Arts Blog

This week's opening of the "Art and Ability" show at the Latino Cultural Center was a huge succe$$.

All the pieces--sculptures to paintings to watercolors to collages--were sold out. The show was brought to the center by The Arc of Dallas, a non-profit that serves Dallas, Collin and Rockwall Counties with a focus on improving life for people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities.

Among the pieces was a Fourth of July favorite: the U.S. flag drawn in a heart shape, rather than the old faithful rectangle. The watercolor was by Jessica Joy Gradle, who wrote this for the exhibit's brochure:

"America offers freedom from discrimination for the handicapped and love for anyone who is different."

The kids can do art for free and anything you buy (books for dad, hint, hint?) will benefit the Arlington Museum of Art at the 3rd Annual Kids Art Celebration at Barnes and Noble at Arlington at the Parks Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Just let a cashier know that you want your purchase to benefit the Arlington Museum of Art and Barnes and Noble will make it happen.

Kids activities include:
An edible art station presented by the Children's Art Cafe where kids can create art with messy and yummy supplies

Learning how to draw caricatures from caricature artist Ty Walls

Face painting techniques from Rebecca Williams

Projects to complete and take home from UpStairs Gallery of Arlington along with information on instructional classes for kids to adults.

Bravo to real estate reporter Steve Brown for his column today on the dreary design for the Dallas Convention Center Hotel. I've been meaning to write much the same thing. This is one of the highest-visibility sites Downtown, and it will be a big building that everyone who comes to the Convention Center will see. But the initial design looks cheap and tacky.

Dallas missed another great chance to welcome visitors with good architecture in the international terminal at D/FW. What we got there is generic, colorless, utterly uninteresting. We've GOT to do better this time with the hotel.

Back to the drawing board!

Due to popular demand, Don Schol's moving exhibition of combat art, "Vietnam Remembrances," has been extended through July 25 at Photographs Do Not Bend, a gallery in the Design District of Dallas at 1202 Dragon Street. Schol, 67, a professor at the University of North Texas and a graduate of Jesuit High School, the University of Dallas and the University of Texas (where he received a master's degree in philosophy and art), served in Vietnam from October 1967 to April 1968 as a combat artist, helping to document the war for the U.S. Army Office of Military History. The exhibition at Photographs Do Not Bend consists of 16 wood-cut prints that Schol hopes will "grab people, make them think about what they're seeing. I want them to realize ... this could be any war." (Those who wish to buy individual prints can do so for $600 each.) My story on Schol ran on the front page of The Dallas Morning News on Sunday. Those who wish to read it and watch a video of Schol discussing his work can do so by clicking here. For more information, call 214-969-1852 or visit www.pdnbgallery.com.

Photo: Don Schol's wood-cut print Going Home.

School is out for the summer, but what better time to reflect on all the talented kids in the Dallas area? Each year, dozens of really talented students produce work, regardless of the discipline, that draws national recognition. One such dynamo in the making is Jack Theis, a 16-year-old junior-to-be at Bishop Dunne High School, who recently became a national finalist in a school art contest sponsored by Lucerne Dairy. More than 9,000 school-age students entered the nationwide competition, which required them to draw a picture involving a milk-with-music theme onto a piece of paper; then, if they became a finalist, they were asked to recreate their original design combining those themes of milk and music (as in "the taste of moo-sic") onto the replica of a life-sized dairy cow. The organizers of the contest actually shipped a 5-by-8-foot plaster cow sculpture to Bishop Dunne. Jack painted his picture on the cow and shipped a photo of it to New Jersey to be considered by the judges. In the end, he won $500 for being a finalist, meaning he was one of 30 from across the U.S. to receive such a distinction. (The grand prize was $20,000 for the school; $5,000 for the winning student; and $5,000 for the designated teacher. That was captured by Abigail Mota of La Mirada High School in La Mirada, Calif.) Jack, who is proficient in French, just got accepted into a special art camp run by the Nasher Sculpture Center. He's a really talented artist -- and that's no bull. For more information on the contest, and to look at Jack's work and that of the other finalists, click here. Jack's work is titled Vaca Tsigane con Leche (Gypsy Cow with Milk).

Photo: The multi-talented Jack Theis of Bishop Dunne High School

Vietnam veteran Don Schol's woodblock prints inspired by his own images of war will be on display at Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery until June 20. In this video Schol explains that his metaphors are designed to 'soften the sobering effects of the utter starkness of reality.'

You can find info about the exhibit, "Vietnam Remembrances," here.

We've taken a lot of your feedback and have made several changes to the new GuideLive.com, including adding "GUIDELIVE IT!" sections at the top of each tab (Events, Movies, Restaurants and Performers) to help you search for things that matter most to you.

We encourage all of you artists out there to create your own Performer's page where you can tell people about yourself and your art, as well as link to your own sites. Another benefit of creating a Performer's page is that you can add it to art exhibits and other events where you are featured, so people interested in the event can quickly find out more information about you.

Just remember to search the Performers section first, because you might already be in there, in which case you can click "Report an error with this listing" and claim it to gain control over it.

Give us a shout or leave comments below if you run across any other concerns regarding the new GuideLive.com.

What? You think Deep Ellum is dead? Well, that's not what Reel FX Creative Studios and Brad Oldham Inc. think. Today they revealed details on the series of sculptures, The Traveling Man, that will be installed near the Deep Ellum DART station.

Since 2007, when DART selected the team's concept, the guys have worked to complete the final design, engineering and construction phases of what has been dubbed "The Deep Ellum Gateway Art Project," a moniker chosen by DART to signify that the three sculptures will serve as a welcoming gateway to all the visitors who enter Deep Ellum.

Brandon Oldenburg, VP Creative for Reel FX, says: "It was important to us that our design not only celebrate Deep Ellum's heritage, but also represent what we hope for the future: a resurgence of traffic to our streets and businesses and a thriving artistic community for decades to come."

"The sculpture at Swiss and Good Latimer is 38-feet tall. When working in this scale, how the pieces are built is as important as keeping the design approachable to engage viewers. We enjoy the challenge of building unusual pieces," says Brad Oldham, whose company is responsible for fabricating, constructing and installing the project.

