Official behind-the-scenes blog of the Dallas Museum of Art
The DMA is excited to partner again this year with DART on their 2014 Student Art Contest. Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to create an 11×17 poster illustrating the theme “Off We Go!” Visit DART’s website for complete rules and info.
The contest deadline is February 18, so encourage those creative hands to get to work–We can’t wait to see the colorful and imaginative drawings they’ll make!
Sarah Coffey
Assistant to the Chair of Learning Initiatives
Be sure to stop by the DMA by Sunday, January 12, for a last look at Jim Hodges: Give More Than You Take. which we were excited to co-organize with the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and to premiere in Dallas. Starting bright and early on January 13, DMA staff will begin packing the artworks in preparation for shipping the exhibition to Minnesota . These photos showcase the careful packing methods needed for such fragile and unusual materials.
Jim Hodges, Anymore, 2010, handmade paper and cast paper with Beva adhesive, Lillian and Billy Mauer
Anymore is pinned into place to prevent movement during transit, and then padded with Tyvek-covered bolsters and archival (acid-free) tissue paper. 
Jim Hodges, Untitled (bells), 2002, blown glass in 18 parts, Pizzuti Collection
Each of the glass bells is wrapped in Tyvek and surrounded with custom-cut foam collars that fit snugly around the piece. 
Jim Hodges, Untitled, 2011, mirror on canvas, Penny Pritzker and Bryan Traubert
The black mirror Untitled hung high on the back wall of the Barrel Vault comes apart into five pieces; each is screwed into the back of a travel frame so that it “floats” and nothing touches its
fragile edges.
Jim Hodges, Changing Things, 1997, silk, plastic, and wire, Dallas Museum of Art, Mary Margaret Munson Wilcox Fund and gift of Catherine and Will Rose, Howard Rachofsky, Christopher Drew and Alexandra May, and Martin Posner and Robyn Menter-Posner
Each of the 342 pieces of the DMA’s own Changing Things artwork is pinned into its numbered spot onto a foam tray inside archival blue-board boxes. The numbers correspond to labeled holes on the plastic template that hangs on the wall for installation.
Jim Hodges, the dark gate, 2008, wood, steel, electric light, perfume, paint, and flooring, Private Collection
The many custom bolts that attach the sides, ceiling, and floor panels of the dark gate room are neatly inserted in parallel rows inside their crate. 
Jim Hodges, Untitled (Gate), 1991, steel, aluminum, copper, brass, paint, and electric lighting, Collection of the artist
Eleven strips of twill are drilled into the foam backing of Untitled (Gate)’s crate to secure the chains for travel; the charms that hang in the center of the web are further protected by a Tyvek-covered foam sheet.
Jim Hodges, on the way between places, Nos. 8-21, 2009, charcoal and saliva on paper, Collection of the artist
Due to charcoal’s fragile “friable” (the tendency to flake) nature, it is best that the medium travels flat. These 14 pieces in the series from the artist’s collection are each wrapped and ride inside a
foam slot.
Jim Hodges, With the Wind, 1997, scarves and thread, Collection Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman NY, Courtesy The FLAG Art Foundation
To minimize the possibility of wrinkles and protect the fibers of the artwork, With the Wind is wrapped in tissue and rolled around a tube. 
Reagan Duplisea is the associate registrar, exhibitions at the DMA.
If you’re an anglophile like me, you are probably eagerly anticipating the premier of the fourth season of Downton Abbey this weekend! Yes, we’ll miss the characters we lost last season, but it will be nice to return to the opulence, extravagance, and intrigue that is British nobility of the early twentieth century.
In my enthusiasm for the premier on Sunday, I decided to explore the DMA’s decorative arts collection for pieces that may have decorated manors similar to the Crowley’s home. Check out some of the stunning works below for a taste of Downton style at the DMA!
And don’t forget to tune in to PBS at 8pm on Sunday to find out what happens next at the dramatic Downton Abbey!
Artworks shown:
Hayley Prihoda
McDermott Intern for Gallery and Community Teaching
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Whether you set specific goals for 2014, or are just considering ways to give back to the community, the C3 Volunteer Program may be right for you. Center for Creative Connections (C3) volunteers help visitors to enjoy and explore the Museum’s collection and interactive activities, both in the C3 and in our collection galleries.
