Interview: Clear Productions

What is your name: Clara A. Jackson

What field are you in: I am the Director of the Artist Collective, Clear-Productions

What motivated you to get in the line of work you are in: I live and breathe arts, but have no talent. My talent is in my eye. I found my niche as an agent in New York at a large agency at a young age. I learned to earn a living doing what I love.

What's the best thing about your job: Developing my talent. It makes my world complete.

You have a passion for the arts when did that start: As a young child. My home was filled with it on every level. Books,music and fashion also facilitated my passion.

You feature artists, what prompted that: Gut feelings about how far they can evolve artistically.I believe their potential is unlimited if they do their own thing. Not try to turn them into a throwaway product.

What has the response been: Great! However, I have been accused of being "too safe". I don't care, these people have to make a living! However, I do have a new trick up my sleeve as we speak.....

What is your favorite genre of art: #1-Photography #2 Raw, intellectual street art #3 Outsider art.

What is the most moving piece of art you have seen in person: The Little Dancer, by Degas

Are there any new exhibits you are interested planning on seeing: The Alexander McQueen Costume Institute Show at The Met.

Who is your favorite artist of all time, and why: Dilemma: Claude Monet/ Walker Evans/ Julius Schulman/ Iggy Pop/Hunter S. Thompson/ Coco Chanel/ Our Earth/ Mahalia Jackson/Edward Gorey. They are all originals!


Website www.Clear-Productions.com
Email clara@clear-productions.com

1.919.883.4754

DallasArtsRevue Online Publication Interview

"J R, Happy" by my friend and painter Richard Ray

DallasArtsRevue Online Publication Interview Q & A

 

What is the name of your site?  DallasArtsRevue.com

 

What is your name?  J R Compton. I'm the editor and publisher.

 

How did DallasArtsRevue.com come about?  In the 1970s, I was a staff photographer with the Dallas Times Herald, and before that I worked for smaller publications including the school magazine at my alma mater the University of Dallas. In the early 1970s I published Dallas NOTES from the Underground and later, HOOKA, which stood for the Humanitarian Order of Kosmic Awareness, both Underground Newspapers, so publishing is in my blood.

 

In 1974 I published a one-time-only magazine called armadilla with a song, a game, recipes, legends & lore, comix, historical and current cartoons and serious scientific research about dasypus novemcinctus (9-banded armadillos), and in that I promised that the next thing I'd publish would be about the other armadillos in the world, the artists of Texas.

 

I started publishing DallasArtsRevue on paper in December 1979 with Willard "The Texas Kid" Watson and his art Cadillac on the cover. I've long considered myself a fine arts photographer and I liked artists and enjoy writing about them, so I started DallasArtsRevue, "a fiercely independent magazine about Dallas artists." 

 

When D-Magazine called me "Dallas' Best Local Arts Promoter" in 2004, they said I'd been writing about art in Dallas longer than anyone else.

Here is a short history of DallasArtsRevue.

 

How long has DallasArtsRevue been up?  First published on paper in December 1979, it's been online all of this century.

 

When you first started it what where you hoping it would become? Just what it is, a community publication by, about and for the artists of Dallas, Texas, USA.

 

Has it met your expectations? More than.

 

You have quite a lot of pages, how do you keep a track of them all?  I have a variety of indexes and I keep the pages in subject-specific folders like Shows, Art Spaces, Art-Crit, etc. 

 

But really, once they're up, and I've changed and corrected them over the first couple of weeks, they become a part of the History of Art in Dallas. There's DARts pages out there I haven't seen in years. But they still have good information, although the pictures have got bigger over the years since, as modems get faster.

 

DallasArtsRevue is more of a history channel than a news channel.

 

There's a couple of site indexes listed under "site" on the lower middle of the DallasArtsRevue page.

 

What's your favorite page on the site, and why?  Whatever stories I've written lately. Two current stories are a full-bull coverage of The Texas Biennial -- the politics, history, art, people, spaces and great intentions of that giant show scattered around Austin, Texas that supposedly shows the best art in Texas.  Read more of the story here.

 

My other current favorite story is in my ongoing "Art Here Lately" blog, this one about FWADA -- The Fort Worth Art Dealers Association's -- recent Spring Gallery Night.

 

Probably my next favorite story will be my coverage of -- we're going to try to go to every single gallery on the upcoming DADA Gallery Run later this month.

 

Before, during and after my art stories, I love photographing birds at White Rock Lake and anywhere else. I have a suite of pages on my personal site called "The Amateur Birder's Journal" that's a near-daily blog about the birds I encounter.

 

Have you met lots of people through DallasArtsRevue?  Yes. Artists are the best people in the world.

 

What is the strangest thing that you have encountered via your DallasArtsRevue website?  According to one of a series of the late Dallas poet Roxy Gordon's posters, Artmagic #23, which hangs in my hallway, 

 

Everything exits and

Everything will happen and

Everything is Planned and

Everything is a Mystery and

Everything is dangerous

and

Everything is a Mirage

and

Everything touches Everything

and

Everything is Everything

and

Everything is very, very 

Strange

 

by Roxy Gordon

 

Then again, maybe the strangest thing I keep encountering is that even though my site's name is printed in big red and yellow letters on the top of every one of my more than 1,200 web pages in the site, many people still manage to misspell DallasArtsRevue. 

