Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Davidow.
Hi Joan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
This girl’s art life began in the shape of a pyramid with the broadest base in the world. I accumulated activities and talents at the base. My mothering began in North Florida, to which I then added teaching, modeling, on-air radio, and television interviews. I commuted 90 miles to University of Florida for graduate studies. With all that activity, I felt as though I was going nowhere. But when we moved to Dallas forty years ago, all my activities began to meld with purpose. I became a weekly reporter on public radio KERA, reviewing Dallas arts for six years. For two years, I served as the McDermott Curatorial Intern in Contemporary Art at Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). My art career evolved when I became Director at Arlington Museum of Art for the next ten years. I then directed Dallas Contemporary, where I raised almost $5 million to purchase and renovate its new home. I taught at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) postgraduate program. In an abrupt turn during an annual visit to Art Basel Miami, my son Seth said, “Hey mom, want to direct an art space together in Dallas?” It was that unexpected proposal that initiated my directing the SITE131 art space with Seth.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In Dallas I learned I could do anything I dreamed up as long as I had the time, the energy, and could find the money. It was a rewarding experience. What began as a working artist in my studio evolved into an arts professional directing institutions. The hardest part of my arts career was capital campaign fundraising. From when I began, The Meadows Foundation gave us ten years to leave the comfortable cocoon on Swiss Avenue to find our own space. The last major gift came from its original founders, The Meadows Foundation. Two glorious supporters invented a generous plan to complete the fundraising. They each gave the last $100,000 in each million dollars raised to make the campaign successful.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Key positions in three institutions helped me focus in a meaningful way. Simply put, I curate contemporary art. At Dallas Museum of Art, I presented three exhibitions featuring Texas artists.
At Arlington Museum of Art (AMA), I featured Texas art. Texas has the third largest artists’ population in the U S. Artists helped transport the art easily and affordably. Visiting artists felt like part of a communal team. At an annual auction led by a lovable cattle auctioneer, we spearheaded yearly fundraising success. An early event with the then local Dixie Chicks brought spirit to the evolving institution.
We invented an intense six-week program called Art Think, in which artist-teachers visited neighborhood schools culminating in a class visit to AMA. Art Think Journal, given to each student, was awarded a national award. We proudly served 10,000 students in two years.
What began as D’Art was renamed Dallas Contemporary. Its major fundraising campaign gave the institution a new independent home for the first time in two decades.
More recently, at SITE131, I initiated a serial curatorial program that gathered art from Texas/U S/& abroad addressing the exhibitions’ focus. A recent new direction presents area collectors’ assemblages of contemporary art, introducing new visitors to the DFW concept of contemporary art.
Finding art that “winks” at me has been a delightful adventure. I collect art on a private level. The late art scholar, Dr. Richard Brettell, helped guide me to donate 75 artworks to two buildings at University of Texas at Dallas: The School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology and the Naveen Jindal School of Management. In my goal to engage all viewers to think about the art, one simple engaging question is posted next to each artwork.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Best about the city? Dallas is a can-do city welcoming invention and creativity. In an area totally and originally developed as industrial, area art galleries have flourished. The Design District now welcomes new galleries from New York, California, and Europe. The annual Dallas Art Fair is successful, popular, and growing.
Least about the city?
Interest and adherence to contemporary art is still a small part of a city dedicated to fashion, shopping, wealth, sports, and food. There’s plenty of room for expansion and advancement in the art-thinking category.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.site131.com
- Instagram: @site131
- Facebook: site131
Image Credits
J Davidow
Rabbi Liza Stern