The installation has already begun and should be completed by the end of August, before the Green Line opens Sept. 14. Get more info and spiffy visuals like the one above at deepellumgateway.com.

Amy Revier, a senior art major at Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, has received a Fulbright fellowship to study in Iceland and work in the studio of internationally recognized sculptor and textile artist Hildur Bjarnadóttir in Reykjavik from September 2009 through August 2010, Meadows officials announced Thursday.
A press release issued by the school noted that "Revier plans to divide her time in Iceland between Bjarnadóttir's studio, where she will weave and work on the artist's large-scale sculpture and textile pieces, traveling through the country to document and absorb the landscape, people and culture while creating her own textiles. She also plans to volunteer at the Library of Water, a project in Iceland by American artist Roni Horn, working directly with Icelandic and international artists, writers and musicians."

Photo: Amy Revier

We decided to check Thursday with area art museums about the swine flu scare:
From Kendal Smith at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, in whose city the public schools have closed: "We are open as usual. The only event we have canceled is our monthly Drawing From the Collection for Children on Sunday, May 3. Our attendance appears about the same, except school tours have been canceled."
The Dallas Museum of Art "will comply with all health and safety guidelines issued by the City of Dallas, the State of Texas, and the Federal government. The health and safety of our visitors and staff is of the utmost importance," museum officials said in a statement released Thursday. "As of now, our hours of operation for both the Museum and the King Tut exhibition remain unchanged. We will continue to assess the situation in consultation with the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services and the City of Dallas. Currently, we are taking extra precautions to disinfect and maintain a clean and safe environment. For updated information please check our website at www.DallasMuseumofArt.org."
The Nasher Sculpture Center "will remain open and will continue to monitor the situation," a spokeswoman said Thursday.
"At this time, the Amon Carter Museum [in Fort Worth] will remain open, and we will continue to monitor the situation, a spokeswoman there said Thursday.

Photo: A traveler from Mexico takes precautions against catching the swine flu

The National Endowment for the Arts is awarding more than $1 million in grants to nonprofit arts organizations in Texas, including many in the Dallas area, officials for the NEA announced Thursday. Thirty-two arts organizations in Texas will receive $1,884,500 out of a nationwide commitment of $82,477,100. Those receiving grants in the metropolitan area include:
-- Amon Carter Museum of Western Art ($50,000), Fort Worth. To support the Works on Paper Digitization and Documentation Project, which is part of the museum's strategic plan to digitally document its entire collection.
-- Amon Carter Museum of Western Art ($90,000), Fort Worth. To support the touring exhibition "American Modern: Abbott, Evans, Bourke-White."
-- Big Thought ($15,000), Dallas. To support the Family Access to Artistic Excellence program.
-- Big Thought ($80,000), Dallas. To support the Creative Solutions Program.
-- Dallas Chamber Music Society ($5,000), Dallas. To support the Claremont Trio's performance of American chamber music and related educational activities.
-- Documentary Arts, Inc. ($40,000), Dallas. To support the touring exhibit "Masters of Traditional Arts."
-- Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association ($30,000), Fort Worth. To support a touring program of concerts and educational activities in rural communities in Texas.
-- Lyric Stage ($10,000), Irving. To support the preservation and production of the 1939 musical comedy Too Many Girls by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.
-- University of Texas at Dallas ($35,000). To support professional development opportunities and publications for literary translators.
For a complete list of organizations receiving grants in Texas and for more detail, click here. For the full release by the NEA, click here.

Photo: West Side Story being performed at Lyric Stage in Irving, one of several local arts organizations to receive grant money from the NEA.

The City of Dallas and Dallas Public Library are sponsoring a Teen Center Logo Contest for someone to create a symbol for the 20 new teen centers that will open at library branches on June 16.

The contest is open to youth ages 13-18, and get those pencils and paints moving: The deadline for entries is next Wednesday (May 6). For complete information, including guidelines and registration forms, go here.

The Unscene Photography Tour and Decorazon Gallery are look for talented-yet-unknown photographers for their first annual Gallery Contest. Anyone 18 or older can upload photos for a chance to exhibit at the gallery. Five finalists will be chosen and the winner will have up to 15 prints showcased at Decorazon and the Unscene Web site. The winner will also receive curating time, an opening night reception, marketing and public relations, and prints and mounting paid for by UnScene.

The entry fee is $25 for up to 15 photographs. Deadline submission is June 30; for information go to the Unscene Web site.

"New Texas Talent 2009," a statewide juried exhibition to introduce and promote emerging artists, is being presented by Craighead Green Gallery. Professional artists 18 and older, who have no for-profit gallery representation and limited nonprofit gallery exposure, can apply for the exhibit. Dr. Charissa Terranova, assistant professor of aesthetic studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, will judge the exhibition.

All visual media will be accepted for entry, with the exception of film, video, utilitarian crafts or jewelry. No entries can be more than 84 inches wide, tall or deep, and all work should be current or created within the past two years. There is no entry fee, but a $5 donation is suggested for the Emergency Artist Support League, which can be sent to Craighead Green Gallery, 1011 Dragon St., Dallas, Texas 75207, payable to EASL.

To submit images and for more information, go to www.craigheadgreen.com. No mail entries will be accepted, and deadline for entries is May 29. The exhibit will run July 25-Sept. 5.

500X Gallery on Exposition Avenue is calling on local artists to submit drawing-based works. Meaning anything that involves drawing materials, processes and/or concepts is eligible.

It's only $25 per entry, and you can submit up to five to be displayed in the annual community art exhibit May 9-31. Drop off works at the gallery Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and May 3 from noon to 5 p.m. Get all the instructions and requirements here.

The state-wide juried New Texas Talent exhibition is now accepting submissions from new and emerging artists to be featured in a July 25-Sept. 5 show at Craighead-Green Gallery. Submission deadline is May 29 and selected participants will be notified by June 22.

Continue reading for all the rules and procedures from the press release.

