Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Make Space for Artists : Design a Studio

Join La Reunion TX Thursday, November 6 at 7PM as we launch a spin-off of Make Space for Art called (oddly enough) Make Space for Artists : Design a Studio at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Here's a couple of recent blog mentions about the upcoming program... One on Dallas Dirt written by Catherine Horsey. And one on the KERA Art&Seek blog written by me.

The whole thing wraps February 12 so if you can't make it Nov 6, no biggie. Swing by and play with Google Sketch Up anyway. Free workshops and lectures will coincide! Community partner Corgan Media Lab is producing an AMAZING video to go with the whole program. We'll get it online soon.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Volunteers rock!

I am getting settled in this afternoon from an absolutely terrific day. The weather was picture perfect and the mood was friendly. I want to give a hearty thanks to all the volunteers who showed up to help out. We made some good progress on the site clean up and the place looks great! And, I think, we had fun doing it as well. I honestly had trouble walking away but there will be other opportunities soon.

The folks at Preservation Tree were wonderful and my thanks goes out to Harold Spiegel and his crew for their hard work and dedication to our cause. It sure is nice to have those fallen trees out of the way and I appreciate their advice on responsible land management.

I want to thank Sarah Jane Semrad for her guidance and support without which I would have been clueless.

Again, I am most appreciative of the volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to help me out. Great work everyone and I will be notifying you when future clean up days are in the offing. I hope you will join me again!

Scott

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Art & Seek Online Artist Studio Tour

Please check this out! And if you're an artist (in any media), please send in pics and a description of your space. We're all voyeurs at heart after all. Art & Seek is producing this in conjunction with LRTX + DMA's "Make Space for Artists - Design-a-Studio" program that launches Nov 6 in the C3 Gallery.... Mark those calendars now.... Full press release below.

DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART PARTNERS WITH LA REUNION TX ON A DESIGN COMPETITION AND PROGRAM

Dallas, TX – October 15, 2008 -- On November 6, 2008 the Dallas Museum of Art and its community partner La Reunion TX will launch Make Space for Artists: Design-A-Studio in the Tech Lab of the Museum’s newly opened Center for Creative Connections. This design contest and program aims to transform the Tech Lab into an inspiring digital exhibition–community response project space. For it, museum visitors are invited to think about studio spaces where artists of any kind—painter, dancer, writer, sculptor, musician—do their creative work. How might a studio be different if the artist is a writer or photographer or sculptor? Is natural light desired or required? Where will the artist keep his or her tools and materials? What materials will be used in the design of the space and why?

Visitors will have the opportunity to consider these questions and others as they design a dream studio that will fit within a 16 foot cubic space. Contest entries will be submitted as drawings and visitors may choose between traditional media—site drawings, pencils, and pens—and digital media, such as laptop computers equipped with Google Sketch Up software and tutorials. Additionally, the Tech Lab will be filled with a variety of materials to aid visitors in the creative process: images of artists’ studios (representing artists in the Museum’s collections and local artists), thoughts on artists’ work spaces and architecture, design materials, and books. A digital presentation created by Dallas’s Corgan MediaLab will be projected in the space to feature the winning designs from La Reunion TX’s Make Space for Art. Held in early 2008, Make Space for Art was an international juried competition that focused on the complete future facility to be built on La Reunion’s 35-acre site in Oak Cliff.

Make Space for Artists: Design-A-Studio is an invitation for community input on the shaping of artist studios at the La Reunion site. All design entries submitted to the Make Space for Artists contest will be displayed in a variety of ways, including Flickr—an online community for sharing photography and video. The contest will run in the Tech Lab of the Center for Creative Connections from November 6, 2008 to February 12, 2009. At the close, the submissions will be juried and several winners selected. Cash prizes will be awarded and contest winners will be honored at a public event February 19, 2009 at the Dallas Museum of Art. A suite of public programs including Google Sketch-Up workshops and panel discussions with topics ranging from famous artists’ studios to architecture will coincide with the design contest.

About the Dallas Museum of Art
The 23,000 works of art in the Museum’s encyclopedic collections span 5,000 years of history and represent all media with renowned strengths in the arts of the ancient Americas, Africa, Indonesia and South Asia; European and American painting, sculpture and decorative arts; and American and international contemporary art.

The Dallas Museum of Art is the anchor of the Dallas Arts District and serves as the cultural magnet for the city with diverse programming ranging from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary readings, dramatic and dance presentations, and a full spectrum of programs designed to engage people of all ages with the power and excitement of art.

