The Importance of Supporting Local Artists in an Urban Community
April 28, 2014 | Posted in: Arts
In the 1970’s, the New York City neighborhood of SoHo experienced a renaissance of art and culture. At that time, SoHo had many historic buildings that were unattractive to the commerce and manufacturing industries, but many of the upper floors of these buildings consisted of loft space which was well-suited to the needs of artists. The artists liked these lofts because of the large open windows, open spaces for work, and the lower rents. In time, the SoHo neighborhood began to draw in more affluent residents who were attracted to its great location and reputation as an artist community. Something similar is currently happening in Dallas Midtown.
Dallas Midtown is fostering the development of the local artist community and, over time, Dallas Midtown will become the permanent home to a community of local artists that reside in Dallas. This community will certainly bring their unique perspectives on art and culture into the heart of Dallas. We started this by creating the Gallery at Midtown which is a collection of art created by local Dallas artists. The Gallery at Midtown showcases pieces from some of Dallas’ most talented established and upcoming local artists.
The Gallery at Midtown welcomes the Dallas art community by providing a place for creative and innovative programming, spaces to create and display, and a schedule of art-related opportunities. This allows both the seasoned artist and new talent to thrive. At the Gallery at Midtown, we host exhibitions year round and collaborate with numerous institutions, galleries, art collectives and non-profits both local and beyond. We maintain a dynamic calendar of art events, lectures, fairs and classes. Conceived from a need to infuse our community with art and involve the public on a personal level, The Gallery at Midtown has arisen from our rich cultural heritage of vibrant, artist-led communities. We invite you to engage our vision by visiting our artist studio spaces, arts academy, artist residency program, and, of course, our extensive gallery space.
One of the programs we sponsor is the Midtown ARTwalk. The Midtown ARTwalk promotes local, visual art and artists in a wide range of mediums and artistic styles, including painting, sculpture, metal art, handmade jewelry, fiber art, photography, pottery and glass works. Midtown ARTwalk is a fine art and entertainment event that takes place the 3rd Saturday of each month at the Gallery at Midtown & Artist Studios, located inside Valley View Center in Dallas, Texas. Midtown ARTwalk is open to the public and is a fun, free, family friendly environment to experience art created by some of the finest artists in Dallas, Texas. The artists themselves almost always attend these events providing an interactive experience for everyone involved.
Art and culture have the ability to enhance the quality of life for a community. Art can bring about a personal enjoyment, intellectual stimulation while simultaneously providing public involvement. Not only can it bring a community together, it can also promote economic growth. It has been argued that having a community with an established form of art and culture can bring in the most talented and brightest labor force. Having a well-defined arts and culture district is a vital part of today’s new economy.
Pablo Picasso said “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Art is something that truly nurtures the human spirit. It takes a lot of hard work and talent to create art. It brings together people from all different backgrounds under one common factor. Unfortunately for many artists, the “starving artist” stereotype is still evident in society.
As a community, it is important to support local artists because, without local citizen support, the art they make would cease to make the impact it could make. When you support the local artist community, you are supporting all of our respective creative freedom. Once artists are able to express themselves creatively and freely, beautiful art is made that can be admired by the community and the world. These art pieces not only reflect the artists’ ideas, but also their hidden messages behind each work of art. Feel free to donate to the Gallery at Midtown and be a part of this creative community.
The Greek word “Ethos” means character and it is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community. Essentially, the ethos of Dallas Midtown is the Gallery at Midtown. While the iconic Dallas Design District and Dallas Arts District provide an outlet for established corporations and national artists to showcase their works, it is important to give local Dallas artists their own outlet as well. Dallas Midtown provides the local Dallas art scene the vehicle to expand Dallas’ vast and sophisticated art culture. Dallas Midtown is fostering local Dallas artists and incubating a burgeoning community currently inside of Valley View Center. Soon, artists will not only be creating in the Gallery at Dallas Midtown, but also living in the upcoming Dallas Midtown community.
Scott N. Beck
Scott N. Beck, a Dallas Texas Greenhill alumni, received a Masters of Accounting from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin where he completed his B.B.A. Mr. Beck is a member of the Board of Directors of United Texas Bank and is President of Beck Ventures.
