We were fortunate to take part in the first “Experience ART with artinfusion” trip to Dallas with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Artinfusion is a young patrons’ group within Crystal Bridges’ membership. The group is a dynamic community of arts supporters (ages 21-40s) who come together to network, learn about the Museum, and celebrate the arts in our region.
The opportunity was designed for artinfusion Members to experience the artsier side of Dallas. We were able to enjoy the luxurious hotel, The Joule, much like our 21c’s hotel DNA, fine cuisine and morning coffees, and a broad spectrum of what Dallas’ art scene has to offer. We started our trip with a fresh table setting of artisan pizzas and cauliflower salad at The Joule’s Americano and then later jumped on a private bus and headed over to the Dallas Art Fair. We attended a private showing for top art collectors before it opened up to the general public. The sparkle to our first stop was not only complementary Ruinart champagne but a rare look into the buying and collecting side of art. We were whisked away after the Dallas Art Fair and went to an opening of Karl Holmqvist at The Power Station, visited art galleries and ended the first day at Savor Gastropub.
The next day began at the one and only AT&T (Dallas Cowboys) Stadium. The stadium showcases a fabulous art collection. Jerry and Gene Jones are passionate art enthusiasts who believe art should be worked into our daily lives for all to enjoy. We met collector Howard Rachofsky at his semi-private gallery space, The Warehouse, and saw a quirky art collection, before attending an opening celebration at Dallas Contemporary featuring Helmut Lang, Paola Pivi & Dan Colen.
The last day we went to The Modern in Fort Worth for a guided tour of Frank Stella: A Retrospective. Later we visited the art studio of State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now artist Kim Cadmus. Kim was amazing, and it was great to spend time with her in the studio and see some of her new works of art. We ended the Dallas art experience with a fabulous party, The Eye Ball, an annual event hosted by The Joule Hotel. The trend-setting event takes places by Tony Tasset’s The Eye, a larger-than-life installation in downtown Dallas.
During the three day trip it was nice to have a private bus, as it allowed us to stay together, discuss and debrief before and after each destination, while bonding with laughter and a couple of inside jokes! A major perk was having Anne Jackson, Crystal Bridges Donor Relations Manager, and Chad Alligood, Crystal Bridges Curator, on board. They answered our questions, and we had great discussions about art.
Digging past the frills of the trip was the deep rooted passion uncovered as we each dug a little deeper into the layers of the art. Learning stories behind the works is what allowed us to get a little closer to the art. After hearing artists’ stories, we experienced our perspectives transform, allowing us to connect with art.
It was a wonderful experience to travel with Crystal Bridges and fellow artinfusion Members. It’s rare to go on a trip that gives you all these fond memories, and here we sit weeks later and could copy and paste this trip and happily do it all again.
