacts related to 1960s journalism, interactive stations devoted to “thinking like a 1960s newspaper photographer,” and film and video footage of Jackson taken November 22-24, 1963. The exhibit is presented with the support of American Airlines and is included in regular museum admission.

About the Museum

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets and supports the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history. Located at 411 Elm Street in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas, the Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and 12 to 6 p.m. Monday. Audio guides for the permanent exhibit are available in seven languages and a youth version is available in English.

For more information, visit www.jfk.org or call 214-747-6660.

Bob Jackson

Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald (photo by Bob Jackson)

Activities for Saturday, March 27 include:

Construct ~ create wearable art

Design ~ draft a map

Model~ make art with found objects

Play~ perform in a stop motion “film”

Dallas Contemporary presents art in a forum that cultivates artists, ignites learning, and inspires the community. Dallas Contemporary proud partners with Target to present Fall Art Thinkers’ Day.

Visit us at www.dallascontemporary.org for more information.

When: Thursday, March 18, 2010 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Where: Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St.
What: THIRD THURSDAY at AMoA in partnership with STARBUCKS COFFEE CO.

Ongoing:
Music: Katy Ely
Children/Adult Art Activity: Wire Sculptures!
Complimentary Starbucks Coffee and Refreshments

Current Exhibitions:
AMoA Achievements in Art 2010: An Uncommon Dream -The Amarillo High School Collection
Pantheon of Gods, Deities and Guardians of Asia
Afghanistan Textiles
Price Collection of Asian Art

More on the music: AMoA is pleased to present a concert by Amarillo musician Katie Ely. Born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas, Katy studied voice and received her Bachelor’s of Music from West Texas A&M. Ms. Ely’s musical style is influenced by her southern roots, love of jazz and classical training. Her influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Cecilia Bartoli, Rene Fleming and many more musical greats from various genres. Katy’s first album, Me & the Wind, was released February 20, 2010.

More on the art activity: Wire Sculptures! Using multi-colored, soft, pliable, wires create your own 3D masterpiece. AMoA has a large variety of sculpture, from Abstract to Hindu, so explore our galleries for inspiration then join us in the art lab to create your own work of art.

General Information: THIRD THURSDAY is FREE and open to the public. No reservations are required. It is a great opportunity to view the current exhibitions and participate in the offered activities. The Amarillo Museum of Art invites everyone in the community to enjoy this event.

The Amarillo Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with extended evening hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Saturday and Sunday the Museum is open from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. except for exhibition installation weeks. It is located at 2200 S. Van Buren on the northeast side of Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus. There is no admission fee. Call the Museum at 371-5050 for more information or visit www.amarilloart.org.

The Crow Collection of Asian Art has kicked off a brand, spankin’ new monthly program and I love it! Last Thursday evening the indoor courtyard of Gallery III transformed into the Silk Road Lounge, complete with dim mood lighting, silk covered café tables and hypnotic world music spun by DJ Woodtronic.

A prominent feature of Gallery III is a large 18th century Mughal period façade which, on this evening, provided a fabulous background to a percussion ensemble out of Houston. Before The Space City Gamelan musicians took to the stage, their collection of instruments was arranged before the Mughal wall like a gorgeous new installation piece. The hanging gongs, metallophones, and pitched kettle gongs, set in beautifully ornate white wood frames accented with gold, were artistically lit to enhance the intriguing ambience in the Lounge.

The performance began with two of the percussionists before us, striking alluringly resonate beats with the hanging gongs and hand drums while the rest of the musicians completed a processional around the perimeter of the gallery playing what I believe to be bamboo shakers called angklungs.

The gamelan is a native Indonesian art form that predates the Hindu-Buddhist culture and is by far the most famous form of music from this country. The word gamelan literally means “to hammer” which explains the predominance of percussion instruments in a traditional gamelan orchestra. The central melody is played on metallophones set up front in the ensemble, with gong players accenting the music in the rear. I was so truly entranced by the melodic “Indonesian exotica” and “psychotropic jungle lullabies” provided by Space City Gamelan that, while I realize a gamelan is a set of instruments built and tuned to stay together, I’m seriously considering having my very own pitched kettle gong rack at home.

