Art for art’s sake
By Kevin Cummings
Staff writer, Star Local Media
I don’t know much about modern and contemporary art. I can tell you that Monet and Manet are two different people, but that’s about where I draw the line.
I’ve been to the DMA, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Trammell Crow in Dallas, but when my girlfriend, Jasmine, told me we were going to a gallery opening at the Dallas Contemporary in the Design District last Saturday night, I wasn’t aware that there even was a contemporary art museum, much less a whole downtown district dedicated to that kind of thing. Located at 161 Glass St, the Dallas Contemporary has been open and free since 1978, so I guess I’ve been out of the loop. Not wanting to look unhip, I dressed up in all black because I figured that’s what all the trendy artist-types do, and we headed out.
After arguing about directions for the entire drive, we finally pulled up in front of what looked more like an old shipping warehouse than a contemporary exhibition space. The loud music, valet parking and large crowd of fashionably dressed people suggested otherwise, though. The inside opened up into a large, industrial-looking space with various artist’s work occupying the walls.
There were five exhibitions going on that night. One called “Inside Out” by an artist called JR; another called “LES MISéRABLES;” a design exhibit called “Lavish;” an artist named Arthur Peña; and another called “Inside My Head” by Paula Crown. We made our way around the exhibit space, as I stroked my beard and pretending to be artsy, staring at different works and hoping that no one knew that I had no idea what I was looking at.
Even though I was mostly concerned with the free food, one of the exhibits stood out. JR’s “Inside Out,” which is an ongoing project in which the artist has traveled the world taking portraits that give a glimpse into who the people of different cultures are and what they stand for. The photos - which were being taken on site - were pasted onto the walls and floor, showing the diversity of Dallas and its residents. Knowing that more than 10,000 portraits have been taken in 108 countries gave one the sense that we are all different, yet at the same time, part of one large family.
While I still may not “get” contemporary art, I will definitely keep the Dallas Contemporary on my list of things to stay updated on. After all, it is free.