We’ve invited Kenton Visser, an artist and current C3 volunteer, to share his experiences–and a few of his works–with “Uncrated.”
The first question I ask myself when I wind up somewhere new is “Where is the art?” The Dallas Museum of Art has been the best answer I’ve found to that question in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
During my first visit to the DMA, my sister and I spent over an hour in C3. We were excited by how the Museum valued a space for visitors to not just observe art objects but respond by creating as well. The people at the DMA are aware that the Museum contains worlds to be found, and they encourage exploration with self-guided tours that focus on a particular theme or subject in various areas of the collection. As my personal take on these tours, I sometimes give myself drawing assignments in order to absorb what’s on display more fully, often surprising myself with what I can notice if I really look.
Recent changes with the DMA’s return to free general admission and the launch of DMA Friends have removed barriers and made it easy for visitors to gain rewards based on a point system. Volunteering brings its own rewards (such as free parking and free admission to special exhibitions and events) as well as 500 points for every shift. Naturally, I’ve enjoyed these perks, but volunteering has been rewarding enough in itself.
Although the Museum isn’t exactly close by for me (I currently live south of Fort Worth), I’ve always found it to be worth the trip. I applied to be a volunteer this past summer, looking for a way to better connect with artistic circles. My monthly shifts have given me a recurring reason to visit the Museum, and volunteering with C3 has provided an energizing platform for interacting with visitors through art. Even though I spend a large portion of my time making art, being in the Museum (and especially in C3) gives me a unique chance to see how art is received by a wide variety of people. School groups, individuals, adults and children, those who have studied art and those who haven’t—everyone who comes into C3 has a different reaction to the art and the hands-on activities available.
I’ve particularly enjoyed volunteering at the Pop-Up Art Spot, a compact cart stocked with simple activities that shows up in different galleries each week. It’s a nice oasis in the galleries and brings creative connections to people who wouldn’t seek out the main C3 space. I’ve been able to win over a number of visitors who seem unsure about participating in an activity (usually “I can’t draw” or “Isn’t this for kids?”) but then find themselves thoroughly enjoying it. Because I’m usually drawing or working on activities myself, I often have conversations with visitors about my own art. I’ve even had a few requests to prove my abilities by drawing portraits of the visitors or popular cartoon characters. These experiences in the C3 Gallery and Pop-Up Art Spot are perfect proof of the DMA’s belief that an art museum shouldn’t be just a building full of objects but a place where art happens.
If you are interested in becoming a C3 volunteer, request an application here. The application deadline is Friday, January 10.
Kenton Visser is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and has lived in Crowley, Texas, since 2009. In addition to volunteering, he works as an illustrator, studio assistant and certified framer. His portfolio can be seen on his website.
Melissa Nelson Gonzales is the C3 gallery manager at the DMA.
The year 2013 has been an exciting one at the DMA. We’ve welcomed more than 540,000 visitors, launched new programs, and hosted 11 exhibitions. Below are a few of the Uncrated team’s favorite highlights from the past year.
Thank you for helping us make 2013 a great year. We wish you a very happy new year!
Kimberly Daniell is the manager of communications and public affairs at the DMA.
Organizing a museum art studio that is used by an entire education department can be truly difficult. It’s important to create a system for everyone to follow in order to avoid a chaotic mess of clutter and confusion! I’ve recently been dubbed the “Studio Fairy” and have been making it my New Year’s goal to implement a workable organization system that everyone in our Department can use.
Turn over a New Leaf in the New Year:
There is no possible way that everyone will understand your method without some gentle reminders. Make labels for everything! Every box, container, or project. Typed is more legible.
Label your cabinets!
Pictures of where items belong inside cabinets are a great way for everyone to keep the studio organized.
Everyone knows where everything goes!
Kind reminders never hurt. Tack up a few clever sayings around the studio to help.
Doesn’t hurt to have reminders
Commit to sticking with it! Like exercise, to get the desired organized results you have to stick with it! And as we all know it is easier to do when everyone is on the same page. Be committed to staying clean and organized this new year! Build time in your schedule each day to place materials back in their nice, cozy home.