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Spencer Dworkis
April 28, 2014
Scott, had an opportunity to go the Art Fest at Valley View last Saturday night and it was outstanding! The talents, skills, and personalities of the artists made us feel like we were back in NYC. My wife is still boasting about it and we plan on bringing friends to the event the next third Saturday evening that it takes place. Thank you for bringing the art culture to Midtown and allowing these skilled artists to showcase their work. Best, Spencer Dworkis
Carolyn Collins
April 29, 2014
As an artist, I was immediately captured by the spirit of Gallery at Midtown and the vision that is Dallas Midtown. Having been one of the co-op artists here for over two years, I have witnessed an amazing transformation of this space and community nestled under a single roof. It is a true blessing to now have my own fine art gallery, through which I am able to pay-it forward by partnering with (and raising awareness for) local non-profits… and by showcasing monthly featured artists who do not have either the time or a large enough body of work to have their own gallery. My hat’s off to Beck and his team for all of the tireless hours, hard work and bridgebuilding I continue to witness, as they humbly pursue their sincere and dedicated passion to the vision-becoming-reality that is known as Dallas Midtown. I am grateful to each and everyone involved. ~Carolyn Collins
Kiki Winters
May 8, 2014
As a career artist, I searched Dallas for a period of a year and half to find an affordable space to open my personal art gallery. My criteria was location in a safe environment on an artist budget. Finally, I gave up and continued to use my home studio and showed my work in galleries and art shows. When the opportunity at Valley View Mall for artists to have work space, my husband, Douglas and I leased at space in the artist studio. We were soon offered our own space that we currently have named SkyPony Studio. We have loved the space to work and build our business. Douglas and I were offered the position of directors of Gallery at Midtown and Artist Studios in November of 2012. Mr. Beck began by telling Doug and I of his vision of working artist studios and having his own art gallery where local artist can have a beautiful space to exhibit their work. Scott’s dream is now an amazing reality at Valley View Center. The area is now zoned Dallas Midtown. The artists at Midtown have an incredible opportunity offered to build their dreams of having their own art gallery and space to create wonderful art but better yet, create their dreams. Midtown has already become a Dallas icon for finding outstanding art and meeting the artists in person. Many of the artists work with commissions for individuals, commercial areas, and designers. Midtown Art Community has now grown to 30 independently owned artist studios and galleries including the beautiful Gallery at Midtown. We are currently expanding the galleries as the buzz has hit the art community and now the public has found us. The artists have breathed new life into Valley View Center. Pillars and walls are covered with colorful murals, studios are buzzing with creativity, classes in different mediums. Midtown ARTwalk needs to be on your calendar every third Saturday, 6-10 PM. It is THE place to come for art, live entertainment, refreshments, family fun. Here is a sneak peak of the artists at Midtown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gr51ehGY7o Better yet, come by and check us out! You will be totally surprised of our wonderful art family with over 150 artists under the roof of Valley View Center and growing. My husband, Douglas and I can be reached at SkyPony Studio. Come see our artwork and beautiful gallery and work space. Thank you Scott Beck for having a dream that has provided the opportunity for us to visualize our dream. Support is needed from individuals as well as businesses to support your local artists. Help us please! Artists make the world a more beautiful place and art expand minds, both young and old. Contact Doug and I for details of our sponsorship opportunities. “Make your creative dreaming a reality.” Kiki Curry-Winters
Duke M. Horn
May 9, 2014
Mr. Beck posts a visionaries’ response to a long overdue lack of action for Dallas’ artists! Mr. Beck has embarked on an ambitious journey for the wealth of the community that none other has chosen to do. Few philanthropic gestures have had the scope of magnitude exhibited by Mr. Beck and his companies’ people. The future certainly looks brighter, not only for the artists themselves but also for the art collectors who will probably be able to get high-quality works without paying for the overhead markups indiginous to mainstream galleries in other venues.
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Jill Farrer
March 8, 2017
As a former Gallery At Midtown artist, I would love to see another opportunity arise from the new build. Not just for myself, but for the public to appreciate.
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