Matter of the Moment

Through work acquired via Dallas Art Fair Foundation Acquisition Fund, the DMA explores womanhood at NorthPark.

BY ANTHONY FALCON

What’s the talk of the town? For thousands of years, people have asked this question in their villages, cities, and communities. Historian Yuval Noah Harari cited gossip as one of the central pillars of Homo sapiens’ connection and growth. Gathering in town centers and speaking to one another allows us to form bonds and seek collective goals. In that same tradition, to coincide with the 15th edition of the Dallas Art Fair, the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Art Fair, and NorthPark Center have gathered, led by Dr. Anna Katherine Brodbeck, DMA’s Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, to present a show embracing the diversity of womanhood through a wide range of artistic perspectives.

Talk of the Town: A Dallas Museum of Art Pop-Up Exhibition, through April 30, assembles recent works by Sarah Awad, Sarah Cain, Johnny Floyd, Danielle McKinney, Arcmanoro Niles, Maja Ruznic, Keer Tanchak, Evita Tezeno, and Summer Wheat—all of which were acquired by the DMA in the last six years through the Dallas Art Fair Foundation Acquisition Fund. The work by these artists, informed through the curation of Dr. Brodbeck, are engaged in an unforeseen dialogue in the same vein as human civilizations have for centuries.

The exhibition takes its name from a striking portrait by Danielle McKinney, purchased in 2021 as part of the fifth annual acquisition program. The painting depicts a young black woman smoking a cigarette in a robe, nestled in a red chair before a window looking out on a sleeping city. She stares directly at you, waiting, hung up on a word or thought. She is already in conversation with you, with the works of art that surround her.

However, the works and artists don’t come solely from the hearts and minds of women. Dr. Brodbeck says the exhibition, “Celebrate(s) the diverse experiences of womanhood through the gender identities on both the side of the artist and their subjects.” For instance, a painting by Arcmanoro Niles shows a young Black girl in a red dress sitting on pink steps at the entrance of a building, perhaps her home. Niles, a Black man known for his intimate portraits set in pink undertones, includes his signature in When You Give Your Love Away. Additionally, we see other signifiers of his work: a line drawing of a woman painted in red sits at the bottom of the painting. She holds a spear, arm arched back, preparing to strike. Niles’ and McKinney’s paintings are just two examples of what Dr. Brodbeck believes this exhibition does: “Upturn traditional notions of femininity and invite the viewer to join the conversation of what it means to be a woman today.”

NorthPark Center is the ultimate location for chatter and community, and Nancy Nasher, owner of NorthPark Center with her husband David Haemisegger, is no stranger to showcasing vanguard and intriguing art. “[As part of] our steadfast commitment to bringing accessible museum-quality art and cultural experiences to the public, NorthPark is honored to host this dynamic exhibition for the enjoyment of our many visitors,” she says. Kelly Cornell, director of Dallas Art Fair, follows, “NorthPark Center is the perfect venue for this exhibition due to its unparalleled art collection and public accessibility.” The sentiment is echoed by the DMA’s Eugene McDermott Director, Dr. Agustín Arteaga: “The Dallas Museum of Art could not be more thrilled to meet our community where they are, to experience the power of art and its ability to bring us together.” P