Sharing Solutions:
Countless individuals use the C3 Art Studio throughout the week, hosting over thirty programs a month in our space. It was imperative to find a solution for when we need to prepare materials for a workshop. In the past, materials would wander off, be put away randomly or even be thrown out because no one knew what belonged to a particular program and what didn’t. JC Bigornia and I decided we would put an end to the confusion, so we spray-painted our rolling carts with chalkboard paint. Now, staff can write the program and date on the cart and stash their materials safely. If the program has passed, our staff puts all the materials back in their proper place and erases what is written on the cart.
That Darn Emotional Attachment:
Most people attach deep meaning to projects that they’ve spent hours creating and developing. A lot of us are also hoarders to some degree and don’t want to let go of something we may “need” along the way. We can easily be consumed with stuff and become trapped under the weight of sentimentality. I’m not saying be less sensitive—but now with the rise in technology we can easily archive our prized activities, samples, and creations with the click of a camera, or wave of a portable scanner wand (this is on my wish list)! Keep digital folders (backed up), create a Flikr account and say goodbye!
Look at our active studio
Evaluate Need:
There are times when you just have to purge. When tackling a cleaning project or when you are faced with lack of space, you must evaluate what you have. Is it really important to hold on to that never-ending supply of half used scraps of ______ (insert item here)? When the C3 staff did a major clean-out of our basement and art studio we had to make sure we only kept things that served a purpose. Frankly, we had to remove what did not because we were running out of space for the things we did in fact need. We had to ask ourselves the following questions, which are good rules to live by:
Stop making excuses for keeping things that you will no longer use!
Hang up your aprons so that they are easy to grab when inspiration strikes!
Your Work-Space:
It is very important for those using your space to have a clean work-space and a comfortable, welcoming environment in which to work. The art studio is a place that is supposed to provide people with a feeling of security, as if it was their own studio. Art is very much a product of it’s environment and if the environment is able to inspire, people are more likely to conceive creative thoughts and create rich works of art. We have to maintain a great environment for everyone who enters the space!
Say goodbye to your ways of old! Wishing you luck staying organized in 2014! Remember, it’s about progress, not about perfection!
Politeness goes a long way.
Products That Never Fail and Guiding Resources:
Craft Caddies at work!
We would love to hear your ideas! Send me pictures of your work-space and give us your fantastic tips. Happy New Year and stay tuned for more organization in 2014!
Amanda Batson
C3 Program Coordinator
From twinkle lights and tinsel to plastic mistletoe and inflatable snowmen, decorations abound during the holiday season. But at the DMA, our walls are “decorated” the entire year, so we poked through the Museum’s collection for particularly festive artworks that would make unique holiday deco. Here’s what we found:
Instead of felted reindeer and fake snow atop your dining room table, how about incorporating Erik Swenson’s tableau of fantastical cold-weather creatures? The one in the sweater would make for interesting dinner conversation.
Erick Swenson, Untitled, 1998, styrofoam, resin, wool, foam, epoxy, clay, and paint, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Mark Babcock
I would happily exchange the star atop my tree for this Indonesian standing guardian figure (tepaung). Unlike my star, this figure is capable of warding off evil spirits.
Standing guardian figure, c. 1300-1800, Indonesia, East Kalimantan, Mahakam River Region, Belayan River, Kenyah-Kayan Complex, possibly Bahau or Bahau-related people, ironwood, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
Trade in your tangled ball of twinkle lights for Bruce Nauman’s neon letters.
Bruce Nauman, Perfect Door/Perfect Odor/Perfect Rodo, 1972, white glass tubing, clear glass tubing, and suspension frames, Dallas Museum of Art, General Acquisitions Fund, The 500, Inc., Dorace M. Fichtenbaum, Deedie and Rusty Rose, an anonymous donor, the Friends of Contemporary Art and a matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in honor of Sue Graze
These ancient Peruvian beakers, which may have been used to serve a corn beer called chichi, would be a lovely table setting for any holiday dinner party. Please pass the chicha!