First of all, the Nasher Sculpture Center deserves a ton of credit for its Nasher Salon Lecture Series, which has given us conversations with John Updike, Larry McMurtry, Jeff Koons and Wolfgang Puck. Last night's guest was among the best ever. Art Garfunkel showed up wearing a navy blue shirt (untucked, of course) and honest-faded jeans. He sat at a table adorned with Evian water and a white flower and began to talk. Not sing, talk. He did so beautifully, aided in no small part by my former Morning News colleague Jerome Weeks, who did a terrific job navigating the conversation. The beauty of the program -- for which the Nasher and external affairs director Jane Offenbach deserve many kudos -- is that it is a conversation and not an interview. We learned that Garfunkel grew up in Queens, N.Y., as the son of Jewish parents who themselves harmonized beautifully on such songs as "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin Along." He discovered his own exquisite voice at age 5, when he stumbled upon "this gift here, in my throat." (Please click below to read on!)

Photo: Art Garfunkel

Zahi Hawass is a rock star. Well, not exactly, but he might as well be. He strode to the stage of McFarlin Auditorium at Southern Methodist University last night but not before being warmly introduced -- by Laura Bush, the former first lady, making her first public appearance in Dallas since she and her husband left the White House. For about 90 minutes, Hawass regaled visitors with epic tales from the Egyptian underground -- literally. This is a guy who spends a lot of time burrowing deep under pyramids and into various other tunnels in search of rare treasures, such as those currently on view in "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," which runs through May 17 at the Dallas Museum of Art. He staged an elaborate PowerPoint -- "It was 300 feet underground!" he would say, or 400, or nearly 500 -- and each time, he showed an unearthed treasure that caused the near-capacity crowd to "ooh" and "ahh." (He's actually hoping to one day unearth the tomb of Cleopatra.)

Photo: Former first lady Laura Bush tours the Tut exhibit in Dallas with Zahi Hawass

Famed architect Renzo Piano designed the Nasher Sculpture Center. And he's designing the much-vaunted expansion of the Louis Kahn-designed Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. He also is designing the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece. It will be home to the Greek National Library and the Greek National Opera and will, organizers say, provide the largest green space in the city. The project is being funded by a private entity, which will then turn it over to the government after its completion. In Greece, Piano has been praised for "a pivotal design element" in the form of an "innovative roof -- a series of interconnected photovoltaic cell panels which will cover the structure's needs, taking advantage of the pure 'green' solar and wind energy." He also is taking advantage of Athens' proximity to the sea through a canal running parallel to the existing Esplanade. The project is expected to open in 2015. Estimated cost: 450 million Euros.

Photo: Architect Renzo Piano's new design in Greece

Dunn and Brown Contemporary, one of Dallas' coolest art galleries, is nestled in a corner on Tracy Street, near the Knox-Henderson district. But Dunn and Brown is suddenly expanding its reach. Dunn and Brown's owners announced Wednesday in New York that they are joining the elite Art Dealers Association of America, or ADAA. In their words, it's "the first time in 45 years that a gallery from Dallas, Texas, has been invited to join this prestigious national organization based in New York City." Dunn and Brown is now entering its 10th year as a contemporary art gallery. Co-owner Lisa Brown cited the ADAA's being recognized internationally "as the foremost association of American art galleries" and called it "a great privilege to receive the invitation to join." The gallery's projects have become "increasingly more global," Brown says, with Dunn and Brown participating in art fairs in Madrid, London and Basel. Dunn and Brown received the invitation along with Valerie Carberry Gallery in Chicago; Michael Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles; and three New York City galleries: Francis M. Naumann Fine Art, Marianne Boesky Gallery and Julie Saul Gallery. To learn more about Dunn and Brown, click here.

Photo: Lisa Brown of Dunn and Brown Contemporary

In its first seasons, WaterTower Theatre's Out of the Loop Fringe Festival featured several established local theater companies -- like a winter version of the Festival of Independent Theatres. Those smaller companies sometimes found OTL frustrating because it generally offered fewer performances than its summer counterpart. So gradually the festival offerered fewer and fewer such productions, concentrating more on guest acts from out of town and one-person shows.

This year only a couple of established Dallas companies are appearing in OTL. Second Thought Theatre, which is a guest compan y at WaterTower year-round, is doing James McClure's Pvt. Wars, originally the companion piece to the SMU-trained playwright's Lone Star. T.A. Taylor (whose son Christian is one of the three actors in the show) tells me his wife, Giva, designed the costumes for the original New York production many years ago. For my impressions of the Second Thought version, read on past the break.

Beginning Thursday, March 5, the Dragon Street Association presents "First Thursdays - Feel the Heat of the Dragon." Many Dragon Street businesses will extend their hours on the first Thursday of the month and will be open until 8 p.m. You can see various mediums displayed in the galleries along Dragon Street in downtown Dallas, including paintings, blown glass, photography and sculpture.

The following Dragon Street businesses will be open 6-8 p.m. March 5 in celebration of the first first Thursday:

American Fine Art , Artizen Fine Arts, Banks Fine Art, Pan American Art, HCG Gallery, Holly Johnson Gallery, Inessa Stewart's Antiques and Interiors, Jacques Lamy Gallery, Joel Crooner Gallery, Luxor Style, Photographs Do Not Bend, Posche Designs/Tree House, Samuel Lynne Galleries and The Cameron Gallery.

(Photo: Painting on view at The Cameron Gallery)

The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre are looking promising, with October openings planned for both. But this was a bad week elsewhere for the two buildings' architects: Foster + Partners for the opera house, Rem Koolhaas/OMA for the theater.

On Monday, Koolhaas' under-construction Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Beijing was destroyed by fire, apparently set off by illegal fireworks. (You'd think they'd design a big, high-visibility building like this to be a LITTLE more fire-resistant, wouldn't you?)

And a Foster-designed Harmon Hotel under construction in Las Vegas had to be clipped from the planned 49 stories to a stubby 28, after improperly installed rebar (the steel rods that hold concrete together) was discovered on 15 floors. Oops.

An irreverent list from LA Times art critic Christopher Knight:

The culture industry is cosmopolitan, so flag-waving options are few.
The culture industry is pluralistic, but Congress is only marginally so.
As corporations, arts institutions are nonprofit, so there's no money to be made via lobbyists.
Culture is girlie, not manly.
The arts often look at sexual experience -- eek!