 

Are you bored with this interview already? Not yet.

 

Do you go to Gallery Showings all the time? No.

 

I see you have supporting members, what does that mean and do they help the site run?  Yes. They each pay $100 for the first year and $75 each additional year. For that they get a member page where they can show their work and links to them every time they let me know they're going to be in a show or other art event. They are also eligible for membership exhibitions like our amazingly successful show last winter at the Bath House Cultural Center.
 

The Winter Show page includes everything about that show including a daily blog.
 

That show continues next January in the Bath House's main gallery, and of course, there'll be a near-daily blog about that one, too.

 

The DARts Member pages are often perused by curators and exhibition producers, and because of their prominence in Google Searches -- thanks to all the links to their pages -- many DallasArtsRevue Supporting Members have been invited to show their work in still more venues.

 

Are you an Artist and if so what is your medium? I have been a photographer for the past 46 years, and my photographs have been in more than 90 exhibitions.

 

I've also produced and/or curated 15 art exhibitions, so far.
 

My bird photographs -- many of which have been exhibited in competitive and invitational art exhibitions -- are on another series of pages on my personal website.

 

I have not met you, do you have a mustache? I had one once in the early 70s, but it took more than two weeks to grow, and I had to pencil it in with an eyebrow pencil for a big photograph, then shaved it off moments later. 

 

Is there something that you would like to tell us about that I have not asked you about the site? I get really really tired of art sometimes (There's even an index on my Art Ennui along with an index of the times I've explained how I don't believe Objectivity exists, and even if it did, I wouldn't subscribe.)  although I have lots of art at home by friends that I never tire of seeing.

 

 There's a suite of pages about My Collection of Dallas artists online, and I need to update it with a bunch of new art I keep getting.

"Mumbling Aliens with an Affection for Pink" Me and Anna Palmer

photo copyright 2005 J R Compton. All Rights Reserved.

Single-use permission hereby granted to S

A Course of a Different Color Dallas

What is your name: My name is Betsy Walker

What field are you in: For a full time career, I am a regional sales representative for TobiiATI, and I am a speech pathologist by training. TobiiATI makes and manufacturers communication devices for people who are unable to communicate.

I am in the process of starting “Course of a Different Color”, an underground dining club that, at random dates throughout the year, will be throwing dinner parties for 25 to 30 of the closest strangers in secretive locations around Dallas. A cross between dining in a fine restaurant and a dinner party – where everyone invited shares a love of great food, fine wine and good company. Each “Course” is by invitation only, and will be held in unique locations – from private homes and lofts, to warehouses, commercial spaces and farms –undisclosed until the day of the dinner. Underground dining clubs have been called “culinary speakeasies” and “where chat room meets

restaurant”. The events will showcase different chefs at all stages of their career from emerging/beginning to established. Each chef will be selected depending on the event and theme.

What motivated you to get in the line of work you are in: I have been a practicing speech pathologist for years. During my practice I came to see the value of what technology could do for my clients. I specialized in the application of technology to people with disabilities when I moved to Canada and specialized there for nine years in this field. When I returned to the states, I began working for companies that provide this type of equipment.

With regards to “Course of a Different Color”, I read about underground dining clubs in an airline magazine on my way back from a business trip. The idea intrigued me. I travel a lot for work and have found meeting people here at home a difficult task. I am always looking for activities that would enable me to meet people who share my same leisure time interests. So many times social groups are set up around marital status, not shared cultural interests. This concept of “underground dining” felt like something I would be interesting in participating in since I’m a foodie at heart and I also enjoy wine tasting and pairing food with wine. I began to do some research to see if there were such groups in Dallas and to find out more information about them in general. The articles I read were fascinating. Guests who had attended these events commented that they were amongst the best evenings they had spent. I was not successful in finding such groups in Dallas so I decided to start my own. I really liked the thought of having alternative dinner options rather than traditional restaurants, and thought how cool it would be to take people to the many interesting spots that Dallas would have to offer. Also, how fun, to not know where you were going or what you were eating until the day of the event. I also enjoy art and thought it would be great to go beyond just the concept of dining and include an element of the arts at every event.

What’s the best thing about your job: The best thing about being a sales rep is that I get to travel and meet lots of people. It also lets me explore different cities and experience their culture. My day to day activities also vary and I like that as well.

As for “Course of a Different Color”, I like the element of networking, socializing and planning that all go into this concept. The idea of starting this club that allows me to explore my own interested is also very appealing to me.

