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HAPPENINGS

By Debbie AndersonJune 29, 2021July 2nd, 2021No Comments

Happenings

ART

Buddha, India (probably Bihar), Gupta period, late 6th century, copper alloy. Photography by Synthescape, courtesy of Asia Society and American Federation of Arts

Buddha, Shiva, Lotus, Dragon: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection at Asia Society

Kimbell Art Museum 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-332-8451, kimbellart.org

Originally scheduled to open in the fall of 2021 at the Kimbell, this special exhibition moved to a summer date, which we think is the perfect time to enjoy this serene showcase of ceramics, bronzes and metalwork. The70 pieces in this traveling show are considered to be some of the finest examples of Asian art in the U.S. and are part of the permanent collection at the Asia Society Museum in New York City. The exhibition looks at the collecting practices of John D. Rockefeller and his wife, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller, who amassed the bronzes, ceramics and metalwork over a 30-year span starting in the 1940s. (The timeline of the artwork covers 2,000 years plus some.) The show also emphasizes beauty, tradition and an “awareness of the faiths” each object represents. Check the website for admission and hours; there are no timed tickets. Admission is half-price all day on Tuesdays and after 5 p.m. on Fridays. Through Sept. 5

Sam F

Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., 214-922-1200, dma.org

The DMA’s new work — and its first — by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat will be available for viewing this month thanks to a “landmark gift” to the museum. Basquiat visited Dallas in 1985 and stayed with a local family for several weeks. He painted Sam F in oil on a door of the Dallas apartment he was staying in. The piece made its debut at the DMA five years after Basquiat’s death in 1988 and now will be on view on the main concourse until February 2022.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sam F, 1985, oil on door, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Samuel N. and Helga A. Feldman, © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Photo courtesy of the DMA

STAGE

Spark Fest

Amphibian Stage 120 S. Main St., Fort Worth, amphibianstage.com

The Phibs return to the theater in a big way with a unique event that brings together performers, writers and artistic directors from around the nation (group hug, everyone) for staged readings of new plays, workshops, contests and more. The goal is to help you find your own creative spark as well as enjoy the talents of others. Check out plays in progress including naked, by Jay Duffer, Amphibian’s managing director, and The Amazing, Fabulous, and Spectacular Untruths of Don Juan Garcia, translated and adapted by Kathleen Culebro, founder of Amphibian Stage. Workshops include puppetry, where you’ll learn the nuances of this particular art form including how to work with different kinds of puppets. Or learn how to be funny and create comedic characters, perfect for you TikTokers. Want to see what goes into casting a stage production? Or learn more about doodling? SparkFest is free to members; tickets available to all other events. Go to the website to learn more. July 13-31

CELEBRATIONS

The Carter turns 60

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

Celebrate the museum’s birthday Sept. 25 with art, music, food trucks, beer and wine on the lawn and more. Featured artist is the Americana musician Shakey Graves, who is based in Austin. DJ Ronnie Heart of Fort Worth also will perform. The event is free, but tickets will be required and are open to the public July 1. Check out all the details on the website.

EXHIBITS

#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit

NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, northparkcenter.com/events

We weren’t too surprised, sadly, to learn that less than 30 percent of the workforce in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is female. But we were stunned to learn that, according to a study done in 2016, there are very few public statues of women in major U.S. cities. The organizers of “If/Then” wondered: Could there be a correlation? Because, they thought, if she can see it, then she can be it. We are impressed — and your kids will be, too — by the striking exhibit that resulted from such musing. “If/Then” features more than 120 statues of women, each of whom is a STEM innovator. These ambassadors for the American Association for the Advancement of Science traveled to Dallas for individual full-body scans at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science to create life-size likenesses made of acrylic gel using a 3D printer. The exhibit features interactive elements, too, including audio and video of each woman and QR codes linking to more information about their careers. From space flight engineers and shark researchers to roboticists, ocean explorers and game developers, the paths each woman pursued are as varied as their ages and backgrounds. Before you go, visit ifthenexhibit.org to print out a scavenger hunt. Walk among the statues at CenterPark Garden, between entrances to Macy’s and Nordstrom, and see all 14 of the Texans represented inside on level one of NorthPark, near Zara. Through Oct. 24

Real-life role models have been transformed into statues in hopes of inspiring young women to pursue STEM careers. Photos by James Edward Photography