Friday, December 21, 2007

Dallas gay artist Dan Paul on display at Meridian Room

By Daniel A. Kusner of Dallas Voice

Last week, Dan Paul strutted around in a pink corset with a matching Mrs. Claus hat as his band She-Dick performed at J.R.'s Bar & Grill.

This week, Paul was making the rounds at the Meridian Room in Fair Park. Only this time, he was promoting his drawing and painting skills, and his costume resembled the Mad Hatter from "Alice in Wonderland" -- complete with a card nestled in the brim of a top hat.

For a Monday night, the Meridian Room was slammed with boho hipsters: While diners chowed on steak sandwiches, folks hovered over their tables to inspect "It's Time," a colorful new exhibit that graced the walls. The works are two-feet-by-two-feet canvases: some featuring silk-screened photos of subway cars and lots of sanguine images of cute birds, a bunny rabbit, a mermaid riding atop of a shark, a boy running with a guitar, a kid dressed in a bear costume.

Toward the rear of the restaurant, Dallas artist Mike Arreaga was intensely focused as he operated a silk-screening machine. Gallerygoers could have images from the show printed on T-shirts, sweaters or whatever -- for free.

A roaming videographer focused her lens on Paul while he explained the creative process. Paul recently teamed up with Arreaga and photographer Hal Samples. In just 72 hours, they wielded their photography, silk-screening and painting skills to create 13 canvases. It sounds like Andy Warhol's Factory -- only without the self-centered controller taking all the credit.

The show is a collaborative effort. The artsy trio call themselves Cross Pollinating Realities -- or C.P.R. for short. And Paul explains that C.P.R.'s mission is all about "the dissolution of the ego."

For Paul, the process has "been a creative rebirth," he says.

While he majored in drawing and painting at the University of North Texas and has exhibited work at various Dallas galleries, Paul's visual-art skills have lain dormant. Music has been his primary concentration.

For a nation at war during Christmastime, one would expect an art show with darker themes. But for some reason, as Paul joined C.P.R., innocent, bright representations manifested. He's responsible for all the cuddly animals and buoyant, child-like depictions.

Even titling the works was a group process: Each piece has three names "Blue Winter Spirit," "Love Dream Within," "United Sleeper Parade." It all sounds so hippie-dippy, which is a refreshing vacation from Dallas' most abundant commodities -- flash and pretension.

Paul's next exhibit is titled "Color and Chance," a solo show of "paint-splattered, non-representational" works mounted at the Magnolia Theater's lounge that begins Jan. 3.

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TEAM SHOW

"It's Time," by the C.P.R. Collective: Mike Arreaga, Dan Paul and Hal Samples.

At the Meridian Room, 3611 Parry Ave. through Feb. 4.

For information, visit Feeds.FeedBurner.com/HalSamplesBlog

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LAST-MINUTE ARTBOOK IDEAS

Trying to cross off that holiday gift-giving list? We've all been there. The coffee-table photo book is always a good option. But before you select that Time-Life collection of 9/11 images, here are two sexy, super-gay photo books that even include religious iconography.

Re-discover Pierre et Gilles

Pierre et Gilles create dreamy portraits that transport their subjects into an alternate world where camp, pop, burlesque, religion and eroticism mingle in perfect harmony.

Check out this picture of the Holy Family with Mary portrayed by Nina Hagen.

Creating the sets themselves, and with Pierre as photographer and Gilles as painter they create unmistakable artworks.

Marking the 30th anniversary of their collaboration Taschen releases "Pierre et Gilles, Double Je, 1976-2007," 460 pp., $49.99. This book also includes a tribute text by Jeff Koons.

Instant Mapplethorpe

Praised for his classically composed photos, Robert Mapplethorpe remains intensely controversial and enormously popular.

"Mapplethorpe: Polaroids," (Prestel Verlag, $60.) brings together almost 300 images to provide a glimpse into Mapplethorpe's formative years: 1970-1975.

Included is a selection of his instant photography, when the artist worked mainly in this medium. While there are images of Patti Smith and Marianne Faithful, many images are inspired by Mapplethorpe's Catholic upbringing, like "Tie Rack," a gorgeous 1969 mixed-media work of the Blessed Virgin.

Pegasus News content partner - Dallas Voice, the community newspaper for gay & lesbian Dallas.

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