Commuters rushing home on Dallas North Tollway should have taken a detour Friday evening and stopped by Fashion Industry Gallery on Ross Avenue. That's where the first Dallas Art Fair is going on ... and would until 6 Friday evening, before being open for the weekend. Lots of hip-looking folks sipping champagne, and they were just part of the show. There was tons of art, all kinds of art, which is how developer John Sughrue and art dealer Chris Byrne, the co-founders, must have wanted it. They hope to create an international art destination similar to London's Frieze Art Fair or Art Basel in Switzerland. Thirty-five galleries from 12 cities are strutting their stuff. And Dallas artist David Bates is among those whose work is the most memorable. Bates' show on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina at Dunn and Brown Contemporary was one of the best of 2008. Everyone's taste is different, of course, so here's a few random impressions from a guy who buys most of his art at Z Gallerie. (Please click below to read on.)

Image: A David Bates portrait, inspired by Hurricane Katrina

The Nasher Salon Lecture Series is one of the coolest things in town. The intimacy of the venue lured author Larry McMurtry into being unusually candid and colorful. Jeff Koons has been there, and who can forget the Salon appearance by the late John Updike? Well, guess who's coming in March (March 26, to be exact)? Art Garfunkel. Unfortunately, Paul Simon won't be with him, but what a coup. Famed choreographer Twyla Tharp is also coming in the spring (May 14), and Dallas Symphony Orchestra Conductor Jaap van Zweden will have his own Salon evening on April 29. Keep in mind that tickets are not yet on sale, for events that always sell out. Here's the Nasher Web page that offers more details.

Photo: Art Garfunkel

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is putting its 800,000-object collection online.

The museum plans to launch the first phase of the project Monday, beginning with 5,500 items and photographs. The project is part of the museum's regular Web site.

Officials say the digital showcase will allow people living far away from the museum's three locations in Washington and New York to view its archives.

Museum director Kevin Gover says the project also is geared toward American Indians who may not be able to afford to travel to the museum's locations but have access to the Internet and satellite technology.

Currently, the museum can barely display 1 percent of its collection at its locations.
Officials say it will take about four years to put all of its objects on the Web site.

Parents' Guide to Summer, Guide's annual listing of day camps and classes for kids, is scheduled to be published April 3. We're taking submissions through Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. Submit your programs here.

By Michael Granberry

At a time when arts organizations are pinched by recession, the Nasher Sculpture Center has hired a new director who brings to Dallas lofty artistic credentials but also a clouded legacy of financial management. He is Jeremy Strick, 53, former director of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Nasher Center makes the announcement today, almost two years after inaugural director Steven A. Nash resigned and Raymond Nasher, who founded the museum devoted to modern sculpture five years ago, died.

During Strick's nine-year tenure, MOCA won numerous awards and underwent a major expansion of its 6,000-piece permanent collection. But worsening finances made headlines in Los Angeles and the art world in general.

(Photo of Jeremy Strick / Taken by David Strick)

In yet another example of the nation's worsening economy, officials for the Gerald Peters Gallery announced Tuesday that they are closing their Dallas office, despite the fact that they opened a lavish new facility on Dragon Street in late 2007.

In a statement released by the gallery, owner Gerald Peters said he decided to end the long run of the Dallas location after taking "a hard look at the current economy" and when longtime gallery director, Ashley Tatum, opted to take a position with a new art consulting company that will soon open a Dallas office.

Artist Don Tremain, whose new exhibition, "Sea Spaces: A Photographic Exploration of Cruise Ships," runs through Jan. 30 at the 14th Street Gallery in downtown Plano, will be on hand from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 24) to talk about his work. The gallery is located at 1412 14th Street in Plano. Info: 972-633-3822 or visit www.14thstreetgallery.com. Tremain's talk begins at 6 p.m.

Photo: From "Sea Spaces: A Photographic Exploration of Cruise Ships"

The spirit of Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th U.S. president has touched the lives of many, including the world of art. So, Barry Whistler Gallery in Dallas has decided to stage a new exhibition, "Inaugural 09," which showcases 12 artists from Texas to Berlin, Los Angeles to New York. All new works will be displayed in what the gallery labels "a celebration of our fresh start." They include paintings by Dallas artists Kirsten Macy, John Pomara, Lorraine Tady and John Wilcox and "express an emotional amalgamation of excitement and anxiety." Dallas photographer Allison V. Smith offers up some new photographs of Marfa, Texas, while Robert Wilhite of Los Angeles shows his most recent interpretation of tactile nuclear weaponry with a "to-scale artistic model of the toy-sized, one-man Davy Crockett bomb." The gallery, at 2909-B Canton Street, is hosting an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. The exhibition runs through Feb. 28. Info: Call 214-939-0242 or visit www.barrywhistlergallery.com.

Photo: First Lady Michelle Obama dancing with President Barack Obama

The newest addition to the Irving Arts Center is Star Flower, which local officials describe as "a monumental sculpture" by American artist James Surls, whose work now adorns the city's Sculpture Garden reflecting pool. Star Flower is one of three permanent sculptures commissioned by the Arts Center since the development of the Sculpture Garden in 1995 -- a garden designed specifically to promote Texas artists. Surls was awarded the Living Legend Award from the Dallas Contemporary Art Center in 1993, Texas Artist of the Year in 1991 and a National Endowment of the Arts fellowship in 1979. "The Irving Arts Center has had its eye on Star Flower for nearly 14 years," says Richard Huff, executive director of the Irving Arts Center. The Arts Center will host an artist meet-and-greet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, followed by a dedication and reception for Surls and Star Flower from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the Sculpture Garden. The Irving Arts Center is located at 3333 N. MacArthur Boulevard in Irving. Info: 972-252-7558 or visit www.irvingartscenter.com.

Photo: Star Flower by sculptor James Surls

The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University announced Wednesday that it has acquired what it calls "two significant oil paintings" from the early 20th century. They are:
-- El Tajo, Toledo, circa 1904, by Aureliano de Beruete, a contemporary of Joaquín Sorolla known for his luminous, Impressionistic depictions of Spanish landscapes and historic cities.
-- Femme Assise (Seated Woman), circa 1917, a Cubist work by one of the movement's few major female painters, María Blanchard.
Museum officials say the works were purchased with funds donated by The Meadows Foundation, and will go on permanent display at the museum this spring.
Aureliano de Beruete's depiction of the Castilian landscape earned him iconic status, Meadows officials say, with the Generacion '98, a group of novelists, poets, essayists and philosophers active in Spain around the time of the Spanish-American War.
Femme Assise is considered a classic example of Synthetic Cubism. Maria Blanchard's painting depicts a woman seated on a rattan chair in front of carved wainscoting that envelops her from four angles, whose vanishing points careen off the canvas. Femme Assise is described by Meadows officials as making a major contribution to the museum's collection of 20th century art.

