Comments on: The Dallas Myth, Again

By: billh

billh — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:12:35 +0000

I’m not an artist, but I am a consumer of art, having been to tons of musical performances and art openings over the last two years. I think Art Conspiracy is a great example of local musicians, artists and entrepreneurs coming together to support the Arts and raise money for charity. Every year, we (I’m on the board) raise more money and have more artists participate. To me, it’s the side of Dallas that doesn’t get noticed as much, but it’s hear and it’s cool. Every time I go to one of Kettle Art’s openings and see the artists supporting each other, and producing great work, well, I feel a little better about our city.

I can see Tom’s point about the struggle to obtain recognition here, but I think it bears mentioning that there is a creative spirit here that can be very nurturing to up and coming artists.

By: Tom Hendricks

Tom Hendricks — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:50:14 +0000

Paul , if you were one of those resident artists, I think you would change your tune.
Dallas is loosing one of its greatest assets by its horrible treatment of local artists. To say this town is provincial is to be kind.

By: Paul Riddell

Paul Riddell — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:35:54 +0000

Having lived in Dallas for nearly thirty years, I can sympathize with Dr. Graff. A bit. A tiny bit. Every time I watch yet another interesting music venue get overrun with sneering SMU brats who wad it up and discard it the moment it's no longer fashionable, I wonder. Every Christmas season, when the entire city becomes a live rendition of Dawn of the Dead, I wonder. Every time I look at the sick jokes we laughingly call print media, wondering how we can put up with Paper City and D and Robert "The James Lipton of Fandom" Wilonsky, I wonder "Exactly why the hell am I staying here?" And then I remember that what Dr. Graff considers weakness is actually this city's strength. I actually like how Dallas ignores its resident artists, because then they have to work that much harder to get noticed. Sure, we get the occasional artist or writer or actor who leaves Dallas and gets noticed somewhere else, but we also dissuade the parasitic hipsters who want nothing more than for everyone to notice them because they might actually do something one of these days. Yes, it's an absolute crime that most of our big musical acts can't get the time of day from our local media, but that means that they're strong enough to stand on their own when they go elsewhere. Every time I look at what Bart Weiss is doing with the Dallas Video Festival, or the loons with the Deep Ellum Association, I see folks who stay here because they actively enjoy the challenge, and they'd be bored out of their minds in an allegedly arts-friendly city like Portland. After the thirtieth or fortieth wannabe kissing your butt because they want the recognition without doing the work, it's actually a lot more fun to live in a place where those sorts of parasites can't get sustenance. That said, I've lived all over the country throughout my life, and I keep finding myself back here. I know it's not perfect, and I'm glad it's not perfect. That's what makes it so much fun.

By: Rawlins Gilliland

Rawlins Gilliland — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:00:14 +0000

Dallas native here: Graff’s book makes a noble stab at explaining the dichotmy that is Dallas. But it’s a bit like explaining to Stevie Wonder the nuance of Marilyn Monroe’s face; the reader thinks they ‘get’ Dallas after closing the book but alas, the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And the dark inner turmoil too complicated to capture.

I.E. Try explaining how McDonald’s became ‘America’s #1 hamburger’ when it is really just a lot of sauces annoiting a standard patty and bun.

By: Tom Hendricks

Tom Hendricks — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:34:12 +0000

Dallas is all that and more.
I’d add that its very tough on its artists, with zero support till they leave in frustration, become famous somewhere else, ten years go by, and then Dallas will recognized them as our own. We are now finally recognizing the 80’s musicians that came from here.
When you have a town that has problems, look to the leadership and look to the media that is in in place.
Both are to be commended on what is working, and criticized on what needs work.
We have a sectioned off Dallas into like minded sections because there is little effort not to. A key component to change that would be a non corporate meeting place for all Dallas such as a pedestrian walkway (such as Main Street) that connects Downtown and Fair Part. That would re develop both ends and all in between. Downtown Dallas used to be that place, but that has shifted away. There are many new ideas in city planning. We seem to have avoided all of the ones that other cities are using to their advantage.
Also making the most of Rochester Park should be a priority. It’s a goldmine within the city limits
I wrote a song, “Dallas, This town lies in the future”. And it still does.