Sole Sisters

Sole Sisters: Shoe Confessional
Dallas Museum of Art
Jan. 20 and Feb. 11-12, 2012

This Friday, January 20, 2012, the Shoe Confessional will debut at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). Filmmaker Cynthia Salzman Mondell, Media Projects Inc., will be collecting women’s stories about their shoes for her film Sole Sisters. The Shoe Confessional will be part of the DMA’s Late Nights. Additional Shoe Confessional dates at the DMA will be February 11 and 12, 2012.

Mrs. Salzman Mondell took a few minutes to answer our questions about the Shoe Confessional.

What should someone expect when they get to the DMA? Is there actually a Shoe Confessional?

We built a full size confessional equipped with two cameras and a monitor so people could see their shoes. We have some questions for women (and men, but mostly women) but they can tell any shoe story they want to divulge in the privacy of the confessional.

We are really, really excited about the confessional. It was designed by Jen Malden. The building was led by Arnuflo Chavez. We had a lot of community help from artists and designers, who donated their time and materials. The confessional is a real community project.

You mentioned two cameras with one focused on the person’s shoes. Are you encouraging people to wear the shoes they will be confessing?

Yes, they can. We will have questions about a person’s favorite shoes but we want to go a little deeper.

Every woman has shoes in her closet that she does not wear, but she will never get rid of them because those shoes hold something very intimate and special for that woman. Shoes are like memories. We want to find out what stories those shoes hold.

Where at the DMA will the Shoe Confessional be located?

The confessional will be near the contemporary exhibits, which is the south end of the building. You will not be able to miss the confessional. There will be a huge sign with a really big stiletto heel with Sole Sisters on it. There will be a team of volunteers at the DMA to direct people.

Are you expecting a lot of people?

Oh, I hope so.

What will be the end result of the shoe confessions?

We hope some of it will be in the film. We are working with David Friedman from Wave Maker Audio to make sure the sound is going to be good. So we can possibly use the audio in the film. If not, we might be able to use the stories in some other way.

What kind of stories are you expecting?

We have gotten a lot of different stories about all kinds of shoes.

One story that really touched me was about a woman at the Senior Source. The woman talked to me about a special pair of peach colored shoes. I asked her why she keeps those shoes by her bedside. She said she wore those shoes every Thursday night when her husband would take her dancing. She said he passed away a year ago, but she keeps the shoes to remind her of him, and of the time she was the happiest.

Shoes evoke a lot of emotion and a lot of memories. It’s an accessory that has a very strong identity for women.

Every shoe has a story. Every woman has both.

Related Posts & Links

Watch for the debut of the Shoe Confessional at the Dallas Museum of Art – December 20, 2011

Medial Projects, Inc.

Sole Sister

This year, the Plano Art Association is excited to have artist Ryder Richards and Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden’s Director Laura Green as jurors. They will select works for the exhibit, and choose the recipients of our Grand Prize of $1000, as well as first, second and third place cash awards in each category.

Aiming to showcase and reward the best art from Plano and the Metroplex area, the show is non-thematic and welcomes submissions from all areas of art, whether in cutting-edge contemporary or traditional disciplines, in three categories: Two-Dimensional, Three-Dimensional and Print & Photography.

This is the Seventh consecutive year for this exhibition, and the art selected for the 2011 show can be viewed on the PAA’s website (jurors Michael O’Keefe and Enrique Cervantes): In 2011, the show featured over 70 works, and the selected works can be viewed on the PAA’s website: http://www.planoartassociation.com/art-news/sixth-annual …

The Plano Art Association is excited to be able to provide a platform for all level of artist, whether student, amateur or professional, to take part in a high-quality show in a modern gallery setting. We would like to thank Professor Betty Siber, of Collin County College Art Department) for her continuing help in hosting and planning this show.

The show’s submission deadline is February 12th; the show runs from March 8th until April 4th, with an Opening Reception on on Wednesday March 21st, from 5 until 8 p.m.