The Dallas Museum of Art announced Tuesday what it described as record-breaking attendance and increases in membership during 2008. In a press release, officials hailed a 100 percent hike in attendance over the past five years but noted that "the highest number on record for the DMA" -- 766,000 -- had passed through its doors during 2008 alone. Museum officials said membership also spiked during 2008, with 6,000 new members pushing its membership total past 25,000. Officials attributed the increase to the current exhibition, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," which opened in October and lasts until May 17. More than 350,000 tickets have been sold, and more than 290,000 have seen the show in the first three months of its seven-and-a-half-month run, officials said, noting that more than 60,000 attended the show during the two-week year-end holiday.

Photo: Tutankhamun, the boy king

Jeff Koons is days away from his 54th birthday, and when he stands on stage, as he did Thursday at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he looks professorial and businesslike. And then he shows you his art.
It's playful and innocent and terribly endearing and yet in its own way complicated. Standing on stage in a sleek gray suit, he looks like he might be an accountant or a corporate representative, but then he talks, and what he has to say is almost as cool as his art.
This is a man who understands what he does and who explains it with insight and passion.
He was stopping off at Booker T. before being the featured guest Thursday night in the Nasher Salon Lecture Series. Throughout the season, Booker T. students will get to hear various Salon guests, Koons being the first.

Photo: Artist Jeff Koons

Graphic and digital artists and filmmakers may appreciate this. I ran across prettyloaded.com on Design Observer and just had to share. The site is "a tribute to a vanishing art form amid a constantly changing digital landscape," and is a loop of preloaders that just lead to more preloaders.

Says the site: "Once upon a time in a land of sputtering dial-up connections, websites took ages to load. Folks yearned for the 100% mark. But as soon as that figure arrived, the beloved (or bemoaned) preloader disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Until now."

I wouldn't say they're vanishing, though. Just look at any Flash site, plus they're fairly young in the great timeline of art forms. The compilation has such diverse solutions and artistic styles for getting to 100.

NIMES, France (AP) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the country's national museums and monuments will soon stop charging admission to visitors under 25.
Sarkozy says the measure will go into effect April 4. Sarkozy didn't offer any other details about the measures.
French national museums include Paris' Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Adult admission to the Louvre permanent collection is euro9 ($12).
In his New Year's address Tuesday to members of France's culture sector, Sarkozy also announced the creation of a new museum devoted to chronicling the country's history. He said the future Museum of French History would be located in a "site emblematic of our history," but did not say where.

(Associated Press photo of the pyramid and the Louvre Museum building in Paris)

The New York Times Sunday Travel section listed Dallas at No. 17 in its "44 Places to Go in 2009" story. The reason: the Dallas Arts District, with the Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre set to open in October. Dallas rated behind Vienna, the Galapagos and Hawaii, but ahead of Rome, the Florida Keys, Stockholm and Buffalo.

Funny: This major development wasn't noticed in a certain local newspaper's story on major local developments coming up in 2009.

Michael Granberry selects the top 10 happenings of the Dallas-Fort Worth art scene in 2008. What do you think? Any of your favorites left out? Share your thoughts below.

From The Associated Press:

PARIS (AP) -- Researchers have found three previously unknown sketches on the back of a painting Leonardo da Vinci that may have been drawn by the Renaissance master.

Paris' Louvre Museum says the sketches feature a horse head, part of a skull and baby Jesus with a lamb. Researchers using infrared cameras found them on the back of "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne."

In a statement Thursday, the Louvre said the style was reminiscent of Leonardo's. Researchers are working to determine whether he drew them.

The sketches are barely visible to the eye. They were discovered during an in-depth examination using an infrared camera that picks up traces of carbon-based pigments often used for sketches.

The painting is in the Louvre's collection.

View a slideshow featuring images from Take your Time, of the Olafur Eliasson exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art.

The Kimbell Art Museum will announce preliminary plans Tuesday for an addition designed by Renzo Piano.

A previous plan to expand the original building, designed by Louis Kahn and opened in 1972, stirred up a furor in the international architecture community. But Piano, designer of Dallas' Nasher Sculpture Center, is one of today's most acclaimed museum architects, and he seems likely to come up with a more sensitive design.

Look for a story in the Tuesday Dallas Morning News.

From the Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES -- Eat your heart out, Eddie Haskell.

Tony Dow, best known as the actor who portrayed The Beav's big brother, Wally, in the '50s TV series "Leave It to Beaver," will have one of his abstract sculptures on display at the Louvre. Several sculptors from the Karen Lynne Gallery - including Dow - will have their works shown at the historic art museum in Paris as part of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition.

"Having something shown at the Louvre is about as good as you can get," said Dow, who lives in Los Angeles, "especially when it's a juried show like this where there's a panel of judges who pick the pieces to be in the exhibition. I'm a little humbled by the whole thing but grateful nonetheless."

Dow, who has also worked as a director and visual effects producer on several TV shows, has been painting and sculpting since he was a teenager. The 63-year-old artist's sculpture that will be shown at the Louvre from Dec. 11 to Dec. 14 is titled "Unarmed Warrior," and is a bronze figure of a woman holding a shield.

"Of course, I'm really proud of 'Leave It to Beaver' and my directing career in television," said Dow. "Those are great accomplishments. I'm really proud of them, but this is interesting because I don't think they know anything about that at the Louvre."

Annette Lawrence, whose show "Free Paper" opened Oct. 24 at Dunn and Brown Contemporary, will appear at the gallery at 2 p.m. Saturday for an "artist talk." Ms. Lawrence's work addresses "issues of excess and consumerism." She calls her exhibition "both a commentary on the disposability of consumer culture and an attempt to introduce order and meaning." Dunn and Brown Contemporary is located at 5020 Tracy Street in Dallas. The gallery is normally open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and by appointment. For more information, call 214-521-4322 or visit the gallery's Web site by clicking here.

