About last night - Dec. 11, 2021
Fort Worth, Texas - A chill was in the air,
but that didn’t stop the revelers from taking in some amazing gallery shows and openings
7:10pm: My husband, Carter, and I arrive at the William Campbell Gallery Holiday Party and although Bill and Pam Campbell no longer run the Gallery, we are delighted to see that they are in attendance, enjoying the evening with drink in hand and with sun-kissed skin from a recent trip to Mexico.
Our dear friend, Vince Veazey, comes over and we discuss some of the more intricate framing work he’s doing for clients, along with some of his own upcoming artwork. Vince’s irreverent works are some of my favorites by any artist in town, with their clever phases and observations, like, “But If We Paint An Oil Derrick It Will Sell” & my favorite, “It Doesn’t Have To Be All Matchy Matchy”.
We head upstairs to see what new treasures await and are greeted by a vibrant, 90” x 60” artwork in the hallway, titled “Pisces.” It is magnificent! When we finally break our gaze, and turn onto the landing, who do we see? The ever-so-cheerful, Ms. Nancy Lamb. She and I hug-n-giggle like kids (why not?) and “do a little Tik Tok”, as she likes to say. Nancy is always such fun!
While upstairs, I was struck by an interesting collection by John Fraser. In total, there are seven, neutral earth tone pieces on the wall, which upon closer inspection, are revealed to be fashioned from old book bindings. How incredibly creative! There’s just something special about discovering unique features in artwork when you look up close! So, this is your reminder to look close when you view art! Just not so close that you get tossed by security, of course.
Pam Campbell also joins us on the second floor, and after promising to make plans for a post-Holiday get-together, we head back down to say our goodbyes. We congratulate Peeler Howell, the gallery’s charming new co-owner and long-time gallery assistant, on the great work he’s done with the gallery in 2021.
8:10pm
We found primo street parking near Sundance Square! There is a lot of activity these days downtown, especially with the Holidays, so this is worth mentioning! Our first stop is at Dang Good Candy. Artist Gwen Meharg’s opening of “Making Time” is on display. The large scale, vibrant and colorful paintings are quite a site to see, as is Ms. Gwen with her multi-tone, pastel purple hair. Pointillism requires a special type of understanding of color, and a dedication to the repetitive that not many artists possess. Gwen’s works are beautiful, but also massive in size and scale. If you appreciate the technique of Georges Seurat, or my favorite, Camille Pissarro, but also love bright, kaleidoscopic colors, head to Dang Good Candy at once. We love her work, and Gwen is as friendly as she could be. While talking, she confided in me that it is her “adult-onset ADHD” that permits her to do her art, and I came to find out that her son-in-law is Sunflower Man.
(if you read “About Last Night 12.8.21”, I met him that night).
Kimberly Cecil, Jay Wilkinson & Mouty Shackelford
Dang Good Candy Gallerist and artist Jay Wilkinson visits with guests near the entrance, including Glen Rose-based artist Kimberly Cecil. Both Jay and Kimberly are newly engaged (not to each other) and each have a certain twinkle in their eye from all that extra love. I digress…we chat with Artspace 111’s Ariel Davis about their new gallery, “Texas Love Art” opening just down the street in 2022. I love that so many creatives and art spaces are coming to Sundance Square! It’s sure to be the hot ticket & could probably host its own Gallery Night at this rate. 😉
I sneak to the back of the gallery to grab a glass of Two Buck Chuck (if you know, you know) and run into Jesse Hernandez & Greg Bahr. I’m a huge fan of both of these artists! I meet Jesse at Fort Works Art several years ago when he co-headlined a show and we talked about a glorious painting of his that is still burned into my memory. As I’m reminiscing with him about this piece, Carter walks up and mentions the same piece. It’s really incredible how art can continue to hold onto you that way. I suppose that’s why I love it so much!
