Great Photography by Richard Bettinger

Talk about successful moonlighting - Richard Bettinger, a long time sales associate at David Sutherland, has turned a hobby into a great success around the country. His photography is now shown at showrooms around the country, and you better look quickly because they are selling fast. Photography is the new art “it girl”, I think, and this guy has great talent. And you thought he was just another pretty face.

Painter Beatriz Ezban’s not warm welcome by U.S. Immigration officials at D-FW International Airport

Last year, when Mexican painter Beatriz Ezban traveled through D-FW International Airport she was detained by immigration authorities who wanted to talk about her newest show, “The Border,” which metaphorically and literally addresses the plight of illegals at the Mexican-American border. Ezban says “It was very intimidating. They asked me about the content of my paintings, I was afraid they wouldn’t let me in. After, I realized they went through all my luggage, and the next days I felt very watched as though I had done something very wrong.” Ezban diplomatically allows that many people are stopped at D-FW — but most, I’d wager, are not drilled about their artwork. You can see it now at the Latino Cultural Center.

Barry Whistler Art Sale

Why not celebrate Labor Day by spending some of the money you’ve labored so hard for? Don’t waste it on booze or bling. (Or rather, why waste it only on booze and bling?) Head to Barry Whistler Gallery for his biennial inventory sale. Our source tells us that works from a number of notable artists is available for 20-25 percent off. Check out the stuff here. Hurry though; the sale ends Saturday.

Art Expo

Tonight is the Art Expo event at Cantoni benefiting Kidd’s Kids.  It is a celebration of artful living featuring local artists such as Julian Race and Carol Benson and others. The donation of $20 goes straight to the charity and you get 10% off cool stuff from Cantoni.  You also get free drinks and get to see great art.  All from 7 - 9, which also means you can miss traffic.  How good is this?

Celebrate the Olympics in Chinese Style

What better way to celebrate the opening of the 2008 Bejing Olympics than at the Crow Museum of Asian Art?  Friday evening you can watch the opulent opening ceremony in the authentic atmosphere of the museum with good food, calligraphy lessons, and lion dances (what are they - is this guy one?) You can also get in the Olympic spirit and browse the  for gift ideas.

Lavender and Cowboys

How much do you love this picture?   Jeannie Ralston is signing her book  “The Unlikely Lavender Queen” tomorrow, July 31 at Stephanie Anne on Lovers Lane from 5 - 7.  It is the Texas Hill Country version of “A Year in Provence” and talks about her experience of coming to Texas to run a lavender farm. (Can’t you just imagine how divine it smells?)  She had to be in Texas, her husband Rob Kendrick is a photographer for National Geographic (not too shabby) and has chronicled the life of the working cowboy in pictures.  His show is Friday, August 1 at the Afterimage Gallery.

The Art and Style of Sara and Gerald Murphy

Ever since reading this New Yorker article, I’ve been very excited about the arrival of the visiting exhibit Making It New: The Art and Style of Sara and Gerald Murphy. The Murphys were obviously a fascinating couple–I actually just read a book about a couple—the Baekelands, heirs to the Bakelite fortune—who very much wanted to be like the Murphys. The book is called Savage Grace. (It’s also a film starring Julianne Moore.) But I digress, as usual. Anyway, the Murphy exhibit features some of Gerald’s paintings, correspondence, photographs, and pieces from artists who found inspiration in the duo. It goes through September 14 at the Dallas Museum of Art. Feeling frugal? Thursdays are free from 5 to 9 p.m.

Always A Bridesmaid, Never A Bride

I have this fun new ditty on the DallasDirt blog you are just going to love…

Loyd-Paxton’s Clock

We know that local designers Loyd Taylor and Paxton Gremillion are international design celebrities - even AD editor Paige Rense, who rarely comes to the hinterlands considers them tops in the country.  So, they’ve bequeathed the famous 1920s Vanderbilt Breaker’s French Boulle marquetry clock back to the Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island.  Originally part of a pair that was commissioned by Consuelo Vanderbilt to redecorate , they were first auctioned in 1973; one is still at the Getty museum, and the other has been given by Loyd-Paxton.  When you’ve got the greatest goods in the world, why not share?

Antique Roadshow: Behind the Scenes

PBS’ Antique Roadshow was all the buzz around Dallas when Big D was selected as one of six stops on the Antique Roadshow 2008 Summer Tour. Antique Roadshow devotees dying to see behind-the-scenes action of their favorite show fought harder for a virtually impossible-to-get ticket than a thirteen-year-old has to fight for Miley Cyrus concert tickets. D Home reader and avid Antique Roadshow fan, Joan Tibbets Hudson, was one of the select few to land tickets (She had eight friends apply on her behalf). She lets us in on her entire experience.

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Jazz Under the Stars at the DMA

Looking for something to do tonight??? Well look no further. Tonight is the final concert of the DMA’s Jazz Under the Stars series. Vicho Vicencio and the New Casino Band (feat. Nancy Fisher) present Brazilian and Afro-Cuban jazz. You have no excuse because the weather will be beautiful and the music superb. Bring a picnic and blanket and lounge under the stars (or purchase food and beverages on-site). The concert begins at 8pm in the Ross Avenue Plaza. Enjoy!

$30,000 and Counting for Chiapas

Joseph Noble has raised over $3,000 for the Chaipas Project at his event at the Crow Museum. This sexy bench has sold three times and made $8000, I love it and was an early bidder, but the high rollers kept upping the price. Kelly Hardage and I were bidding against each other for a while. Great party - but you know that most people said they had never been to the Crow Museum. Shame - it’s free. And the Lotus Shop has great gifts.