The Dallas Museum of Art is supported in part by the generosity of Museum members and donors and by the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas/Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

In 2008 the Dallas Museum of Art opened the Center for Creative Connections, a unique learning space that provides interactive experiences with works of art and artists for people of all ages. Located in the heart of the Museum, this dynamic space includes a gallery, a theater, an art studio, a tech lab, and an early learning area. Works of art from the Museum’s diverse collections are brought together in an environment designed to stimulate curiosity, inquiry and reflection. The Tech Lab in the Center for Creative Connections is a space where art and technology merge, providing opportunities to experiment and create using the rich content of the Museum’s collections and current technologies. It functions as a workshop and studio space for classes, a multimedia gallery venue, and a social hub for engaging with digital resources and interactives.

About La Reunion TX
La Reunion TX is creating an arts residency in Dallas that will host artists in both new and traditional media for periods ranging from one week to one year. In exchange for short-term living quarters and studio space, artists will be expected to give back to the community through programs, exhibits, performances and installations. Artists working in all media will be encouraged to apply. The residency will be built on a 35 acre site in Oak Cliff and will be as green and off-grid as possible, modeling sustainable living. In addition, the business plan has an eye toward long-term sustainability not only with the facility but also with the bottom line. La Reunion TX seeks to transform the community through art and create lasting social change in Dallas.

Currently, La Reunion TX offers several programs utilizing both the land and the organization’s gallery space in the Design District of Dallas. Art Chicas Unidas is a collaborative program with Dallas Art Dealers Association and Girl Scouts of NorthEast Texas that teams high school aged girls with female mentor artists. Tree Carving is a program to turn dead and dying trees on the 35 acres into decomposing sculptural works. Scriptwriting for Graphic Novels explores the relationship between writers and illustrators with Dallas’ thriving comic book community.

The Make Space for Art call for entries attracted 68 designers from 19 countries submitting ideas for our future facility. The jurors for Make Space for Art were Mark Gunderson, AIA of Ft. Worth; Dr. Richard Brettell of UT Dallas; Louise Harpman of UT Austin; Max Levy, FAIA of Dallas; and Rick Lowe of Project Row Houses in Houston. Winners of Make Space for Art include: first - Bang Dang of Dallas, Texas; second - Michael Panacci of Brooklyn, Ontario, Canada; third - Lucia Perez and Ines Fernandez of New York, New York; sustainable - Sofia Fernandes and Tiago Carvalho of Portugal. MSA was sponsored by Perkins-Will, Barry Whistler Gallery, Preservation Tree Services, and City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Hardcover catalogs featuring all the plans from Make Space for Art are available for purchase.

About Corgan MediaLab
Corgan MediaLab provides animation, motion graphics, visual effects and architectural visualization services for a diverse range of clients. Since 1997, this studio of creative artists has expanded their portfolio from architectural visualization to include broadcast, film and game cinematics.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Call for Volunteers - clean up day

Greetings All! I am very excited to be heading up my first clean up day at the site this Saturday the 25th. As site manager, I hope to lay the groundwork (pun intended) for the construction phase of the project. This is a large piece of land and there is much to accomplish. But, with the help of volunteers giving their precious time and energy, I will do my part to shape the landscape into a welcoming backdrop for the beautiful architectural design yet to come. I am truly excited to be a part of this dream for Dallas’ art community!

Please join me from 9 to noon. Contact me at scott@lareunionTX.org if you can help. I hope to see many shiny, happy faces this weekend!

- Scott Nance

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

CALL FOR ARTISTS - HATCH

Texas’ Next Top Designer is joining forces with La Reunion TX for a night of design and art showcasing Dallas’ most promising talent. Texas designers are encouraged to apply for the opportunity to present and sell their work to industry professionals and the Dallas public as part of this very special event.

All designers are welcome! From furniture to apparel and everything in between, we will be bringing together a group of talented designers to collaborate for one night, creating the most innovative and exciting retail event imaginable!

The exhibition will be held at the La Reunion TX's gallery in Dallas, located at 2129 Farrington, on November 13th, 2008. Interested designers must complete the attached application and required digital portfolio by October 31st, 2008. A $25 processing fee, is required for consideration and all application fees will be used in support of the exhibiting designers at the event. All designers will be notified by November 6th, 2008 regarding their participation status.

Request an Application form:
For more information and an application form, please contact Texas’ Next Top Designer at info@texasnexttopdesigner.org

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Art Chicas Unidas

Art Chicas Unidas is on its way. I can't wait to see what the artists create on Nov. 8 at LRTX Gallery. I hope to see everyone at the reception to celebrate the creations and the collaborations. Besides Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and Dallas Art Dealers Association, Deaf Action Center Texas has joined in to make Art Chicas Unidas happen. 

Deaf Action Center Texas will recruit hard of hearing and deaf junior and high school girls for the event and provide interpreters for the artist workshop as well as the discussion by the DADA art professionals.  I am very energized about this collaboration as I found out that the deaf and hard of hearing are discouraged from majoring in the arts in college in a very disheartening way...they can't receive the federal grant that would normally go to them for college( if they pursue something else)!

