Tag Archives: Dallas Museums

Dallas Museum of Art Impressionist Exhibit

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The Impressionist Revolution: From Monet to Matisse is on view at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) now until November 3. Dubbing the Impressionist artists as renegades, the exhibit celebrates the 150th anniversary of their first Paris exhibition in 1874.

Monet to Matisse

If some of the art looks familiar, it’s because the DMA has drawn on its own collection for the exhibit. And while the paintings may not be the most noteworthy, each of the major artists are represented. I had no idea the DMA had so many Impressionist paintings. There are some beautiful Renoirs and more than a handful of Monet and Degas. Four rooms are filled primarily with paintings. Visitors see the Impressionist movement’s beginning and how, as years passed, Impressionism spawned other styles such as Fauvism.

The exhibit includes works by Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot. While both women bucked convention to work as artists, they were confined to compositions acceptable for their gender. Cassatt is known for her mother and child paintings, and Morisot for her depictions of domestic life.

Impressionist Revolution is a wonderful exhibit for anyone wanting to learn more about art. I especially enjoyed the detailed wall panels that explain Impressionism and provide visitors with interesting factoids. For example: the innovation of paint in metal tubes allowed artists to leave their studios and paint en plein air (outdoors).

Art Beyond Sight

The DMA is an Art Beyond Sight partner. Scattered throughout the Impressionist Revolution gallery, are several tactile stations. The exhibited painting is described briefly in braille, with a tactile relief version. The DMA can also provide special tours arranged in advance for visually impaired visitors. What a fabulous way to increase art accessibility.

When You Go

DMA is located at 1717 North Harwood in Dallas. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is free, though there is a cost for visiting special exhibits like Impressionist Revolution. Onsite parking is available for $20.

Meadows Museum

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Wave by Spanish artist Santiago Calatrava at The Meadows Museum
12th Century Fresco

This year, the Meadows Museum celebrates its twentieth anniversary in its current location on the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus. With an extensive collection of Spanish artwork, the museum has the well-earned nickname Prado on the Prairie. A trip to the museum is like a tasting at a winery … you get a small sampling of a large swath of Spanish art. On the afternoon of my visit, I’d come to see the twelfth century frescoes on the second floor landing. The two large Romanesque paintings had figured prominently in an art history class I recently attended. These and several other art pieces are on long term loan to Meadows Museum.

Medieval and Renaissance Art

I confess that I’m not a big fan of the hyper-religious and often gaudy medieval and early Renaissance art. The Meadows Museum offers wonderfully ornate examples of fine altar pieces and paintings of the time without overwhelming visitors with too much gilded piety. I appreciate that their collection encompasses more than paintings. My favorite was a painted liturgical cabinet, beautiful and practical.

Spanish Masters

Diego Velazquez, Female Figure

The Meadows Museum collection includes a sampling of painters from the Spanish Golden age. You’ll find portraits by Diego Velazquez, and Saint Francis Kneeling in Meditation by El Greco. There are Baroque artists like Bartolome Murillo and Claudio Coello. Spanish painters who found their way to Paris during the Impressionist period are represented. And modern artists like Picasso and Salvador Dali also have works on display. What I enjoy most about the Meadows Museum is how seamlessly it allows the visitor to travel through almost eight hundred years of Spanish art during a short two hour visit.

Pablo Picasso, Still Life in a Landscape

Fossils to Film

Fossils to Film is an exhibit highlighting SMU’s other collections. You’ll find incredible fossils from the Shuler Museum of Paleontology and artifacts from the school’s archeology collection. Pieces from the Birdwell Library and Hamon Arts Library are also on display. Finally, the University Art Collection includes many fine paintings from Texas Regional artist and former SMU professor, Jerry Bywaters. This smorgasbord of SMU gems will be on display through June 20, 2021.

Meadows Mobile Tour

When you visit the museum, be sure to bring your ear buds and smart phone. Posted placards have you scan a QR code or dial (214) 466-6543 for extended detail on many art pieces. This mobile system beats the old style headphone tours, especially given current pandemic concerns. And best of all, once home, you can still access the information including short talks from art experts.

Outdoor Sculptures

The largest example of Spanish art at the Meadows Museum is outside. Santiago Calatrava’s Wave is an impressive sixty-eight feet long. The kinetic sculpture undulates at a hypnotic pace. While not an official sculpture garden, several of the Meadows Museum large sculpture ring the upper plaza and can be enjoyed without a museum ticket. Concrete benches are strategically positioned throughout if you just want to relax a bit.

When You Go

The Meadows Museum (5900 Bishops Blvd, Dallas) is located on the SMU campus. Free underground parking is available for museum visitors. Admission is $12 with discounts for seniors and students. Admission is free to military and veterans. As of this writing, pandemic precautions include advance tickets, masks, and reduced museum capacity. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Thursdays the museum remains open until 9 pm with free museum entry after 5 pm.