You have a passion for the arts – when did that start: I first got interested in the arts many years ago when I was living in Boston. That has to have been over 20 years ago now. I was moving away from the Boston area and decided that I wanted to take a piece of art with me to remember my many years there. It is amazing for me to see the art that I first began collecting and to see how my tastes have evolved over time. My art pieces have become old friends – no matter where I move, they always go with me and I enjoy looking at the image in each new space! I also enjoy talking to artists about their work. I really enjoy hearing about how they visualize and conceptual each piece. I don’t find I have that skill myself, so it is always amazing to me to hear about that!

You feature artists, what prompted that: I believe that art is more than the visual arts and can be extended to food and wine as well. I want to incorporate all types of “art” into the dinners of “Course of a Different Color”.

What has the response been: We are just getting up and rolling. Our first event will be this fall.

What is your favorite genre of art: My tastes have changed over time, but I would say I am a fan of abstracts and art pieces composed of found materials.


What is the most moving piece of art you have seen in person: I actually attended an evening where the artist Rolando Diaz did a live painting while a musician played the piano. I was really impressed!


Are there any new exhibits you are interested planning on seeing: Yes, the “I am Woman” show on July 15th.

coursedifferentcolor@gmail.com
Face book Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Course-of-a-Different-Color/112473605461864

Interview: Art Lover and Realtor Extraordinare Brandon Stewart

What is your name: Brandon Stewart

What field are you in: Residential Real Estate

What motivated you to get in the line of work you are in: My specialization in real estate stems from a background in architecture. In 2005 I decided to purchase a mid-century modern home and found the lack of realtors with any sort of knowledge of the modern genre quite discouraging to say the least. I made a mental bookmark that there was void in the real estate industry that wasn’t being filled. When the recession hit in 2008, unemployment in architecture surged to 48%. As one of the casualties from a large corporate firm in Dallas, I took advantage of the downturn to obtain my real estate license and specialize in modern housing.

What's the best thing about your job: Meeting new people and helping them find the home of their dreams inspires me on a daily basis. My clients from the design community make the experience even more special because they have such elaborate plans for how they want to renovate their home. They live for the opportunity to put that special mark on their home, and I really enjoy advising them about the design and architectural possibilities of each potential home. I essentially play the role of realtor, architect, and friend all at the same time.

You have a passion for the arts when did that start: I’ve loved art since I was a child. My mother still actively paints and she always encouraged me to be a creative soul. As my education in architecture advanced, so did my appreciation for the arts. I truly believe the world would be a better place if more people supported the arts.

You feature artists, what prompted that: I love art myself and believe that talented artists should be able to make a living doing what they love. Because my clients in real estate are typically members of the design community, they tend to love art just as much as I do. Part of real estate is staying in contact with your potential clients on a regular basis. I know people get mailers from Realtors talking about tax credits, new listings, and all kinds of things that really aren’t that interesting. I decided to skip all of that and just use local art as a vehicle to stay in contact with my clients. Instead of reading about the latest real estate incentive, they get to see a significant piece of art work from a local artist that they probably have never heard of. I really just approached it as if I was seeing through my client’s eyes. I would much rather someone mail me a painting from a talented undiscovered artist every month than a bunch of real estate propaganda.

What has the response been: The response has been great. I’ve had a number of people approach me to say thank you for exposing them to so many local artists. As the size of the mailing list grows, I hope for an even greater response.

What is your favorite genre of art: I like many different types of art, but I would have to say surrealism is my favorite. I’ve always loved the juxtaposition of elements, especially when they twist our preconceptions about a subject. I also love the fact that the movement has had such a long-standing effect on film, literature, and even architecture and the built environment.

What is the most moving piece of art you have seen in person: I spent a summer in Italy when I was in college studying architecture. I was fortunate enough to visit the Guggenheim in Venice where I saw one of my favorite works of all time – Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase. I’ve always loved the spatial qualities of Cubism, but this work has such a dynamic quality of motion that can really only be appreciated in person.

Are there any new exhibits you are interested planning on seeing: It’s exciting to see all of the new small galleries opening around town. The next exhibit I plan on attending is the “I Am Woman” exhibit at Rising Gallery… though most likely something else will pop up before then.

Dallas has really come a long way with its arts community. Ten years ago I would drive to Houston to experience multiple world-class museums in a day. But now with the Nasher, the Fort Worth Modern, the Kimball and its newly planned addition, and the DMA, we have significant collections right here in our own city. I really credit Ray Nasher for changing the direction of art in Dallas forever. His amazing collections, and the fact that he so generously shared them, truly put Dallas on the art map.

Who is your favorite artist of all time, and why: That is such a difficult question to answer. I can’t really narrow it down to just one. Art is like fine wine - it complements the surroundings and context in which it is consumed or viewed. These are some of my historical favorites: Picasso for the spatial depth and altered perspectives in his cubist works. Salvador Dali for mastering the element of surprise. HR Giger for his truly organic design vocabulary and questionable perversion. Wassily Kandinsky for his dynamic compositions and expressive use of color. Paul Klee for the child-like quality of his drawings and his work at the Bauhaus.

To contact Brandon Email: brandonstewart@ebby.com

If you are a business that would like to be featured email sivy221@aol.com