I always meet interesting people at Crow events without ever having to initiate a conversation and this event was no different! With the debut of the Silk Road Lounge, the Crow Collection did a great job of setting the atmosphere for easy mingling and drew in an audience that was both racially and socially diverse.

This free monthly series continues every first Thursday through December and promises to showcase unique music from Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond! In addition to the music in the Silk Road Lounge, you can also enjoy tours, complimentary wine and beer tastings.

Next up is the Alash Ensemble on April 1, 2010. This quartet of singers from Tuva, a tiny republic in the heart of Central Asia, has mastered the remarkable technique of “throat singing” (the art of singing multiple pitches at the same time) and is inspired by the great musicians of Central Asia but also names Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix as influences!

Silk Road Lounge is free. No reservations are required. Join a tour of the collections at 6:30 p.m. Main stage act begins at 7:00 p.m.

Tempest by Corey Godfrey

Soft at Heart
The Magnolia
Through April 7, 2010

Local artist Corey Godfrey’s opening of her series Soft at Heart at The Magnolia this past Thursday, March 4, found me delighting in childhood memories of crafting with glue and found objects. She utilizes soft material (yarn) mixed with acrylic paint in creating beautiful visuals of women.

The soft material used gives Godfrey’s work the feel of ‘woman’ in vibrantly supple imagery. She was inspired in college by Macaroni Porn and began creating erotic works of women using yarn. Godfreyhas added acrylic paint in her current series and I feel it provides more interest. She is an artist inspired by erotic photos of women and in her recent work incorporated high fashion. Her piece Tempest is a great example of this effort.

I was struck by the innocence of her current works and how it found me remembering the magic I felt in grade school playing with crafts and paper and glue. She uses glue and yarn and paint in her current works and channels her inner child with unique style and presentation. The colors are vibrant and the work draws you in searching your own imagination. Soft at Heart is on display upstairs in the gallery at the Magnolia Theatre in the West Village through April 7, 2010.

Admission is free and art is available for purchase.

The Magnolia is located in the West Village at 3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas.

Tempest by Corey Godfrey

Within seven weeks of President John F. Kennedy’s death in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy received nearly one million condolence letters. Two years later, the volume of messages would nearly double. Written on elegant stationery, scraps of paper, in black ink or in pencil smudged by tears, the correspondence would remain essentially untouched for the next forty-six years.

Now, noted historian and News Hour with Jim Lehrer commentator Ellen Fitzpatrick has selected approximately 250 of these letters for inclusion in Letters to Jackie, a remarkable human record that preserves the grief of a nation following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This is the first book ever to examine the collection of letters, providing a fascinating perspective on what is arguably the most devastating event in twentieth century America.

Author Ellen Fitzpatrick will be at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza for a free presentation and book signing event on March 11, 2010. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public. For reservations, call 214-747-6660 x 6623 or email programs@ jfk.org.

Letters to Jackie hits newsstands in early March and will be on sale for $26.99 plus tax during the event. To pre-order a copy, guests can email orders@jfk.org or call Kim Cline at 214-747-6660 ext. 6683.

About the Author

Ellen Fitzpatrick is a professor and scholar specializing in modern American political and intellectual history. She is the author and editor of six books and has appeared regularly on PBS’s The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. She has been interviewed as an expert on modern American political history by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, CBS’s Face the Nation, and National Public Radio. Fitzpatrick lives in Newton, Massachusetts.

The Sixth Floor Museum

Mission: Chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets and supports the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history. For more information, visit www.jfk.org or call 214-747-6660.

Location: 411 Elm Street Dallas, TX 75202

Hours: Monday Noon-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm.

Offers: Audio guides for the permanent exhibit are available in seven languages, including a youth version in English.