I've seen a couple of different views of designs for the proposed Convention Center hotel. One actually looks promising, like an L-shaped Kohn Pedersen Fox high-rise on top of a Tadao Ando base. (Think Dallas Federal Reserve Bank stretched up and set on top of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth -- well, sorta.) The other view looks like a box with rounded corners -- big yawn.

I'm not competent to judge the economic viability of the hotel project, but I hope we don't build yet another blah building.

The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts has landed its third-largest contribution and a new, improved design for outdoor spaces around the Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre, now under construction.

Check out Scott Cantrell's story about it online here late Sunday or in the paper's GuideLive section Monday.

Also online
• See our interactive map and timeline of Arts District developments

Who knew that the guy behind Romano's Macaroni Grill, Cozymel's (one of my favorites), EatZi's, Nick & Sam's and other big name restaurants is an artist, too? Apparently enough to team up with Dallas-based artist JD Miller to open Samuell Lynne Galleries, one of the latest additions to the Dragon Street gallery strip.

In an August article for the Dallas Business Journal, Phil Romano boldly pronounced, "This is the gallery that's going to make Dallas famous." Hmm, really? More famous than Santa Fe or New York?

Check out the grand opening tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. If you go, come back and tell us what you think.

(File photo 2007: Phil Romano at the original EatZi's on Oak Lawn Avenue)

First Lady Laura Bush showed up early at the Nasher Sculpture Center on Friday for a private showing of the exhibition that opens Saturday, "In Pursuit of the Masters: Stories from the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection." The show marks the fifth anniversary of the Nasher and serves as a tribute to the museum's husband-and-wife founders. Artists featured in the new exhibition include Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse, Constantin Brancusi, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro, David Smith and Jeff Koons. Among my favorites is an unexpected array of portraits by Andy Warhol, who shared with Patsy Nasher a love of art, ancient American artifacts and jewelry, which she traded with Mr. Warhol for signature portraits of her and her three daughters. And there they are on the wall of the Nasher, silk-screen paintings that carry the distinctive Warhol stamp, not unlike the iconic pieces he crafted of Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Also online
• Laura Bush is in Dallas - but not to meet with her Realtor

Photo: Jean Arp, Torso with Buds, 1961, a bronze sculpture in the Nasher collection

Forget the sparring political parties for a moment and put in a vote for Dr. Seuss. Oh My Godard Gallery (don't you love the name?) is hosting a Family Day Event at The Shops at Willow Bend Saturday from 2-4 p.m. in concert with its "Vote for Dr. Seuss" art exhibit that focuses on the political and environmental art work of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss' real name) in its gallery.

WFAA anchor Jeff Brady will read Dr. Seuss stories, kids will get a chance to do their own artwork with teachers from J's Art Studio and those old enough will be able to register to vote as part of a Rock the Vote table in the gallery. It's all free and the exhibit continues through Oct. 5 during normal mall hours.

The surface parking lot between the Meyerson Symphony Center and Nasher Sculpture Center is torn up for what appears to be new landscaping. So fewer than 1/3 of the parking places are now available. An attendant said that will be the case "for a while."

That's on top of raising the parking rates there last season to an astronomical $10 for an evening concert. Fort Worth has the right idea, offering free parking at night in the big garage across from Bass Performance Hall.

Arts editor Stephen Becker found a column on satirical "newspaper" The Onion, where the boy king wonders who went into his tomb and swiped his stuff (he uses some salty language in the process, FYI).

He writes, "Well this sucks. I leave the realm of the living to roam the underworld for a few thousand years, return to my burial place to enjoy all my worldly possessions, and all of a sudden, everything is gone. Everything. The alabaster chalice, the cobra amulet, that gold vulture thing I've had since I was a baby — all of it, gone. I don't understand how this could have happened. It was all right here."

He should check out Dallas Museum of Art starting Oct. 3, where there will be a whole lot of his stuff on display.

My New York State excursion last week expanded across the Massachusetts border to take in two of my favorite art museums.

In Williamstown, I got to see the Clark Art Institute's new Stone Hill Center, by Tadao Ando, architect of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. A fraction of the FW building's size, the Stone Hill Center still has Ando's trademark elegant austerity, with big windows and glass doors giving gorgeous views of the Berkshire Mountains. These views were wonderful counterpoints to two modest-size galleries hung with the museum's prize Homers and Sargents. In the nearby Pietro Belluschi building, there was a magical exhibition of "Whistler, Inness and the Art of Painting Softly."

The highlight of the current offerings at MassMoCA, in nearby North Adams, was a video installation by Jenny Holzer in the museum's enormous Building 5 gallery. From both ends, projectors cycled through poetic texts, which took on sculptural quality on big beanbags on the floor, big beams overhead and sealed-off windows along the walls.

Last week, was back in Albany, NY, where I lived from 1971 to 1987. Took the opportunity to revisit the Empire State Plaza, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller's last big building project. Vast swaths of 19th-century neighborhoods were cleared for the mammoth complex of four office towers, three lower-rise buildings, and a performing-arts center dubbed "The Egg." And the architecture, by Wallace Harrison, was derided early on as "pop-up Futurama" -- Albany's lame answer to Brasilia.

Three decades on, the marble-clad complex radiates an optimism now unimaginable coming from, or associated with, any government. Most amazing of all is the collection of modern art displayed in the 1/4-mile underground concourse. It's a genuinely important repository for abstract work by 1960s New York artists. Certainly couldn't imagine that kind of state support for the visual arts today!

Teco Theatrical Productions will host the official grand opening of its new Oak Cliff space, the Bishop Arts Theater Center wth multiple events on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 14. Read the continuation for exact details and schedule.

Per a press release from DFW International Community Alliance:

"Honoring the Legacy of Master Artist, Tomas Bustos," is a benefit event and art show that will will feature paintings and sculptures by Mr. Bustos and works from others in the arts community. Some of the paintings, sculpture and pottery have been designed especially for this event. Chilean singer Maria Cuevas will perform. Proceeds will benefit a fund for Mr. Bustos.

Details: July 31 from 6-9 p.m. at the Center for Community Cooperation. $8. Web page.

