Photo gallery: Swirl-A-Bout in Dallas combines “mad sides” of local art

Paintings, photography, poetry readings, burlesque dancers, and fire eaters, oh my!

Swirl-A-Bout at 1727 Levee Street (November 7)

Photos by Scott Dorn

(Click photo to see entire gallery)

Here's where Swirl-A-Bout got its name: swirling fire entertainers

DALLAS — Relatively new Dallas venue 1727 on the Levee opened it doors in March 2009. The gallery hosts a variety of artists, from painters to photographers and performing arts -- and Saturday was a good night to showcase that talent.

Swirl-A-Bout by Mad Swirl patrons brought in paintings, photography, poetry readings, burlesque dancers, and even fire eaters! An estimated 50 to 60 people packed the venue, and they weren't disappointed.

The burlesque and fire eater dancers provided the highlights of the night. Poetry readers covered a wide range of subjects, from inner dreams to experiencing the perils of retail hell. Emcee Johnny Olsen (known as Johnny O) kept the crowd laughing throughout the night. He's also creative director of Mad Swirl, an organization that "recognizes the madness of creation, the madness of life, [and] the madness of art."

The experience of Swirl-A-Bout made one appreciate the precious freedoms of we have and the creativeness of the human mind. Art took on a whole new meaning this evening, showing that expression is unique and powerful through speech, costumes, fire, paint, camera, and ultimately, love. At the end of the show, attendees walked out to a beautifully cool evening with a picturesque view of the Dallas skyline.

Photos by Scott Dorn