I was on my way to work this morning and noticed the Dallas Museum of Art setting up their outdoor stage. Ah, it’s that special time: Jazz Under the Stars, a series of outdoor, weekly jazz concerts that take place at the DMA each summer. The great thing about it is that it’s free. That means it’s time to bring your wine, beer, cheese, cake, Jell-O, or whatever you’re into and enjoy some nice jazz under the summer night sky. It brings back fond memories of the last time I attended and watched a couple get drunk and get their groove on between people’s picnic areas.

Also, if you’re familiar with DMA’s Late Night events, you know how cool they are: free coffee, tours, movies, etc. Tomorrow’s Late Night starts at 6 p.m., but doesn’t just end at midnight. They’ll be open around the clock until 5 p.m. Saturday. This means I could show up at 4 a.m. Saturday to renew my membership. …could.

Well, go and have a good time.

Categories: Art Events, Blog, Music — Tags: Dallas Museum of Art, Jazz Under the Stars — Valerie @ 1:07 am Comments (0)

Just the other day, I was sitting in the doctor’s office reading the April/May issue of Ready Made — the bible for any DIY project. The article “Texas Two-Step” featured an East Dallas couple, Jeff Barfoot and Shay Ometz, who operate the screen printing studio Bee Things. This is great if you’ve been looking for ways to screen print at home on a budget (costing around $320). You can download the entire 9-page PDF of detailed instructions from their online article. Very cool and a good resource.

Categories: Blog, DIY, Local Artists — Tags: Bee Things, Ready Made — Valerie @ 9:25 pm Comments (3)

Yours truly is watching Art & Copy. I just started the documentary last night and fell asleep — not because of the movie. On the contrary, the movie is pretty interesting. If you’re into graphics and visual communications, this might be a good pick for you.

It’s about how advertisers combined art and copy (hence, the name) and it was just… matrimony. It goes on further to explore the huge world of advertising, a.k.a. The Dark Side, and its revenue, and expected gazillion dollar growth within the next couple of decades. Don’t quote me on that. Just watch the movie. You’ll see what I’m talking about. I’ll let you know how it goes after I finish the movie. I could be way off on what this doc is actually about… so I guess you’ll just have to wait and see. As will I.

UPDATE: Oh, I finished Art & Copy and it was gooooood. It started off a little slow but picked up. The documentary showed the meat of the advertising world and how far creativity + self-investment + balls of steel can get you — mainly balls of steel.

Categories: Blog, Film — Tags: Art & Copy — Valerie @ 9:56 pm Comments (3)

I missed it this weekend. It would’ve been a great Mother’s Day thing to do, you know, if your Mom’s into that kind of thing.  Anyways, if you went, I’m curious to hear about it. Let me know.

The reason I missed it: I was in Little Rock (beautifully pictured on the left) attending a show by Romallice, a band whom David plays bass for. They played at Cajun’s Wharf , a very cool place right off of the river. Most of the place was a wooden patio. Little Rock actually reminds me of a blend between the West End and Bishop Arts District, but with a river. … I took three whole photos with my phone while I was there. See them under “Gallery.”

Since I was but, I missed a couple of things — the CityArts Festival, for one. I also missed a gallery walk on Dragon Street, as well as some openings in Oak Cliff. But I still have time make up for them. If you’re in the same boat I’m in, you can still catch some of the art. Some of the things I plan on visiting:

• ‘World of Wonders’ – Jimmy and Dena Katz’s photography of the last classic traveling Side Show in America @ Photographs Do Not Bend
• ‘Malice in McDonaldland’ – new works by Joey Seeman @ The Soda Gallery
• work of Gisela-Heidi Strunck and Jürgen Strunck @ Haley-Henman Gallery (I learned about the couple from the latest issue of A+C)

If you’re looking for something (besides the above) to do this weekend, the 9th Annual 24-Hour Video Race will commence at the Angelika Film Center in Mockingbird Station @ 11:50 p.m. Friday. Teams have 24 hours to create a short film. These videos will be screened May 18-20 at the theater.

Alright, kids. Take care.

Categories: Art Events, Blog, Dragon Street, Inspiration, Local Artists, Local Galleries, Oak Cliff, Photography — Tags: Angelika, arkansas, crandall, david, Dena Katz, Gisela-Heidi Strunk, Jimmy Katz, Joey Seeman, Jurgen Strunck, little rock, Romallice, Video Race — Valerie @ 10:54 pm Comments (0)

I haven’t blogged in a week. My excuse (but not really an excuse at all): I’ve been really, really tired. I posted some photos of the White Rock Local Market that attended over a week ago.

It was my first time. And don’t get me wrong; The White Rock Local Market happens multiple times a month at Green Spot Market. My friend and I biked there one day for practice to get a feel for it. You know, just in case we’d feel like biking to the market sometime. We learned the hard, painful lesson of the huge uphill back home (between Northcliff Drive and Garland Road). There’s a chance  I might be going back this Saturday if I can wake up early enough. Anyways, I bought some delish, buttery lemon cookies from Wackym’s Kitchen. Can’t wait to buy her cornmeal cookies next time I go — tried them and they were amazing. The description on the site says that there’s supposed to be art, although I didn’t see any this past weekend. Well, I plan on revisiting and I’ll keep you guys updated.

Oh yeah, let me know if there are any upcoming events worth checking out. Until next time…

Categories: Blog, White Rock — Tags: Green Spot, local market, Wackym's, White Rock — Valerie @ 11:31 pm Comments (3)