Ah, yes, the gift shop. Tut's critics will have a field day with this room. There's a tissue box that allows you to remove the tissues through Tut's nose. There's a Tut monopoly game that costs 30 pounds - that's $60! There are Pharaoh bears, Tut DVD's, bookcases and wine chests in the shape of Tut's sarcophagus, a Tut necklace that costs 5,000 pounds - yep, that's 10 grand in our currency - a Tut umbrella, T-shirts, refrigerator magnets and dog collars. And, yes, Texas Rangers and Cowboys fans, there's even a Tut bobblehead! There are Tut playing cards, keychains and sticky pads. There's a Tut game called Mummy Rummy and even Tut-shaped crème brulee white chocolate wedges. And what can I say? The place was packed.

The 12th room contains a coffinette that housed Tut's liver at burial. The 13th room shows his burial chamber and the 14th is a grassy-knoll-like history of how he died and what the various theories have been. In 1968, a team concluded that he may have died from a blow to the head, but in 2005, modern MRI-like scans indicated there was no such evidence to prove foul play.

One thing about the Egyptians. They either didn't have a fear of snakes or else they really, really liked them. Serpents were everywhere in the age of Tut, and in the fourth room, you learn of their significance and of the concept of burial and how it "implied expectation of an afterlife." Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten because of his monotheistic sun worship - this guy ruled from 1353 to 1336 BCE - may have been one of the earliest architects, not to mention being the first proponent of solar power. Whatever, Egyptians seemed ready for a new approach, and Tut, who ruled from 1332 to 1322 BCE, was all too eager to give them one.

The first room chronicles Tut's complex genealogy, which is embellished greatly by Mr. Lach's clever design. National Geographic photographs and, of course, that mood music - which may not make it to the Dallas Museum of Art - add theatrical touches. The second room is a tribute to the Nile, "the longest river in the world." The room congtains vessels, wooden boats, dog collars, perfume bottles, an ornamental chest and an unguent spoon, all of which had the Brits pointing and exclaiming about the rare value of such a collection.

Designer Mark Lach has done a terrific job of creating an informative, easy-to-follow narrative exhibition that builds from one moment to the next. Say what you want about certain aspects of the show, but it is educational. Omar Sharif's 90-second narration tells you that Tutankhamun ascended the throne when he was 9 and that he ruled for a decade and that much of what we know about him comes from the discovery of his tomb by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Mr. Carter's discovery yielded a storehouse of "stunning" golden artifacts, but it also gave insight into Tutankhamun's objectives and how he tried to reverse the policies of the man believed to be his father.

OK, so one of the cheesier aspects of the Tut show is what happens just before you enter the show. You queue up at another set of turnstiles to watch a short video (on multiple screens) narrated by Egyptian actor Omar Sharif. It reminded me of waiting in line with my kids at the SpongeBob SquarePants ride at Six Flags Over Texas. One of the more cynical Brits I interviewed said it reminded him of a ride at Universal Studios. There's heavy mood music (you are, after all, headed to a tomb!) and the melodramatic tones of Dr. Zhivago himself leading you to the wonders of Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.

Aside from getting to the O2, London's Tut exhibit is as smartly organized as it possibly could be. Tickets are dispensed in groupings of time, so that 10,000 people don't show up at once to crowd each other out. It's an orderly procession that allows for systematic viewing and easy access -- so look for the same plan in Dallas. A dozen or so people "queue up" as they like to say here at, say, 3:30 and head through the doors. It's easy to see what's inside and you never have the feeling of being engulfed by crowds.

Ah, Tut: The reason I came to London in the first place. "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" opened Nov. 15 at the O2, a 23,000-seat renovated sports arena that has an attached exhibition space. Organizers say they have 35,000 square feet of space to work with at the O2 and considerably less at the Dallas Museum of Art. The O2 is normally home to such mega-concerts as the Eagles (who play here again in a few days) and Celine Dion. But art connoisseurs tell me they prefer that Tut be in such a place and not in an art museum.

British newspapers are full of fascinating little psychodramas. The most recent involves a battle between film actor Kevin Spacey, wh's now the artistic director of the Old Vic, and the BBC. At issue is an American Idol-like reality show called I'd Do Anything. The BBC is sponsoring a contest to find amateur actors to play Nancy and Oliver in a re-staging of Oliver Twist. As a result, I'd Do Anything is getting 13 weeks of free publicity and marketing. Also involved is noted theatrical composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber, who's one of the judges. Mr. Space's beef is that theatrical companies like the Old Vic get no such benefit when it comes to free publicity and marketing. "To help kids find their own sense of self-esteem, confidence and ability to collaborate" would be better, huffed Mr. Spacey. The BBC said it "always reflected" other West End shows in its talent shows and stressed its "long-standing commitment as a patron of the arts."

It's hard to understand exactly what her beef is, but Madonna has been speaking out recently, not against Darfur, not against the war in Iraq but against London's beloved Tube, or Underground, which in my humble opinion is one of the best public transportation venues in the world. Brits appear to sail of sea of mixed feelings for the sassy American with a single name, but her criticisms of the Tube did not exactly bring her any new fans. As many have suggested, when exactly has Madonna ridden the Tube? As Rob, the very decent chap who tends bar in our Notting Hill pub-hotel, said the other night, "I'm as interested in her life as she is in mine." And then again, what should one expect from a Material Girl?

Sir Paul McCartney is known over here as "Macca," and Macca is often in the news, especially this week. He has a new girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, and the British newspapers, of course, have no shortage of photographs of the two of them together. Macca's ex Heather Mills is widely regarded here as a monster, so the general consensus is, what Macca wants, Macca deserves. If "Yesterday" means Heather Mills and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" means Ms. Shevell, then by God it's time for hand-holding! Heather even has her own nickname among the ink-stained wretches of Britain. They call her Mucca. One rag describes her as looking like "a full-on tart."

What a difference 27 years can make. I last came to London in 1981, when I remember the food as being terrible. This time, however, I must have hit just the right places. I remember having a hard time finding good coffee here in 1981, but now, it's everywhere (including Starbucks). Mansara was a wonderful Mediterranean refuge, the Stockpot a low-cost hit in the West End theater district and P.J.'s Grill the best of all, just across from Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where Lord of the Rings is playing. Money, of course, is a problem everywhere you go. The dollar is worth less than half the pound. So double everything, not counting the surcharges credit card companies tack on.

