The MAC | McKinney Avenue Contemporary
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAC CONTACT:
Emily Cheek at 214.953.1212 / emily@the-mac.org or macmembership@the-mac.org
THE MAC ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW EXHIBITIONS: Michelle Murillo and Leigh Anne Lester: Palimpsest, Kana Harada: The Way Home and Megan Adams: Interiorscapes. In addition, The MAC, in collaboration with Laura Sohm, Secondary Visual Arts Coordinator at the Dallas Independent High School District, will present Transparency, in the Lobby. The Mac has taken the initiative in conjunction with the DISD to host the works of young students’ talent in our community. These exhibitions open on Saturday, May 22 at 5:30pm and will be on view through June 26, 2010.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The MAC is proud to present four new exhibitions, Leigh Anne Lester and Michelle Murillo: Palimpsest, Kana Harada: The Way Home; and Megan Adams: Interiorscapes. In addition, The MAC, in collaboration with Laura Sohm, Secondary Visual Arts Coordinator at the Dallas Independent High School District, will present Transparency, in the Lobby. The Mac has taken the initiative in conjunction with the DISD to host the works of young students’ talent in our community. The opening reception will be Saturday, May 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at our galleries located at 3120 McKinney Avenue, which is in the Uptown District of Dallas.
In the Large Galleries
Leigh Anne Lester and Michelle Murillo: Palimpsest
Leigh Anne Lester
Leigh Ann Lester layers drawings of botanical specimens both real and imaginary to create new plant hybrids. Her works reflect the adaptation of genetic modification and the biological impact it has had in our environment. Through her interweaving of transparent materials, she reveals the often complex and violent nature of evolution that redefines what is organic and beautiful. These fictional flora investigate scientific potential, fatality and ultimate responsibility we play as creationist in the new millennium. She has previously exhibited at the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, the Biennial Southwest in Albuquerque and has been published in the New York Arts Magazine. Solo exhibitions include the McNay Museum in San Antonio, the Institute of Texan Cultures, and Lawndale Arts Center in Houston.
Leigh Anne holds a BFA in painting from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
She lives and works in San Antonio, Texas.
Michelle Murillo
As Michelle Murillo’s pieces deals with memory, place and its influence on identity. Her hypothesis is that memory is a narrative of the past that can also function as a compass in the present. The show is a representation of the artist efforts to create catalytic structures for other’s recollections. In the artist own words: “the exhibition attempts to address how place informs identity in our cross-cultural interaction and exchange era”.
Michelle Murillo has been awarded grants from Proyecto’ace, SUB 30 Residency Grant, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Canada. The Canada Research Council. The Educational Bridge Project, St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2009, she finished a residency at Kala Art Institute at Berkeley, California. Her solo shows include the Haydon Art Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, Transverse Space Gallery in Buenos Aires Argentina, and the Fine Arts Building Gallery at the University of Alberta in Canada. She lives in Dallas, Texas.
Murillo received a MFA in Printmaking from the University of Alberta at Edmonton, Canada, and a BFA in Painting from Boston University at Boston, Massachusetts. She is Assistant Professor of Drawing and Printmaking at The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas.
Kana Harada: The Way Home
Kana Harada continually finds inspiration through her joy and gratitude towards life. Often directly inspired from nature, Harada is interested in expressing the awe and serenity which she feels in its presence. Using hand cut foam sheets, Harada creates a sense of light softness in her organic sculptural forms. Raised dually in Japan and the United States, Kana Harada studied design, Japanese fine art, and drawing at Ochanomizu School of Fine Arts in Tokyo, Japan. Harada has exhibited at The Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art Museum, Texas Christian University, as well as galleries in Japan, New York City and Texas. She is a recipient of the Beth Lea and John L. Clardy Memorial Award presented at the "23rd Annual Exhibition, Art In The Metroplex" at Texas Christian University. She currently lives and works in Dallas, Texas. www.kanakanakana.com
In the New Works Space
Megan Adams: Interiorscapes
Megan Adams sheds light on materialism through fabric – the single thing modern civilization most commonly comes in contact with. The Dallas native’s work is a reaction to the fashion and interior design worlds’ mass production mentality.
Inspired by patterns and texture from nature, her designs are often organic with a spontaneous sensibility. The fabric’s unexpected repeat is inspired by the centuries-old ikat weaving process that produces imperfect patterns and edges.
First, she paints or draws earthy abstract designs then digitally prints the patterns on natural fibers including cotton, silk and linen. The limited-edition textiles are works of art that can be used in countless ways from wall hangings to lampshades and pillows.
Adams is a recipient of numerous scholarships including the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts Workshop Scholarship and the Barbara L. Kulman Foundation, Inc. Scholarship. Her work has been exhibited at the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University and 1800 Main St.
Megan Adams is currently a candidate for a Masters of Fine Art in fibers from the University of North Texas at Denton. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in painting and drawing from Southern Methodist University. She lives and works in Dallas, Texas.
In The MAC’s lobby
Dallas Independent School District: Transparency
The Mac is proud to announce its initiative to reveal the works of young artists in Dallas in conjunction with Dallas Independent School District. The Mac is thrilled to host the young artists and looks forward to dialogue about the young talent in our community.
Seven High Schools from Dallas Independent School District will be installing some incredible works in the front gallery space of The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, which will be open for viewing May 22 through June 26.
Inspired by the theme of "Transparency” that marks the work of the Adamson, Conrad, Molina, North Dallas, Townview, and Thomas Jefferson students have been given complete creative license. Many have integrated subject matter, physical qualities, and contemporary environmental concerns into their works.
Together they have given "voice" to issues of self- transparency, justice, language, power, and even the transparency of water. One installation even focuses on video projections. The idea has been to experience both collaboration and to get the students involved in the MAC as a real world experience in an art space.
From its inception the idea has been that the works be constructed of recycled and recyclable materials - at least as much as is possible considering the designs/themes/ and to especially dispose of the works right after the show. However, as one of the Hillcrest High art students has commented, "Its going to be tough to throw this away after we are done." Instead, they propose to take their "Tree of Knowledge" back to school after the show and put it in their school courtyard where the break down of its elements can be observed and documented by the science department. This is one situation where the "Voice" of adults had better get out of the way, especially regarding the those creative "voices" who have put their hearts into the show.
About the MAC
Established in 1994, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC) is a nonprofit organization that stands as a Dallas advocate for creative freedom offering the opportunity for experimentation and presentation of art in all disciplines. It supports the emerging and established artist roll in society providing a forum for critical dialogue with their audiences. This relationship is cultivated through education and innovative programming. The MAC is a member of Dallas Art Dealers Association and The Uptown Association.
Call 214-953-1212 for information or visit www.the-mac.org. The MAC is open Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.the-mac.org
Interviews and images related to this exhibition are available upon request.
Contact(s):
Emily Cheek
McKinney Avenue Contemporary
3120 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX 75204
+1.214.953.1212
www.the-mac.org
McKinney Avenue Contemporary”
Trademarks / Copyrights
The MAC, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, its name and logo are registered Copyrights of The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. Other names may be trademarks and or copyrights of their respective owners.
This announcement is provided to you solely for information purposes. Many factors can materially affect The MAC exhibit plans. The MAC specifically disclaims any liability with respect to this information.
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exhibition sponsors:
The MAC is funded in part by grants from:
Cultural Projects Program
City of Dallas
Office of Cultural Affairs