20th Anniversary Celebration

Dallas Visual Arts Center

1981-2001

With the Bath House Cultural Center and the Sammons Center for the Arts.

Dallas Visual Art Center [DVAC], celebrating its 20th anniversary with the Bath House Cultural Center and Sammons Center, plans a Family Afternoon of artful energy. DVACs new Education Coordinator Kaneem Smith reports, "To honor the 20th birthday, we'll have art supplies galore for children and their parents to make images using and repeating the number 20."

On display will be Critic's Choice, a compendium of 60 works chosen by Steve Nash, director of the Nasher Sculpture Center, that features paintings, photography, and sculpture by Texas artists. The Mosaics series sponsored by ExxonMobil presents work by VE: Rows Fros Anything Goes as a response to the artist's concerns about hair styles and care.

DVAC recalls its early beginnings in 1981 when D'Art, A Visual Arts Center for Dallas, organized by Judy Hearst Smith and Mary Ward, became the first alternative art space in Dallas. The organization took off when Patricia Meadows joined the Board and co-signed the initial lease for a warehouse on Swiss Avenue. As its visionary leader, Ms Meadows saw to it that D'Art opened its doors to show artists' works; offer studio art classes; and provide office spaces for other arts organizations.

Now housed in a new building funded by The Meadows Foundation, DVAC presents over ten exhibitions annually featuring the work of emerging Texas artists and serving Dallas as an important contemporary art space. Other programs include The DVAC Shop of artist-made wares; a new youth program called Art Think; studio art classes and workshops for artists.

DVAC is located on the north edge of Deep Ellum just east of downtown Dallas in the Wilson Historic District. The Center is open Tuesday ­ Saturday 10 to 5 pm and Thursday until 8 pm. For information, call 214-821-2522.

This information was provided by the Dallas Visual Arts Center. For questions or comments, please call 214-821-2522.