Dallas Museum of Art Uncrated

. . . is singing loud for all to hear!

With the holiday season in full swing, I’ve taken some liberties with a handful of my favorite yuletide melodies. If you know any Claymation experts who’d be willing to work their magic on a DMA-inspired stop-motion musical, please give me a call. Until then, here are a few remixed holiday songs to celebrate some of the works from our collection.

The Minotaur at C3
(to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”)

You know Jasper Johns, Donald Judd, and Robert Smithson’s
Works in the contemporary collection,
But do you recall
Marcel Dzama’s white minotaur?

The Minotaur at C3
Has a rough and stubby nose.
His face is made of plaster
And it’s covered up with gauze.

Some say he’s funny-looking
‘Cause he only has one arm,
But all the limbs he’s missing
Minotaur makes up with charm.

Half a person and half bull,
Sitting in his chair—
Minotaur, you’re quite a sight!
Drawing you is a delight.

Now you’re our favorite figure
Found in Greek mythology.
How did you leave your labyrinth?
It’ll stay a mystery.

Marcel Dzama, The Minotaur, 2008, Dallas Museum of Art, DMA/amfAR Benefit Auction Fund, 2008.43.2.a-e, © Marcel Dzama

DMA Clocks
(to the tune of “Jingle Bell Rock”)

Tiny clocks, modern clocks, freestanding clocks,
19th- and 17th-century clocks,
Up on the 3rd floor at the Reves Salon
Is William Moore’s clock shaped like a sun.

Ball Wall Clock, Tall Case Clock, Gilbert Rohde’s Clock,
Paul Frankl’s stylish “Telechron” clock,
Check out a print with clock faces to spare
By Fernand Legér.

There’s Untitled (Perfect Lovers)
Tick-tocking side by side.
Stephen King and Barbara Kruger
Placed a clock on their book’s front side.

If you ever hope to hear the clocks chime,
You may be out of luck—
So many hands, but so few that tell time
On the DMA’s clocks.

Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller Clock Company, Inc., Z-clock, 1933, Dallas Museum of Art, anonymous gift, Image courtesy Dallas Museum of Art, 2006.19

George Nelson Associates, Howard Miller Clock Co., “Ball” wall clock, designed 1947, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Alconda-Owsley Foundation in honor of Elizabeth Boeckman, Image Courtesy Dallas Museum of Art, 1994.255

Fernand Legér, Clocks, date n.d., Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred L. Bromberg, © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris, 1962.60

Félix González-Torres, Untitled (Perfect Lovers), 1987-1990, Dallas Museum of Art, Fractional gift of the Rachofsky Collection, © The Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation, courtesy of Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York, 2001.342.A-B

Benjamin Bagnall Sr., Tall case clock, 1730-1745, Dallas Museum of Art, The Faith P. and Charles L. Bybee Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Perot, 1985.B.4

Stephen King, Barbara Kruger, My Pretty Pony, 1988, Dallas Museum of Art, anonymous gift, 1991.96

William Moore, Sun-Shaped Clock, n.d., Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, 1985.R.478

Paul Frankl, Warren Electric Company, “Telechron” mantel clock, designed 1928, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T, Owsley via the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, 1994.8

I Saw A Tiger Licking Its Paws
(to the tune of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”)

I saw a tiger licking its paws
After the Museum closed last night.
It didn’t see me peek
Down the Japanese gallery.
It jumped off of its scroll
Into the hall in front of me.

Then, I saw the tiger stretch out its paws,
And let out a roar with all its might.
Oh, I’ve warned everyone I see
But no one else will believe
That the tiger comes alive at night.

Nagasawa Rosetsu, Tiger, after 1792, Dallas Museum of Art, General Acquisitions Fund, 1972.13

Happy holidays!

Paulina Lopez is the McDermott Graduate Intern for Visitor Engagement at the DMA.