Group of beakers, A.D. 900-1100, Peru, North Coast, La Leche Valley, Batan Grande Region, Sican culture, gold, Dallas Museum of Art, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison
To create this sculpture, Annette Lawrence tore junk mail into strips of equal width. Who needs handmade chains of paper strips when you could decorate your hearth with this?
Annette Lawrence, Free Paper 12 / 05, 2006-08, mixed media, Dallas Museum of Art, Charron and Peter Denker Contemporary Texas Art Fund
Andrea Severin Goins is the interpretation specialist at the DMA.
This month’s recipe is inspired by our wonderful Pointillist painting by Pissarro, Apple Harvest. I imagine this painting, like most apple picking, takes place in the fall. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still bountiful varieties of apples to be had at this time of year–just check your local grocery store! And one of our very own McDermott Interns–whose favorite dessert is apple pie–just happened to have a birthday last week. But much like the Neo-Impressionists, I wanted to do my own thing. So I decided on an apple pie inspired cupcake, which combines apples and spice into a scrumptious handheld bite. Try these out for your next holiday get together and impress your friends with your artistic hand. Happy Holidays!
Camille Pissarro, Apple Harvest, 1888, Dallas Museum of Art, Munger Fund
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Yields 24 cupcakes
Level: Moderate
Topping:
2 Jonagold (or similar) apples, diced small
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons caramel sauce (left over from last month’s recipe)
In medium saucepan, melt butter and sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add diced apples and sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until apples are soft and lightly caramelized. Remove from heat and stir in caramel sauce. Set aside to cool. Note: 2 tablespoons sugar can be substituted for caramel sauce.
Cupcakes:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
Preheat oven to 325° F. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and both sugars, beating at medium speed until light. Add vanilla and continue beating at medium speed. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing until fully combined.
In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Beginning and ending with dry ingredients, slowly add flour mixture to mixer, alternating with milk. After each addition, mix on low speed until just incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Divide batter into muffin cups, filling each cup slightly more than ½ full. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with sparse crumbs. Allow to cool slightly in pan, then transfer to metal rack to cool completely.
Frosting:
½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
½ cup shortening
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Splash of milk as needed
Beat butter and shortening in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium-high speed until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, mixing on low until combined. Add splash of milk and additional sugar as needed to achieve thickened, slightly firm consistency.
Assembly: Fill quart size Ziploc bag with frosting. Squeeze frosting to one corner and snip to create opening. Outline the rim of each cupcake with a line of frosting. Place a spoonful of apple filling in the middle of each cupcake. Cross filling with lines of additional frosting in a basket weave pattern, mimicking pie crust.
Store finished cupcakes in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Recipe adapted from Alpineberry.
Sarah Coffey
Assistant to the Chair of Learning Initiatives
Last week, we introduced you to Russell Sublette, mountmaker extraordinaire, who is usually happy to be the invisible hand behind the displays at the Museum. But once a year, during the holiday season, he comes out from behind the scenes to become the “Living Christmas Tree.” He adorns himself with garlands, lights, and decorations, and then recruits helper elves (oftentimes unsuspecting McDermott Interns) to carol and spread holiday cheer throughout the DMA.
The tradition started in 1989, when one of the DMA registrars was upset that she had forgotten a Christmas tree to decorate the office. Sublette wanted to cheer her up, so he said, “How about I become a tree?” Since then, the annual event sees co-workers pushing him on a flat cart, toting armloads of cords for the lights and music, around the office hallways, spreading holiday cheer.
“Whenever I do it, I picture myself as Charlie Brown,” Sublette says.
Below is a video of 2013’s “Living Christmas Tree” roaming the DMA halls.
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Reagan Duplisea is associate registrar of exhibitions at the DMA.
DMA Education staff have been as busy as Santa’s elves this holiday season, crafting, baking, painting, and getting ready for this most wonderful time of the year. We get a lot of inspiration from the art that surrounds us each day, but we also find inspiration on a little site called Pinterest.
Check out what we’ve been doing when we’re not at the DMA. If you see a project or recipe you like, use the links below to find instructions, ingredients, materials, and recipes.
We wish you and yours a very Pinteresting Holiday!
Leah Hanson
Manager of Early Learning Programs
