This year's Dallas Art Fair wrapped up on Sunday, and I was lucky to be able to go twice. There's so much going on and so much to see that two trips really did help to take it all in.
Here were our favorite pieces from the weekend, in no particular order:
"Handlers", by Jonas Burgert. Blain | Southern. I mentioned this piece in the Part 1 recap, and keep coming back to it in my mind. I just love it. The best creators are able to build worlds, and Burgert is no exception. I wonder where these figures might live, and what the "Handlers" are handling.
"The Family: Letitia," by Sedrick Huckaby. Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden. This piece by Fort Worth artist Sedrick Huckaby is one that celebrates the artist's family and friends. On his Web site, Huckaby writes, "I hope these paintings not only celebrate the sitter’s facial features but also send the message that ordinary people, who may not be great in society’s eyes, should be of paramount importance to us."
This reverence of both art and family comes through in Huckaby's phenomenal large-scale portrait of "Leticia." We immediately felt a connection. Message received, Mr. Huckaby.
"A Great Piece of Turf," by Mark Dennis. Cris Worley Fine Arts. This is such a vibrant piece, and on closer look, there is an interesting juxtaposition between the flowers and insects. Instead of an artfully arranged tableau as one would expect to see in a still life, this reminds us of a living garden, complete with the natural bugs and caterpillars that will ultimately contribute to its demise.
"Mountsanto," by Scott Greene. Turner Carroll Gallery. This absurd piece has a point that's hard to miss, and is a scathing criticism of "corporations like Monsanto's" influence on farmers. At first glance, Greene's artistic abilities and choices of color and composition have created something very beautiful. As we are drawn in, we also recoil at so much natural beauty piled up like so much trash.
"To Hold a String," by Liliana Porter. Carrie Secrist Gallery. These tiny figurines were so intriguing, and it helped that the gallery staff took time to educate us about Porter and other exhibited artists. This piece is part of a series of surrealist sculptures that were placed in interesting arrangements. The composition, use of white space and placement give deeper meaning to simple objects.
Collages by Dorothy Hood. McClain Gallery. These Dorothy Hood collages are another early favorite that kept its place over the course of the weekend. They're so simple, but very memorable. Hood was a modernist artist, and one of the first abstract surrealists. These collages are formed from materials including wrapping paper, magazines and stationery among other decorative papers, and were influenced by space and dimensions.
All in all, it was a great experience, and one that I can't wait to repeat next year.