Who could go to London without sampling theater? So far, we've seen the musicals Dirty Dancing and Lord of the Rings -- which Michael Jenkins, the director of Dallas Summer Musicals -- plans to bring to Fair Park, plus a terrific play titled The God of Carnage, starring noted film actor Ralph Fiennes (who appeared in Schindler's List and many other movies). You'll read more about these later in our print edition, but all three are examples of shows that you can only see (for the moment) by coming here. Not one of them has made it to New York, and Mr. Jenkins says the stage required for Lord of the Rings is so large (35 by 75 feet) at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (a stately facility owned by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber) that no theater on Broadway can accommodate it. Dirty Dancing and Lord of the Rings are big commercial crowd-pleasers, of course, and difficult tickets to come by. But The God of Carnage is an example of the kind of play that makes London theater so special. Bold, bleak and darkly hilarious, it's written by Yasmina Reza and features not only Mr. Fiennes but also three other terrific British actors, Tamsin Greig, Ken Stott and Janet McTeer, who got an Oscar nomation a few years back for one of my favorite movies, Tumbleweeds. Another cool thing about British theater? Mr. Fiennes is a superstar, but he did this one solely as an ensemble performer.

Don't get me wrong. We love our room. It has quite the writerly charm to it, so thank you Joyce Saenz Harris! Before I arrived, I told Simon, the manager, why I was coming to London (to see the King Tut exhibit), and he said, "That is really quite spooky. Our owner is the grandson of a man who accompanied [British archaeologist] Howard Carter to Egypt in 1922," when he unearthed King Tutankhamnun's tomb. "The room where you'll be staying is full of photographs from the expedition." And indeed, it was. Only problem was, they made us leave that room and move to an even smaller one, where the sink was in the shower. It felt a bit like being in Tut's sarcophagus.

Well, it got a little heated at our Notting Hill hotel on Friday night. A domestic dispute wormed its way into the smoky pub that lies under our very small room. The woman seeking refuge from her husband ended up at the bar, and the owner called the cops. No fewer than seven squad cars showed up. I had forgotten that British cops don't carry guns. The angry husband left handcuffed in a paddy wagon. We told Simon, the manager, about it the next morning, and he said, "Oh, a brawl broke out, did it? Welcome to Notting Hill!"

Well, what do you know. I had to come all the way to London to find out that Mark Thatcher is back in the news, and it's a story with strong Dallas connections. Mr. Thatcher is, of course, the son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and a troubled man if ever there was one. Mr. Thatcher is the ex-husband of Diane Thatcher (formerly Diane Burgdorf), who graduated from Southern Methodist University.

Ah, yes, comparisons. When it comes to airports, I would take D/FW or Love Field over Heathrow any day. Heathrow just opened up its new Terminal 5 at a cost of more than $1
billion, and the first day was, well, absolutely disastrous. Lots of British Airways passengers lost their luggage, flights were canceled, etc. And about all they got in return was a perfunctory corporate apology. That's one big story over here. The other one is the arrival of French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. She's being compared in the British newspapers to Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. She arrived here on Wednesday (same day as I did, though my arrival was much more low-profile). As they said on the news last night, "Thank God for the French first lady! She's the only thing that took the edge off a ghastly day at Heathrow."

When one travels, comparisons are inevitable. So, coming to London from Dallas naturally leaves one feeling sad or resentful about what we're lacking back home. The Tube, or Underground, is a fantastic way to get around. And everywhere you go on the Tube, you hear performers in the stations. And almost everywhere, they're surprisingly good. We have heard violins, mandolins, electric guitars, trumpets and accordions (OK, so it's not all good). But apparently not everyone in Britian is happy about the shows.

When my wife and I (thank goodness she's traveling with me!), arrived in London, people kept telling us to take a "black cab" from Paddington Station to our hotel. Well, it turns out that black cabs are not necessarily black in color. Black essentially means they're licensed and therefore safer and more reliable. They come in all colors, it appears. Ours happened to be green. I asked our cabbie how Brits feel about George W. Bush. "You have to understand," he said, "that we cabbies are rather conservative. We don't like your president. To us, he's simply too far to the left."

So, French president Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in London on Wednesday (the same day as me, though that's merely a coincidence) and
steps off the plane at Heathrow to a controversy tailor-made for the Fleet Street tabloids. Mr. Sarkozy is married to former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and wouldn't you know it, right around the time they sit down with Queen Elizabeth, it's revealed that Christie's auction house will soon be selling nude photographs of the French president's new wife taken by photographer Michael Cornte in 1993.

So, I make it to London and the first impression is ... searing cold, followed by sticker shock. The dollar doesn't add up to even half the heft of the British pound these days, so if you come here any time soon, don't freak out when the latte that costs you $3.84 back in Dallas is the equivalent of $6 or more over here. The second impression is ... Owen Wilson. The dude is all over the place. Or at least his picture is. Posters for his new movie Drillbit Taylor line the walls of the Underground, which is a very cool (and inexpensive) way to move around. As a matter of fact, evidence of Dallas icons is all over the place here. The Eagles, who, as you know, were co-founded by Linden native and North Dallas resident Don Henley, finished a run of shows here Wednesday night at the O2, the same sprawling venue now hosting the King Tut exhibit, which, of course, will leave London and head to the Dallas Museum of Art. (Much more on that extravaganza later.)

Staff writer Michael Granberry (left) has left Dallas for snowy London, where the temperature is in the 30s. London is abuzz over the King Tut exhibition, which he's going to check out. Tut heads to Dallas in October and will be here until next May. In recent days in East London, the artifacts of the boy king have been forced to share a mammoth exhibition hall, the O2, with a certain retro rock group known as the Eagles.

But that's not all that's happening. London-only stage offerings include the musical Dirty Dancing and the play The God of Carnage, featuring Ralph Fiennes. In between bites of fish and chips, and having to survive the U.S. dollar's decline, he'll check in on the Hamiltons Gallery in London, which inspired Dallas' own Goss-Michael Foundation on Cedar Springs. Keep track of Michael Granberry's travels here.