It’s that time again, time for another round of art openings. For more info about the galleries and the exhibitions visit their respective websites.

PDNB: Bill Owens: New Suburbia
Artist Reception and Book Signing (5-8PM)
1202 Dragon Street, Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75207
214.969.1852 // pdnbgallery.com
image: Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad. 1971
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Conduit Gallery: Kenneth Holder, Mary Emma Hawthorne and Small Works Group Show
Opening Reception (5-8PM)
1626-C Hi Line Dr, Dallas, TX
214.939.0064 // conduitgallery.com
image: Kenneth Holder
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Holly Johnson Gallery: David Aylsworth: Is It the Real Turtle Soup?
Opening Reception (5-8PM)
1411 Dragon Street, Dallas, Texas 75207
214.369.0169 // hollyjohnsongallery.com
image: David Aylsworth, See the Sail as it Swiftly Swells, 2008
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PanAmerican ArtProjects: Elisa D’Arrigo and McKay Otto
Opening Reception (5-8PM)
1615 Dragon St, Dallas, TX 75207
214.522.3303 // panamericanart.com
image: Elisa D’Arrigo, Blue Glimpse, 2007
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Marty Walker Gallery: Pard Morrison and Douglas Leon Cartmel
Opening Reception (5-8PM)
2135 Farrington St, Dallas, TX 75207
214.749.0066 // martywalkergallery.com
image: Pard Morrison, The Center of My Heart, 2008
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Craighead-Green Gallery: Susan Sales and Raymond Saa
Opening Reception (5-8PM)
1011 Dragon St, Dallas, Texas 75207
214.855.0779 // craigheadgreen.com
image: Susan Sales, Lipstick and High Heels, 2008
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Brent Ozaeta will give an artist talk this Saturday at The Public Trust at 4PM.

Brent Ozaeta is a Dallas-based artist who is currently featured in New American Paintings no. 78. He is a very promising young artist, so don’t miss the opportunity to meet him and hear him talk about his first major solo exhibition.

The Public Trust is located at 2919-C Commerce St in Dallas, TX.

My good friend James Cope of The Goss-Michael Foundation will be giving a talk about at The MAC about the YBA (Young British Artist) movement of the late 80’s and early 90’s, and the impact those artists have had on the up and coming artists of today, as well as the art world at large.

The MAC // Wed. Nov. 19th at 6:30
The MAC is located at 3120 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX 75204 // 214.953.1212

Image: Damien Hirst with his sculpture “For the Love of God.” For more on this artist and the making of this piece visit Supertouch.

Infant Sleepers by RheaCycled

Ok, for those of you who are not familiar with ETSY, it is a massive online community where you can buy handmade goods directly from artists, designers and crafty people all over the world. There are far too many things that are sold on that site for me to list, so you’ll just have to check it.

As for this event, ETSY Dallas crew is posting up for one day at The Sons of Hermann Hall for their Jingle Bash. As the name indicates this will be a fantastic place for you to do some serious holiday shopping. The best part of hitting this up is that you are assured that 5,000 other people won’t be giving that same gift to their BFF as well.

But wait there’s more…
In addition to shopping for handmade goodness, there will also be live music, a full bar (which is well priced, thus leaving you more room for spending) and everyone’s favorite…KARAOKE!

It is all going down Saturday, November 22 from 3-10PM at The Sons of Hermann Hall
3414 Elm St.
Dallas, TX 75226
214.747.4422

So let’s boycott the mall that day and hit switches on the indie tip.

I will be exhibiting new prints at this event, so please come out and support Dallas talent, its a good chance to get some holiday shopping done early.

TEXAS’ NEXT TOP DESIGNER AND LA REUNION TX COLLABORATE TO PRESENT “HATCH”
Hatch is a pop-up retail experience featuring approximately 20 Texas designers and artists who for one night will present and sell their work at the new La Reunion gallery located in Dallas’ Design District. There will be music, drinks and a silent auction as well.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 (7-10PM) :: $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
2129 Farrington St. :: Dallas, TX

About the Organizers
Texas’ Next Top Designer, Inc, a non-profit organization committed to nurturing diverse entrepreneurs by supporting business development for the fashion and aligned industries. La Reunion TX, is a non-profit established to create an artist residency program in Dallas.

For more information visit…
texasnexttopdesigner.org
lareuniontx.org

Cowboy Chow opened up during my metblogs hiatus, and since I have recommended it to so many people that haven’t heard of it, it’s time to give it a proper review

First thing to mention is the restaurant’s pedigree. Cowboy Chow is the kid brother of the much lauded Twisted Root, which has the best burgers in Dallas, bar none. However, you won’t find any burgers at Cowboy Chow. What you will find is a really diverse menu for your open range dining experience.

The first thing that I tried was the Dr. Pepper braised short ribs. They were completely amazing, but are no longer on the menu; I only mention them to give you a feel for the creativity of the menu. The focus of their menu is the tacos. They have 4 different types of brisket tacos, my favorite being their standard brisket taco with sharp cheddar, pico and an avocado-lime cream, all of which is served over a bed of rice. The rest of the taco menu is given over to several chicken tacos and their veggie “cowgirl” taco.

