Dallas, otherwise known as Big D, has earned a reputation for a brash attitude, luxury shopping and glitzy wealth. Ft. Worth, which is located just 30 miles west, is often thought of as the cultural capital of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. But with the completion of the Dallas Arts District, which encompasses both the visual and performing arts, and the Dallas Design District, art is becoming more a part of Dallas’ image.
Dallas Museums, Galleries and Art Walks
Dallas’ thriving new arts district is home to three world-class museums, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Collection of Asian Art. Their position across the street from each other makes it easy for visitors to see the different collections. The DMA is known for its ancient arts; European and American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; and contemporary pieces. The Nasher highlights modern sculpture indoors and outside in its beautiful garden. The Crow Collection is dedicated to Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Southeast Asian arts.
The Meadows Museum, a small space on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU), like the Nasher and Crow, was born from a private family collection. While lesser known than the DMA or Nasher, the Meadows is significant. It houses one of the largest collections of Spanish art outside the Prado in Madrid. According to Nancy Cohen Israel, an art consultant and lecturer in Dallas, the museum recently inked a three-year partnership with the Prado for loans as well as interdisciplinary research. “It is quite a coup for Dallas,” says Israel.
Beyond museums, the city is home to more than 30 contemporary art galleries. According to Israel, Texas has the second highest concentration of artists in the United States and Dallas’ galleries often feature their work. To understand the quality of the art, every two years some of these artists are represented in the Whitney Biennial in New York, and at other national and international art fairs. Dallas hosts it’s own fair called the Dallas Art Fair, which attracts galleries and collectors from around the world.
In addition to museums and gallery tours, visitors can get a flavor of the Dallas art scene during art walks. The White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour gives the public an opportunity to see the environment where art is created, see works in progress, and learn about the ideas that motivate artists. There are also tours in the Cedars neighborhood south of downtown as well as in North Dallas.
Dallas Art Milestones
Dallas’ vibrant art community has recently celebrated several major milestones. 2010 marked the 25th anniversary of the Dallas Art Dealers Association (DADA), a group of predominantly contemporary art galleries, many of which have been around since the mid-1980s.