By Elizabeth Wheeles
With the air getting colder, it’s time to start looking for indoor activities around Dallas. An amazing resource, about 10 minutes from SMU, is the Dallas Museum of Art. Get a group together, dress in your most avant garde outfit, and head downtown. Notably the Cartier and Dior exhibits shown over the past few years, the DMA has an impressive collection of all art mediums and frequently hosts new exhibits.
I took a solo trip, armed with my digital camera and jazz playlist, to visit the impressionist exhibition. The exhibit is called The Impressionist Revolution: From Monet to Mattise and houses an impressive collection of works from world renowned artists. Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, and other artists are only a 15 minute drive instead of a flight to Paris. Don’t put off your visit since the show closes November 3rd. If you can’t make it before then don’t worry, they have a show dedicated to the work of Frida Kola as well as their permanent collection.
As I meandered through the exhibit, I was astounded by the detail in each and every piece. I enjoyed seeing the progression of work beginning with the early impressionist period and ending with the post-impressionist period. Gazing at the work gave me a sense of calm and also caused me to contemplate how depictions of ordinary life can evoke such emotions. I especially loved seeing the variety floral pictures and the depictions of ballet dancers.
For those interested in fashion, studying art pieces from the past allows you to draw the connection between how each society expressed their fashion and social structures. Similar to fashion, art is a wordless expression of the world around and provides insight into the inspiration and values of the individual.
One of my favorite things about the exhibit, besides the impressive display of art, was the peaceful setting and cozy seating areas available to allow visitors to gaze at the work from a different perspective. The gift shop had some super cute trinkets, art supplies, notebooks and other items inspired by the art work.
Upcoming exhibits include Marisol: A Retrospective and Return to Infinity: Yayoi Kusama. The permanant collection boasts exhibits that highlight African art, Asian art, Texas art, European art to name a few. Make a whole day out of your visit and stop by the cafe or at a restaurant nearby. With such a vibrant city full of culture, the DMA is your first stop to discovering all that Dallas has to offer.
