This is the last weekend to see one of the more ambitious exhibitions in Dallas. If you’re familiar with Francisco Moreno’s art, then you will understand that he is interested in outdoing his previous shows with something even more epic. In the last show at Erin Cluley Gallery, Moreno managed to blow up the city with his exploration of the shape of the iPhone as paintings and sculptures. I read so much press on that show that I too needed to weigh into the fray. This year he has outdone himself again with an installation of a chapel and accompanying work.
When you first enter Erin Cluley Gallery, you are confronted by this huge structure which nearly scrapes the ceiling. The wood supports and panels of the chapel are openly exposed so you can see the guts before you see the artistic rendering inside the structure. Also, on the walls are some framed works that complement the structure. These artworks give you hints of what is to come from the inside. Drawings that speak to some of the compositions as well as paintings that reflect the style of the work in the chapel. In the drawing Mechanical Hand, Moreno mixes classical poses of figures with modern machinery and playful toy like mice. His drawings feel rooted in the Renaissance, but with the flare of the Romantic. The works on the wall act as an introduction to the overwhelming experience of the chapel.
I felt the walls instantly closing in as I walked into the space. But as I got caught up in the details, the pictures opened up the room. I began to get lost in each little scene. I was reminded of the artist Thomas Hart Benton and the way his depiction of people flowed effortlessly with the objects and buildings. Both Benton and Moreno create a maelstrom composition that captures you in one detail then releases you to the next detail. I was struck by Moreno’s use of shaded squares to fill the negative spaces. I have seen several examples of Renaissance paintings and decorative objects that use similar geometric shapes. This shape activates the negative space with the optical illusion of space and movement.
The chapel is mainly in black and white with hints of muted colors. Because of the way the colors interact with the black and white, I thought that they might be interesting to view through 3D glasses. I wish I could test out my theory, but the show is coming down this weekend.
A monster truck, an eagle, a strange twisted necked creature, and various sized people are some of the images that will hit you visually. I found myself laying down and taking it all in because of the amazing spectacle this secular chapel creates. Francisco Moreno’s chapel comes down May 19th, so make sure you see this building inside a building.
