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HAPPENINGS

By Debbie AndersonMay 25, 2021July 2nd, 2021No Comments

Happenings

ART

Chelsea Wall #1, 1999. Image courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2020

Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., 817-738-9215, themodern.org

The Irish-born American artist has been making art for nearly five decades, and this retrospective at the Modern puts the spotlight on his drawings, prints, paintings and pastels — 91 pieces total; most have never been shown together. Exhibiting them in one place allows the viewer to see Scully’s evolution as an artist, repeating familiar motifs, yet using them in a fresh approach. The exhibition is organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and will travel there after it closes in Fort Worth. June 20-Oct. 10

For a Dreamer of Houses

Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., 214-922-1803, dma.org

This much-talked-about exhibit opened just as the pandemic closed down the DMA and every other museum. You can still enjoy the immersive virtual tour of the exhibit, but you have a little more than a month to see it in person. We suggest doing both. The show looks at the psychological importance of the spaces we live in and how they represent everything from our values to our desires. More than 50 works from the DMA’s collection are highlighted in each section of the exhibit, which ranges from Alex Da Corte’s neon frame house (two people at a time allowed inside, and there’s also a video component) to Dallas-based artist Misty Keasler’s photograph of a quarantine room in a Romanian orphanage. Tickets required. Through July 4

Misty Keasler, Green Room (Quarenteen) Leagnul di Copii, Tigru Mures, Romania, 2004, C-print on Kodak Supra Endura
Photo courtesy of the DMA

Barbara Crane (1928-2019), NS-015-1969, 1969, gelatin silver print
Photos courtesy of the Carter

Photography Is Art

Amon Carter Museum of American Art, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 817-738-1933, cartermuseum.org

Pulling from its own stellar archives, the Carter’s current exhibition looks at how photographers push their medium to claim the right to be called artists. Items on exhibit include documentary-style work, portraiture and still lifes. Photographers include Richard Avedon, Barbara Crane, Gordon Parks and Alfred Stieglitz. Through Aug. 8

MUSICALS

Theater fans who like a song with their stories are singing a happy tune over the upcoming seasons of Broadway at the Bass and Dallas Summer Musicals. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s six-show schedule, which kicks off Oct. 19, features Come From Away, Cats, Dear Evan Hansen, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar and Mean Girls. The deadline for subscription renewals is June 21; season tickets go on sale July 15. basshall.com/batb While Broadway isn’t raising the curtain until mid-September, DSM opens its season Aug. 3 with Wicked, which is an optional buy-in to its six-show subscription package. The lineup includes Jersey Boys, Hadestown, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mean Girls, Oklahoma! and Disney’s Frozen, with Rent and Hamilton also season options. Go to dallassummermusicals.org for information.

Wicked returns to Dallas Summer Musicals.
Photo by Joan Marcus

EXHIBITIONS

Photo by Laura Wilson

Twelve Mighty Orphans — Behind the Scenes: Laura Wilson

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, 1720 Gendy St., Fort Worth, cowgirl.net

Filmed in Fort Worth in 2019 with big names such as Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen and Luke Wilson (plus a host of local extras), 12 Mighty Orphans opens June 11 throughout Texas. (Those who live in the area will recognize familiar Fort Worth landmarks.) The Sony Pictures Classics film tells the true story of the Mighty Mites, a Depression-era Fort Worth football team, and their surprising journey to the state championship as led by a high school coach who himself was an orphan. The Cowgirl, along with the Fort Worth Film Commission, hosts an exhibit featuring props from the movie and photography by Laura Wilson, Cowgirl Hall of Fame honoree and mother of Luke, who plays the role of the coach. June 8-Aug. 8

ATTRACTIONS

Texas Bee Oasis

Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, 817-463-4160, brit.org

What do you call a collection of tiny hand-colored porcelain funnels stationed in a garden, ready to collect a few droplets of rain or spray from a sprinkler? An “Oasis” is what Dallas-based artist Jen Rose calls the groupings of the wee Bee Cups that she creates and then arranges. Blossomlike in appearance, they are intended to serve a sip to thirsty pollinators. Rose’s installation in the Fuller Garden is made up of more than 2,000 Bee Cups. Purchase your own at the Botanic Garden’s Trellis Shop and BRIT gift store. Through Nov. 28

Bee Cups quench the thirst of hardworking pollinators — and delight the eye of visitors. An “Oasis” installation creates a buzz at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Photo courtesy of Jen Rose

CONCERTS

With social distancing restrictions being lifted, local music venues have started to come back to life. National touring acts, too, have rescheduled dates across the country.

George Strait The still-reigning king of country will close out the 90th Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with a full-length concert March 20, 2022. Strait has performed at the Houston rodeo, which boasts a robust concert series, for 30 years. The full-length concert will take place at NRG Stadium; concert-only tickets (limit is four per person), rodeohouston.com. Tickets go on sale June 24.

Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, 817-402-9000, dickiesarena.com

Speaking of big-name acts back on tour, Blake Shelton just announced a September date at the Fort Worth venue for his Friends and Heroes tour with Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd and Trace Adkins. And the Steely Dan/Steve Winwood tour that was canceled in June 2020 and June 2021 is slated for June 2022. Tickets on sale now; see full schedule on the website.

  • Rod Stewart Aug. 20
  • Michael Bublé Sept. 21
  • Daryl Hall and John Oates Sept. 28
  • James Taylor Oct. 19