Meme Gallery in Denton gives local artists a new stage

Denton’s music community has plenty of places for their showcases every night of the week; it’s time Denton’s art community had one as well.

It's not hard to find art in Denton. It’s on the walls of the coffee shops, in the new UNT gallery on the square, heck, even on random fences around town. However, Denton has few places dedicated solely to art. Enter Meme Gallery, which recently opened next to Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio.

Meme Gallery is the brain child of UNT art students Michael Little and Nic Webber, known collectively as Pan-Ector Industries. The two screen-printers, along with Rubber Gloves employee and fellow art student James Shepherd, wanted to see a dedicated space for art return. They eyed the space for sometime, and when it became vacant late last year Shepherd alerted Pan-Ector and worked with RGRS to use the space as an art gallery.

“That’s been missing since Art Prostitute left town a couple of years ago,” said Little. And what makes this different from the other places around town to display their art? “This isn’t to make money, it’s just for the [art] community.”

Artist Letty Gomez, whose first solo show was the subject of the opening, also likes the concept of the new gallery. “It’s all non-profit. It’s open to all ideas, and they’re willing to re-paint or re-design the space if needed,” Gomez said. “It’s of the community, for the community.”

Denton’s music community has plenty of places for their showcases every night of the week; it’s time Denton’s art community had one as well.

Of course, the opening of an art gallery next to Rubber Gloves means music has to be involved somehow. Denton’s Babar and Final Club were booked to fill that role.

Babar provided a spirited set of “Math Rock.” They appeared very tight, but leaned toward the cerebral instead of the catchy. In fact, a lot of their material sounded like “Five Per Cent for Nothing” of off Yes’ Fragile.

Local phenom Final Club lived up to their hype. Playing only their third show ever, they’ve already been interviewed by the Dallas Observer and We Shot JR since their sold-out debut set at Dan’s Silver Leaf a few weeks ago. “We were so nervous at Dan’s,” guitarist Austin Swann told me, “but tonight’s going to sound great. It feels like home.” But is it strange to share a gig with the opening of an art gallery? “It’s awesome,” says Final Club vocalist Brendon Avalos. “Art and music just go together, right?”