And last but not least, the Squirrel God, Baal. (photos courtesy of Karen Almond)
I wasn’t able to make it to today’s preview of the Dallas Museum of Art’s exciting new exhibition “Performance/Art” featuring the work of half a dozen artists who have used forms and ideas taken from opera and the theater as starting points for “an exciting array of paintings, sculpture, films and installations.” Actually, I saw some of this in the planning stages and it was absolutely captivating!
As we prepare for the opening of AT&T Performing Arts Center and OTELLO, the Dallas Opera’s inaugural production in the Winspear Opera House, this is well worth a look. Not only does the exhibit focus on Frances Bagley and Tom Orr’s groundbreaking work in set and costume design for our 2006 production of NABUCCO (see the photos above); it spotlights British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare’s film UN BALLO IN MASCHERA; David Altmejd’s incredible sculpture, “The Eye,” created in conjunction with the recent Metropolitan Opera production of DOCTOR ATOMIC; and thought-provoking paintings and drawings by Argentinian artist Guillermo Kuitca, who designed the curtain for the new opera house – his first for a performing arts venue.
Speaking of which, you can pick up a good deal of info about the fascinating Mr. Kuitca and the commission that would have kept him up nights if he wasn’t already an insomniac, at the New York Times.
But back to the original topic: Don’t miss the DMA’s tremendous celebratory exhibit, “Performance/Art,” October 8th through March 21, 2010. It will, no doubt, open your eyes and enhance your experience of the great art, architecture and performances that will dominate Dallas throughout the coming season.
Suzanne Calvin, Assoc. Dir. of Marketing, The Dallas Opera