About the 2012 Juror

Laura Green

Laura Green is the Director of Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden, in Dallas, where she has worked since 1997.  She received her Bachelors with a double major in Art History and Music from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.  She has been active with the Junior Associates Circle of the Dallas Museum of Art for over 10 years, having served as Co-Chair and currently serves on their Advisory Committee.  She also serves on the Avant-Garde Society Executive Committee at the Nasher Sculpture Center.  She is a graduate of the Leadership Arts Institute of the Business Council for the Arts, and currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Leadership Arts Alumni Association.  She also serves as a Steering Committee member of the Marquee Circle of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and is on the Advisory Committee for Art This Week.  Her volunteer work includes the Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas, Dallas Art Dealers Association, Highland Park United Methodist Church, and the Junior League of Dallas.

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden was founded in 1954 by Margaret and Donald Vogel.  The gallery represents established and emerging contemporary artists working in inventive ways with traditional media.  Along with Gallery Director Laura Green, Cheryl and Kevin Vogel continue to build on the tradition forged by his parents.

Ryder Richards

Ryder Richards, born in September of 1977, grew up in Roswell, New Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Texas Tech University with a minor in drawing and architecture. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting on a scholarship from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Ryder has studied art in Italy, Spain, and Germany during his European travels.

Richards is currently an Instructor and the Gallery Coordinator for Richland College in Dallas, Texas. He is co- founder of the Ryder Jon Piotrs Nomadic Gallery, a traveling art gallery in the form of a Ryder truck, and Culture Laboratory, a collective of 12 American artists interested in the exchange of ideas and the social development of art in the 21st century.

Known for his much artistic collaboration, Richards continues to explore art as social experience. He is the recipient of several scholarships and awards for his achievements in art, including residencies at Vermont Studio Center, Vermont; Hilmsen, Germany; Paducah, Kentucky and Portales, New Mexico.

For more information, contact Alison Jardine at alison@alisonjardine.com.

The Plano Art Association was formed in 1969, and is funded by both our members and by a grant from the City of Plano. We are entirely run by art-loving volunteers who donate their time, and as an organization we are committed to creating opportunities for artists to show their work and to grow, as well as offering a diverse calendar of art events in Plano for our art-loving community.

Now in its 44^th year, the Cottonwood Art Festival is the fifth best art festival in the United States and is the premier fine arts event in North Texas. The twice-a-year event generates more than $2 million in art sales annually. The festival is set for 10 AM – 8 PM Saturday and 10 AM -5 PM Sunday, May 5-6, 2012, at Richardson’s Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Beltline Rd. Admission is free. Full details are available at www.cottonwoodartfestival.com.

The Cottonwood Art Festival is a juried show. Approximately 1,400 artists will submit work for the 2012 festivals. Jurors will select 240 artists to exhibit their museum-quality paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, fine glass, woodwork, mixed media and photography. All art must be for sale.

Artists who are interested in submitting art for consideration should apply through http://www.zapplication.org by January 13, 2012.  Notification will happen January 27, 2012. Booth fees will be due February 10, 2012.

For more information on Cottonwood Art Festival, go to their website www.cottonwoodartfestival.com or to their Facebook page. Whether shopping for art, listening to music, enjoying the outdoors, or making art of your own, Cottonwood has something for everyone. There’s an art to having fun!

Fall Cherry Tree by Autumn Whiltshire

By guest writer Autumn Whiltshire

Claiming to be “the new night out,” Lets Art Party offers a new take on an old theme. The interactive art studio, operated by Leacy and Buster of the well-known Dave & Buster’s, combines art instruction with a BYOB setting, and purports to be “the ultimate painting party.” Yet for this attendee, the Plano location’s December 1, 2011, two-hour, Fall Cherry Tree class was heavy on art, but light on party.

Upon arrival, my husband and I were relieved to see the night’s picture outlined on our canvases. Wineglasses, aprons, brushes and paint were provided and seats were pre-assigned— all nice touches.

The room was large and sectioned off into two classes by a heavy curtain. A large monitor hung above the instruction easel allowing students to watch the instructor’s strokes. The class was categorized as easy and overall it was, requiring minimum color blending and unspecific brush strokes to achieve the desired effects.  The instructor was confident and firm, but maybe too much so.

She explained the mixing of the colors and denoted the required motion of the strokes, but often forgot to mention the necessary color or brush.  She was instructive, but not very personable. Though, she did tell us a story about an individual who didn’t want to listen to her instructions for creating a country road and instead painted broken white dashes down the middle of his. Whether we should laugh or feel his shame remains a mystery. Her firm demeanor hinted that she didn’t appreciate his creative flare, nor would she appreciate the same from any of us.