We need to change this! We're hoping by bringing the girls to this event where they can hear from DADA members regarding all the careers that are possible in the arts, and to meet artists, they will be persuaded to pursue their creative lives anyway.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Upcoming Events!

October 25, 2008 - Cleanup day at La Reunion TX site. 9am - 12pm. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants and a smile on your face. The site is so lovely in the Fall! Sign up with Scott Nance if you are interested. scott.nance.monkey@gmail.com

November 6, 2008 - Launch of Make Space for Artists : Design-a-Studio at the Dallas Museum of Art. 7pm. Location in the DMA is TBA. Real life artists, students, lovers of art and designers at heart will be encouraged to go to the DMA Tech Lab and design a studio using Google Sketch Up. Program closes with a winner's ceremony and prize money presentation in February 2009.

November 8, 2008 - Art Chicas Unidas 2008. Evening reception 4:30 -- 6:00pm. This is our beloved Fall program piloted and funded last year by Dallas Women's Foundation. We team small groups of girls with a mentor artist for a day-long workshop at the LRTX Gallery. That evening there's a reception to display the fruits of their labor. Proceeds from sales get re-invested back in to the program for next year. Presenting partners include: Dallas Art Dealers Association, Deaf Action Center of Texas and Girl Scout of North East Texas. Sponsors so far include Central Market. Please let Lisa Taylor know if you are interested in helping out or sponsoring a girl to go through the program for $50. info@dallasartdealers.org

November 13, 2008 - HATCH. Presented by La Reunion TX and Texas Next Top Designer. A one night only "pop-up store" at the LRTX Gallery, located at 2129 Farrington in Dallas, featuring designers in all media. Think furniture, clothes, paintings, trinkets, etc all hand crafted and home grown. Music, food, drinks! A good time is guaranteed for all! $10 admission. Proceeds go to La Reunion TX and Texas Next Top Designer. For more info, email Jamie Baker - baker18@swbell.net

Saturday, October 04, 2008

La Reunion TX advisor David Hopkins is awesome

Remember that Free Comic Book day in Craddock Park and Zeus Comics we participated in last May? And how advisor David Hopkins moderated a panel discussion? Well, check this out! He's being praised for doing a great job. Thanks David!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Mentor Madres - Sponsor a girl today!

Our second annual Art Chicas Unidas program is just around the corner - November 8. This is our collaborative Fall program with Girl Scouts of NorthEast Texas and Dallas Art Dealers Association. ACU is an art and education program with high school aged girls and professional women artists. Our pilot program last year was funded by Dallas Women's Foundation. This year, we're engaging professional women in all walks of life to "sponsor a girl" and become a Mentor Madre. For only $50 you can take care of the supplies and expenses of one girl going through our day-long program in our Design District Gallery, located at 2129 Farrington Street.

WHAT IS IT - ART CHICAS UNIDAS
Small teams of high school aged girls will work with professional women artists selected by jury and create one of a kind art works based on materials from our 35 acres site in Oak Cliff. The finished art works will be on display that same evening and all proceeds from sales go back into the Art Chicas Unidas program. What makes this program unique? This year we are working with Deaf Action Center, socio-economically challenged schools as well as girls that are getting the full art experience like at Booker T. We engage all walks of life and backgrounds and introduce new skills and interests, from photography to guitar to encaustic.

We will honor our Mentor Madres this year with your names across our invitational postcard to the reception. Even if you can't make the reception November 8, please support this program today. Download the form and mail or email back. Deadline Oct 18 to be on the card! Don't delay!

art%20chicas%20mentor%20madre%2008.pdf

WHAT IS IT - LA REUNION TX
La ReUnion


Wednesday, October 01, 2008

A recap : Open House - September 27, 2008

Scott Nance - our point person for all things on the site in Oak Cliff will be contributing as guest blogger on the La Reunion TX weblog. Look for info on clean-up days, the site in general. Welcome Scott!

On Saturday, September 27, La Reunion TX launched their inaugural fundraising campaign at their World Headquarters located at 2129 Farrington by hosting an Open House. Wow! What a beautiful event. A large and lively crowd filled the room to view enlargements of a few of the 68 architectural renderings collected during the international search for the building design for the residences and campus. Guests enjoyed music from keyboardist Neeki Bey, a delectable spread provided by Oak Cliff's newest restaurant sensation, Bolsa, and drinks provided by Dry Soda Co.

La Reunion was able to begin funding thanks to numerous donors who generously gave $2430. A particularly stunning way to help out is by purchasing the newly published book Make Space for Art containing all 68 architectural bids. This book is a feast for the eyes and was premiered at the Open House as part of the fundraising effort.

Please continue to help us raise the money needed to reach our next goal and kindly spread the word to you friends about this magnificent project!

Modern Dallas dot Net

We're one of the beneficiaries for their One Year Celebration this upcoming Friday, October 3. Visit ModernDallas.net for all the details.