West and Clear’s 2008 in review #5: Fort Worth hearts art

by Steve Smith of of West and Clear

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Let’s face facts: not all is well in the arts. The tanking economy is going to pose some significant funding challenges in 2009, and the arts communities caught a glimpse of the dark side with Texas Ballet Theater’s struggles this year. But at the risk of stating sounding too Pollyanna, 2008 was a actually a great year for local art. Let’s take a minute to look back at some of 2008’s highlights.

* The Lone Star Independent Film Festival: It can be safely said that the second annual festival was a success. Maybe there was less star power, but the programming was quite good. Best of all, 2008 directors Alec Jhangiani and Dennis Bishop had a nice public fencemending of sorts with 2007 director Tom Huckabee that reflected well on everyone. Also, noteworthy among the features: the documentary Teen-A-Go-Go by local filmmakers Melissa Kirkendall and Mark Nobles.

* The Fort Worth Opera Festival: The second annual festival was chock full of sublime moments –- from Angels in America to an un-freaking-believable Turandot to Of Mice and Men to Lucia di Lammermoor, the 2008 Festival was truly remarkable.

* Martin Puryear Retrospective at The Modern: If you missed it, bad on you. In case you did, check out this video.

* The Fort Worth Circle at The Amon Carter: This glimpse of art from some of Fort Worth’s all-time greats was superb. In case you missed it, check out this video.

* FW Public Art: Thankfully, Fort Worth pays attention to esoteric things such as what does the city sound like. And I for one am looking forward the Lancaster Avenue of Light (pictured to the right).

Just how awesome is public art in Fort Worth? Well, we’ve got tornado poles. Thanks, FW Public Art!

* Marsden Hartley Exhibit at The Amon Carter: If not for the Fort Worth Circle exhibit, this exhibit of American Modernism would have been my favorite show at the Carter.

* Miguel Harth-Bedoya earns a Grammy nomination: Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya was nominated for a Grammy for his work on Traditions And Transformations: Sounds Of Silk Road Chicago.

* FWSO Plays Carnegie Hall: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. Well done, FWSO!

* Q Cinema Turns 10: But doesn’t look a day over 8.