Photographs Do Not Bend gallery bends its rules, adds non-photo exhibit

by Jennifer Smart of Dallas Design District Daily

Jesus Moroles incites change at PDNB.

Photo by Don Netzer

Jesus Moroles

DALLAS — I’m a big photography fan; who isn’t in the Facebook age? Whatever your method of choice, my generation documents our life with photographs, it’s how we define ourselves.

That’s one of the reasons Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, or PDNB as it is better known, has always been one of my favorite galleries in the Design District and why it was especially surprising to me that they’re preparing to exhibit an artist whose sole medium is not the camera. Despite my initial hesitancy; however, I think PDNB’s kick-off to the fall season is going to be a very exciting show.

On September 8, PDNB will open an exhibit by a renowned Texas artist named Jesus Moroles. Moroles is a native Texan with artwork on display throughout the world. One of Moroles’ most visible public sculptures, the massive, 22 foot tall Lapstrake 1987, sits in a prominent position directly across from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Moroles is known for his monumental granite sculptures that to me seem to focus on the innate nature of the stone while at the same time invoking an unbreakable connection between modern-day sculpture and the lengthy history of man’s artistic relationship with stone as a medium.

Moroles’ work is firmly rooted in artistic tradition and mankind’s collective history, and PDNB could not have chosen a better artist with whom to branch out from photography.

Moroles’ “Rings of Granite” will open at PDNB on September 8 and feature 11 small, sculptural works. The highlight of the show will be several large suspended RINGS of granite.

PDNB has released several preview photos, but I can’t wait to see how the gallery will display work it typically would shy away from. This is one you won’t want to miss, so mark your calendars for the opening reception on September 8 and the artist reception and book signing on September 27. The show will run through November.