I made it a mission this summer to spend a full day in Fort Worth. I took my first visit to the Takashi Murakami show at the Fort Worth Modern, but I am still chewing on his art. Maybe there will be a review for The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg soon, but right now I urgently request you see the Eric Fischl, Riley Holloway, and Regional Juried Exhibition before they disappear over the summer.
Eric Fischl has a major exhibition at the Dallas Contemporary, yet I would say that his William Campbell Contemporary Art show is even better. In Fort Worth, Fischl reveals his process of creating his paintings. These are sketches of his paintings but I also see them as finished objects. Fischl takes mylars and prints an image on the surface. Then he pins them up in different positions. Each composition is framed, but you can imagine him taking them out of the frame and rearranging the mylar figures again. When you move from image to image, you start noticing the same people. They are just in a different position in another composition. Like a non-digital version of photoshop, Fischl can move around his subjects until he gets just the right position for a painting.
Next, I would suggest visiting Fort Works Art and the Riley Holloway solo show titled Spectrum. In a similar vein to the Fischl’s work, Holloway’s focus is on people. However, I would say that Holloway is more interested in getting to know his subjects. Fischl is making pictures as an outside observer almost judging the scene. Holloway gets to know the people he portrays and seeks to get an intimate portrayal of each individual. You look at his figures and you feel like you know them or could at least talk to them. I don’t feel the cold distance I experience in Fischl, though that distance is important to his work. Holloway gives you a completely different feeling towards depicting people. For me, each painting drew me into the story.
I rarely get over to Artspace 111. Not because I don’t enjoy my visits, it is just that I often times get lost in the museums and run out of time to visit the space. But this time I skipped some of my usual haunts because I was intrigued by the juror for their fifth annual regional juried exhibition. I wanted to see Christina Rees’ taste in action. She once ran a gallery called Road Agent where she selected artists that band Devo might have collected. This is a huge show that fills every wall, so even though Ree had to pick from over 1500 pieces, I am sure it was difficult to make everything fit meaningfully into one show. A few themes did arise. I noticed a few trailer park scenes or abandoned vehicles. Justin Korver’s embroidery on hats was quite impressive but also felt rural in nature. Zach Morris’ sculpture titled Gun Rack also felt rural. Michael Odom was picked for best-in-show for the painting Electrical Box. If you listen to the podcast Ree sometimes co-hosts, you might understand how this painting might strike her as extremely relevant to her urban sensibilities. One of my favorite pieces were Carl Smith’s paintings that recreated the tax forms. Smith makes them look like a child painted them, therefore making me feel that doing my taxes could be fun. If only for a moment. There are too many works to write about here or anywhere, so I would suggest you just go see the show.
Artspace 111 Regional Juried show is up through the 28th. Eric Fischl is also up through the 28th at William Campbell Contemporary Art. You have a bit more time for Riley Holloway at Fort Works Art. His show comes down on August 25th. Make it a full day and visit Fort Worth art scene this summer.
