Surrealist Realms

Surrealism, an early 1920s movement began with the examination of Automatism or automatic writing, a new approach of expression that aspired to release the creativity of the subconscious mind. Andre Breton, a poet and critic wrote the Manifesto of Surrealism in 1924, at the transitional moment of what became a worldwide political and intellectual movement.

Sigmund Freud's dream studies and psychological theories were primary influences to Surrealism. They helped define the world of dreams, intuition and the unconscious realm into visual art where objects and recognizable scenes taken out of natural context appear as they might in the dreams, distorted and assembled in unexpected ways. Jolting juxtapositions and surprising changes in scale as well as the element of randomness and chance all play to Surrealist techniques. Violence and destruction are repeating themes along with contempt for convention. Objects become erotically charged and sexual fantasies are expressed. Icons of this genre include Max Ernst, Salvador Dali, Joan Mirò, Alberto Giacometti and Marcel DuChamp.

Dana Newman's body of work grants us a window into this astonishing world. Perception and fantasy are expressed in visual terms with meticulous detail. Dana's collages let the materials inform her and then guide her hand. Humor and irony play within her curiosity cabinets and graphic novels; it is an array of work heretofore unseen in Dallas.

The Surrealist Realms show opens on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 5 p.m. with a reception lasting until 8 p.m. Dana Newman will be present for the opening. The show will last until February 16, 2013. Surrealist works by the artists, Gail Rieke and Timothy Hearsum, will be shown at this time also.

Information from venue