Nevertheless, I trudged forward, lost in my own style and my husband compliantly followed directions.

The assistant instructor made her rounds commenting here and there. When she came to our paintings, she commented “that we know who the artist is in this family.”

My husband and I looked at each other, puzzled. Even now we aren’t sure which of us she was complimenting.

We both left with our own works of art that we are proud of. And yes, we had fun. Though to consider Lets Art Party, the “new night out” may be a stretch. The concept has potential, but the implementation could use some more, shall we say—creativity.

About Autumn Whiltshire

Autumn graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She currently works as a Research Analyst for a non-profit organization in Dallas. Autumn writes poetry, short stories and is currently working on her first novel. You can visit Autumn online at www.autumnwhiltshire.com.

Fall Cherry Tree by Ed LaskeyFall Cherry Tree by Autumn Whiltshire

Dallas Museum of Art Directory Bonnie Pitman in front of Jasper Johns painting (photo courtesy DMA)

The Dallas Museum of Art announced they will have a free weekend to celebrate the retirement of Bonnie Pitman, former Eugene McDermott Director. The free weekend will be on Saturday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, October 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to free admission, the Dallas Museum of Art will also honor Ms. Pitman with a full weekend of activities.

Bonnie Pitman was the Deputy Director from 2000-2007 and the Eugene McDermott Director from 2008-2011. Ms. Pitman decided to retire in May 2011 due to health reasons (see Dallas Museum of Art Director Bonnie Pitman to Step Down in May 2011).

Dallas Art News was fortunate enough to interview Ms. Pitman in May (see A Few Minutes with Outgoing Dallas Museum of Art Director Bonnie Pitman).

Admission for Sunday, October 2, was generously underwritten by patrons Nancy and Tim Hanley.

Also Free

On October 1, 2011, the Nasher Sculpture Center will be having their monthly Target First Saturdays. The Nasher has activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Crow Collection of Asian Art is always free. Both the Nasher and the Crow Collection are right next to the Dallas Museum of Art. This would be a great time to see all three museums for free.

Former DMA Director Bonnie Pitman and DMA Contemporary Art Curator Jeffrey Grove (photo by Mr. Holga)

Win a chocolate heel from Media Projects and Cocoandre

Do you love shoes? Do you love chocolate? How would you like to win a chocolate shoe? Media Projects, Inc. and Cocoandre have teamed up to make this dream come true.

Media Projects is currently working on a new film, Sole Sisters. The film will share stories about people and their shoes. If you have a great story about shoes, then Media Projects wants to hear form you.

Your story can be short or long, joyful or somber, sassy or classy, from flats to heels. All stories are welcome. Every shoe has a story. Every woman has both.

The stories will be considered for filming by Cynthia Salzman Mondell. Renowned chocolatier Cocoandre has donated an irresistible chocolate heel for the best story.

The contest ends March 31, 2011. Send your story to mail@mediaprojects.org. For more details visit www.solesistersfilm.com.

Distorted Memory by T.J. Griffin

Distorted Memory by T.J. Griffin
University of Texas at Dallas
June 25 through July 24, 2010

Opening reception on June 25, 2010, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

T.J. Griffin Distorted Memory Artwork on view at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) from June 25 through July 24, 2010. Mr. Griffin is showing new works in the UTD main gallery in Richardson, Texas. Painting ambiguous narratives, populated by human and animal figures, his artwork allows the viewers participation in creating the final story.

T.J. Griffin was a participant in the Dallas Contemporaries 2009 and 2010 Wish Auction. His artwork has also been recognized by the Dallas Museum of Art through the 2008 Awards to Artists from The Clare Hart DeGolyer Memorial Fund.

Mr. Griffin’s artwork has many influences such as artist Neo Rauch’s and Eric Fischl’s paintings of deranged societies and distorted narratives.

You can view his artwork online at www.tjgriffinart.com The University address is 800 West Campbell Road Richardson, Texas 75080. This link www.utdallas.edu/map is to the building on the UTD Campus.

Distorted Memory by T.J. Griffin

For the past 40 years, Cottonwood Art Festival has been a popular Texas attraction and one of our nation’s premier festivals. It draws over 240 local, regional, and national artists, as well as local and regional bands performing the best in rock, country, jazz, blues, swing, and folk.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit www.cottonwoodartfestival.com.