The rest of the menu is filled out with brisket sloppy joes, a cast iron chicken pot pie and other range inspired eats. The appetizers are limited to 3 items. I recommend the Cowboy Nachos, homemade potato chips with queso fresco, pico and a southwestern ranch drizzle over the top. The fried green tomato lollipops are fun and the sloppy joe sliders can be a meal in themselves.

For as rich as the food sounds, you don’t leave the place feeling overstuffed or light in the wallet. The portions are perfect and the price is right, with the entrées priced between 7-9 bucks. The service is ridiculously fast, I have never waited more than 5 minutes for anything there, so you can really get in and out if you have to do a short lunch. The staff is really friendly and attentive, keeping your carafes of sweet watermelon tea filled to the brim or the pure cane sugar mexican cokes comin’.

So next time your out in Deep Ellum saddle up at Cowboy Chow.

Cowboy Chow
2801 Commerce St
Dallas, TX 7522
214.742.2469
Hours Mon-Sat 11-2:30 PM

Writing for Metblogs has the potential to be the most rewarding experience in your entire life. It’ll make you rich, famous, good looking, will help you lose weight, make your clothes fit better, and get you a super good deal on a new car. It will make you the most well known person on the entire planet. Yes, each and every one of you. Really.

OK maybe not. Actually those are all lies, but it’s fun at least. The truth is Metblogs is the largest network of locally focused blogs on the web, covering almost 60 cities around the world and we’re looking to add a few new bloggers/writters/authors to this fine site. If you wanna know more about us check out this wikipedia entry but it’s kinda boring so I won’t waste time repeating it all here again. If you wanna write for us, here’s the scoop:

• All author positions are volunteer. That means you don’t get paid.
• You must live in (or very near) the city you plan to write about.
• Anything you post must relate to the city somehow. That means you shouldn’t post a movie review, but talking about going to see a movie at a local theater is fine.
• There’s no requirement for how much you can or should write, but we ask that if we set you up as an author you make about 3 posts a week.
• You can post about things you love, you can post about things you hate. It’s entirely up to you

Additionally, because of our global network, there’s plenty of options for things you write to be read by people all over the world. Interested? Want more details? Post a comment and we’ll be in touch!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Barry Whistler Gallery: Robert Wilhite: The Bomb and Kirsten Macy: New Paintings, Opening Reception: 6-8PM
2909-B Canton St. Dallas TX 75226 // 214.939.0242 //

Road Agent: Party at the Moontower, Opening Reception: 6-8PM
2909-A Canton St. Dallas TX 75226 // 214.749.4049 //

Kettle Art: Prepared Americans: New Paintings by Cathey Miller: Opening Reception: 7-10PM
2714 Elm Street Dallas, Texas 75226 // 214 573-7622 //

Denver based artist Evan Hecox returns to Dallas on February 29 for the release of the Limited Edition boxed set of his book Urban Abstract by Bee Lee Gee Press.

The event is at the Design Within Reach studio at 4525 McKinney Ave, Ste. 103 from 6-9PM. Don’t miss your chance to meet Evan and get your copy and have it personalized. Complimentary beverages will be served throughout the evening.

About the Box Set
The limited edition of Urban Abstract features an exclusive hand printed dust jacket. The books are signed in an edition of 50 and bear an emboss stamp. A set of 8×10 in. prints will accompany the book all of which are housed in an exquisite handmade solid wood box with a line drawing of the book’s cover laser etched onto its lid (see above image).

About the Artist
Evan Hecox is an artist and graphic designer who has become known largely through the subculture of skateboarding, having produced hundreds of skateboard graphics since 1997. He has also emerged as a fine artist having shown work in galleries both in the United States and abroad, including solo shows in Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas and Tokyo, and group shows in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Paris and London. He creates drawings, paintings, and prints based upon his observations of environments, people, cars and signage. His works depict city scenes or isolated elements that are almost cinematic in their stark contrast and abstraction. Hecox is fascinated with the complexity of the urban landscape and people from the mundane surroundings that one would normally overlook. Like snapshots or filmstrips, his art captures the everyday existence of the average person as they traverse the detritus of the modern metropolis. His stylistic approach is based on the process of amplification as it affects form and color, breaking down the image, removing elements and emphasizing others. His interest in the urban landscape began during the time he lived in the Mission District of San Francisco and he has since drawn inspiration from many places where he has traveled. His work was included in the exhibition and book, Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture, which documents 30 years worth of art, design, photography and culture surrounding the worlds of surfing, skateboarding, punk rock, hip-hop and graffiti.

The Public Trust is opening a new exhibition called Primer on March 8, 2008. It’s focus is on entry level art collecting. At the very least my hopes for this show is for it to act as a Public Service Announcement for the collecting of art.

In my 5 years of publishing art books and running a gallery, I have found that so many people express an interest in having art in their home but really don’t know where to start, or that in their experience the prices of work in a gallery has been really daunting.

Primer will feature originals and prints from emerging to mid-career artists, with no original piece in the show over $1,500. The Public Trust print collection ranges from $30 to $500. The opening reception will run from 6-9pm and the show is up till May 3, 2008.