New Blog In Town

The Goss-Michael Foundation debuted a blog this morning. I’m fascinated already by the dark exhibition space they’ve created to house their current show, which features shadows created by light cast dramatically onto “rubbish” and “rusted” metal objects. It’s beautiful.

D Home shot Kenny Goss’ and George Michael’s apartment two years ago. Boy did we get lots of letters. Not because Michael is a pop star. But because we showed a gay couple kissing!

‘Bama Style: Bungalows

As promised, I went to Bungalows yesterday.  To translate Alabama to Texas…Bungalows is: 1 part McCallister Collection (McKinney), 1 part Junkadoodle (Dallas), and 1 part Hoodiewear (Richardson).  The result is all Southern Hospitality…  This picture does not/cannot capture the magic of this little boutique.  It’s fun in for summer, anytime, really…

Partners Terry Woodard and Rick Kuzmyak recently expanded Bungalows to another new sunny location in the Wharf (Canal Street @ Beach Express).  They LOVE Dallas, but that is only part of the story…jump for the deets.

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Pure Genius. Duh.

Greetings, once again from the sugar sand beaches of the Florida/Alabama coast. 

Every once in a while, I find a treasure.  Duh is just such a place.

The brainchild of Quinn Stinson (Baylor University ‘88) and Jim Rigsby (who has no known ties to DFW, but is just as cute as a button), Duh is haven for the usually design starved greater Pensacola metropolitan area.  Duh has had its finger on the pulse of every design trend to roll out…  I’ve been a Duh fanatic for at least 9 years.

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Chiapas Event at the Crow

Joseph Noble is hosting an event fund raiser for the Chiapas Project at the Crow Museum, this Friday, June 6. The Chiapas Project is one of the most noble causes I know of, loaning money to women in third world countries to have their own business, make money to support their children, and pay back the loan. That is a very tiny description of a huge cause. Lucy Crow Billingsley is one of the founders of this project and has generously lent the Crow Museum for the event. Also, local students will be showing their works, and some of the very talented Mr Noble’s fabrics will be shown on chairs to be auctioned. In short, those are three very good reasons to fork over your $50. Now can you tell me any reasons why you wouldn’t go? PS - there will be wine, too. There, now you have no excuses.

Dallas Textile Artist

Dallas artist Elizabeth Anyaa uses natural fibers such as soy, hemp, wool, silk, and cotton to create textiles depicting themes from the Bible. This one, named Garden of Gethsemone, has a verse hidden within the textile.

Alan Barnes Opening

Alan Barnes Fine Art is hosting a cocktail party at his Slocum Street gallery, on Thursday, May 22, 6 - 8:30, honoring two of England’s fine collectible artists, Matthew Alexander and David Napp. They are also old friends of Barnes from his native Kent in England, so it promises to be a jolly old evening. And, the prices are affordable for young collectors - $2300 and up. See you there.

We Mourn the Loss of Robert Rauschenberg 1925-2008

I met him once, in 1989. He was in town to accept an award. Awards and adulation didn’t seem to faze him, he was Robert Rauschenberg.

He was from Port Arthur, TX. He saw beauty in everything. He was one of us.

Donald S. Vogel: A Painter’s Life

Valley House will feature a preview of its founder Donald S. Vogel’s art this Sunday, May 4, 12 - 3. Vogel was one of the innovators of the Dallas art scene, opening the first modern art gallery in 1952 with his wife and then Betty McLean (now Betty Blake.) His primary inspiration was found in the beautiful grounds which is now the gallery and sculpture garden in North Dallas. It’s not exactly the South of France that inspired the French Impressionists, but right now in the spring, you can see the resemblance.

The $175,000 Bed

This can be yours for a mere $175,000 and is on display right now at William & Wesley, where designer and author Betty Lou Phillips is signing away her newest book. Meantime, go lay on 250 yards of precious Christopher Hyland fabric and look up at the candelier which is not included in the price. (Would it drive you crazy to pay $175K for a bed and then have some naughty couple, ahem, mess it up?)

Rugs As Jewelry

When I first saw this, I thought it was a piece of jewelry. But it’s a rug. Odegard, which has a beautiful showroom in Dallas, just introduced this amazing carpet at Milan’s furniture fair this month. It’s part of Stephanie Odegard’s Mughal Jewelry Collection, based on ancient Indian jewelry created during the lavish Mughal Empire.

Beautiful Mood

Texas artist Danny Williams has spent the last few years working in France, where he drew this. Love the mood. “A World Apart–Drawings from Central France” opens at Barry Whistler Gallery tomorrow night. (There’s a party for the artist, with wine and bites — Barry would love to have you come.) (more…)

Highland Park Artist

Vassar educated, Highland Park-dwelling abstract artist Vikki Holden Davis has a show at Uptown Vision starting April 24, as a part of Uptown’s Artwalk tour. Her work makes me think of what Jackson Pollack might have produced if he’d been sober and on lithium.

P.S. For a really fun, interactive Pollack experience click here.

Pretty Invitation

I had our art department scan the envelopes from an invitation I received to an art auction benefiting The Bridge Breast Network. The outside envelope is black faux alligator, with an interior envelope crafted of handmade paper. You can’t see it in the photo, but the paper has a subtle sparkle to it, and I love the pink and black logo interpretation. The rumor is that Mike Thompson designed the invitation (the alligator envelope is a dead giveaway in my book).