Greg and I discussed a pre-COVID night at the Basement Bar where we had a long chat during one of Vince Veazey’s shows. It was one of our very last outings before everything shut down, and it reminded us how wonderful it is to be out and about again these days! If you don’t know Greg’s work, it’s got a fascinating story of how he creates it, so definitely check him out! Greg says he has some work showing at Lauren Saba’s Fort Works Art right now, and I’m reminded that I must go make a visit.
Will Squibb
9:00pm: Conveniently, our next stop is directly next door at Bale Creek Allen Gallery. Tonight’s opening is for artist Will Squibb, who is based out of New York. Will’s work is unlike anything I’ve ever seen! Ceramic melted guns of all type and styles are laid out on the tables; most of them already have red dots! I am not a gun person, and I’d like to think that the meaning of these pieces is a representation of the artist’s desire to keep the gun violence and gun control/access conversation alive, but he wasn’t able to attend the opening, so I can only speculate.
Di Pereira is there with her husband, taking in the collection of works. If you don’t know Di yet, you will! She has seven “monsters” painted on walls all around Sundance Square. Her work is hard to miss, and in-demand (her entire collection nearly sold out at Art Tooth’s featured wall at Tulips). I may or may not have bought one titled, “Sweata Weather”. Don’t tell my husband 😉
Next, Carter introduces me to a stylishly coifed gentleman, Andrew Funke, who is in town from Sherman Oaks, California (my former home and the place where I met my husband 20 years ago). I mention my favorite L.A. Mexican restaurant, Casa Vega, he says that he was just there two nights ago, and was just recovering from their famously powerful margaritas. Andrew curates hard-to-find vintage eyewear, and also creates a unique eyewear line of his own called DeadEyes Vintage. There are so many art forms, and I loved learning about optical design and the process to get it shown and sold.
All this art is making me thirsty, and Mouty needs another beverage. The gorgeous bartender reveals that there’s only shots of premium, hand-selected hard liquors and some sparkling water available. I’m not a shot kinda girl, but what choice do I have? Tequila it is! Kimberly suggests adding some of her super sour Smarties™ from the Dang Good Candy show to the shot, and to use a few more as a chaser… I must say, this may become a new thing as that tequila shot never tasted so good!
The eponymous gallery’s owner, Bale Creek Allen and his stunning wife Allison are mingling about while I admire one of his many personal creations: a unique, electroplated and hand-welded 24 karat Texas tumbleweed. WHAT!? I mean…it’s a sight to see and I highly recommend coming in to see this marvel (and so many others)!
Tequila & Sour Smarties™
We begin to say our goodbyes as we listen to Phil Hollie playing live music. For as amazing as the art is, the gallery visitors couldn’t help but notice these two young men playing their hearts out. The story of how Bale discovered them and booked them (earlier that same day) is what I assume to be a “classic Bale” moment, and one you should ask him about when you visit. We love it when artists support artists, and this gallery, and its owner/resident artist, clearly does that in spades.
Velvet Taco's Tots with Local Egg
10:15pm: We end our delightful evening at Velvet Taco for some Tots and Margaritas. Yes, I said Tots. People come to VT for their eclectic tacos, but if you haven’t tried the Tots, you are missing the menu’s most delicious offering. The crispy tots are topped with herbed goat cheese, sharp cheddar tendrils, avocado creama, chili butter, peppered bacon & a local fried egg on top. I’ll give you a minute to take all that in…
I’m not a professional food critic like Josie at Eat This Fort Worth, but I honestly can’t say enough about this delicious fare. I wash it down with the “Kick Ass Margarita”, because I clearly didn’t get enough Sour Smarties infused tequila earlier in the evening.
With my belly full and my keys in the possession of my designated driver (thank you, honey), we head to the door to wrap up another fabulous night in Fort Worth. A painting near the exit shows Marie Antoinette feasting on a giant piece of red velvet cake (another Velvet Taco staple), and I think, “Yes, this has been a royally good night, indeed.”
