Welcome to the art world: whenever you see someone happy, know someone somewhere is mad as hell. Introducing: John Viramontes. According to Glasstire, Viramontes and a group called the “Council for Artists Rights” are throwing a hissy fit about Dallas Museum of Art curator Charles Wylie and Fort Worth Modern curator Michael Auping’s participation in the Cowboys Stadium Art Program. Viramontes wrote a letter to the Fort Worth Star Telegram and an email to Glasstire (the man likes writing letters) asking:

“Is it not the purview of art dealers, independent curators and artists to earn their bread and butter from commercial ventures like the DCAP? [I]f Auping and Wylie do not have enough work to keep them occupied at the museum, perhaps the museums’ board of trustees needs to take a hard look at those positions and consider making them part-time jobs with the commensurate reduction in salary and employee benefits.”

So Viramontes’ complaint seems to be that Wylie and Auping were not sharing the pie with other non-institutionally employed folks. But Cowboys Stadium wasn’t your run-of-the-mill commission; it was the building of a significant public monument, and the Jones’ wanted to make sure they involved the local institutions in that decision-making process (as they also involved collectors and an art consultant). That’s what we call in Texas “manners.”

Over on Unfair Park, Robert Wilonsky relays a snippet from an interview he had with actor Ed Norton and director Tim Blake Nelson, two of the people behind Leaves of Grass, a film that isn’t going to come out on Friday anymore. The film was going to be released in New York, Dallas, and Austin because, as Ed Norton puts it, “Austin and hopefully Dallas, those are the places where there is enough genuine indie film appreciation and places where we can get the word out. It can really put it up here.”

Nelson chimes in: “It’s also just the flowering of the arts in Dallas and what’s going on with the arts in Dallas. It’s fantastic.”

The New York Times has an obituary on Edmund Pillsbury, which lists some of the major acquisitions the Kimbell director brought to Fort Worth, including Picasso’s “Nude Combing Her Hair,” Velazquez’s “The Cardsharps,” and works by Caravaggio, Fra Angelico, Rubens, Cezanne, and Modrian.

Dallas now boasts work by a number of Pritzker Architecture Prize winners. How do you get the honor? Well, it helps to recommend yourself.

In the Dallas Museum of Arts’ exhibition, “The Lens of Impressionism,” contemporaneous photography and painting are paired to draw attention to a dialogue between the media in the early days of the photographic image. There are no photographs in the Amon Carter Museum’s exhibition “American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art,” but the medium is no less present. Laid out chronologically through four galleries on the second floor of the Fort Worth museum, the ..read more

Even more local movie news: the Dallas International Film fest is adding a number of titles to their lineup, including two SXSW docu-hits, Bear Nation and Lemmy, and a treat for local architecture nuts: Learning From Light: The Vision of I.M. Pei. The fest has also increased the prize for the Texas competition. Oh, and they are adding a competition: the TXU Fast Forward contest, which will “enlist Texas students to create films focused on the future of energy efficiency and energy conservation.” There you go kids, there’s your breakthrough niche. More details below, per usual:

PRESS RELEASE

THE 2010 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIVE ADDITIONAL DOCS ADDED TO SLATE

TITLES INCLUDE SUNDANCE FAVORITE “CANE TOADS IN 3-D,” AND SXSW HITS “BEAR NATION,” AND “LEMMY”

FESTIVAL ALSO ANNOUNCES AN INCREASED CASH AWARD FOR THE MPS STUDIOS TEXAS COMPETITION WINNER

TXU ENERGY FAST FORWARD VIDEO CONTEST INTRODUCED

AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED AT FIRST DALLAS FILM SOCIETY HONORS EVENT PRESENTED BY THE GAIL L. & ARTHUR E. BENJAMIN FOUNDATION

DALLAS, TX, March 30, 2010 – DALLAS International Film Festival (April 8 – 18) announced it has added five documentary titles to its schedule of films for 2010. The titles include a crowd pleaser at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, CANE TOADS in 3-D, two popular documentaries from the just concluded South by Southwest Film Festival; BEAR NATION and LEMMY: THE MOVIE, the documentary profile LEARNING FROM LIGHT: THE VISION OF I.M. PEI, and a portrait of opera figure Barbara Smith Conrad, WHEN I RISE.

DALLAS IFF also announced an impressive lineup of awards and awards packages that will be presented at “The Dallas Film Society Honors” presented by the Gail L. & Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation event on Friday, April 16 at Hotel Palomar.

As announced previously, Target will once again present a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize to the winners of the Target Narrative and Target Documentary Feature Competition. The event will also feature the (previously announced) presentations of the DALLAS Star Awards to John Lee Hancock and Wally Pfister.

MPS Studios has also continued their partnership with DALLAS IFF sponsoring the Texas Competition. While the total prize worth remains at $20,000 for that category, the cash prize has been upped to $10,000, equaling the goods and services grant of $10,000.

DALLAS IFF Senior Programmer Sarah Harris said, “While it is an honor and a great moment for a filmmaker to just be singled out by a jury for their work, the prizes that go along with these awards often go a long way toward recouping some of their investment in that film or lend great assistance toward making their next one. Target and MPS Studios have been stalwarts in support of those filmmakers from the very beginning of this film festival.”

For the first time, REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT will give the winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Animation an NFR copy of 2010 Autodesk MAYA animation software.

DALLAS International Film Festival’s commitment to advancing awareness of environmental concerns, as well as the promotion of education through film takes another step forward as DALLAS IFF has teamed with TXU Energy on its TXU Energy Fast Forward Video Contest. The statewide contest enlisted Texas students to create films focused on the future of energy efficiency and energy conservation. The student filmmakers are competing for technology grants of up to $7,500 (and totaling $11,500) to be used to purchase and upgrade the film equipment for their schools. The winners will also be invited to DALLAS IFF for a special event and screening of their films.

“The TXU Energy Fast Forward Contest is providing a unique way for the next generation of influential Texans to make a difference by promoting energy efficiency and conservation in a way that is important to them,” said Michael Grasso, chief marketing officer for TXU Energy. “This event has an excellent reputation for promoting both education and the environment and we are excited to be a part of it.”

The winners of all the competitions in the 2010 DALLAS International Film Festival will receive MOVIE MAGIC software from Entertainment Partners.

The films added to the 2010 DALLAS IFF slate include:

BEAR NATION

Produced by Kevin Smith & Nhaelan McMilan and directed by Malcolm Ingram, the documentary examines the gay men known as “bears.” Focusing  on the large and hairy men that comprise this group, the film explores the sometimes controversial co-existence within the gay community as well as offering a fresh perspective on what it means to be a gay man.

CANE TOADS: THE CONQUEST

Directed by Mark Lewis and marking the first time a DALLAS IFF film has been presented in 3-D, the documentary plays as an equal parts comedy and horror film as it illustrates the environmental devastation left in the wake of the toad march across the continent of Australia.

LEARNING FROM LIGHT: THE VISION OF I.M. PEI

Directed by Bo Landin and Sterling Van Wagenen, the documentary follows IM Pei, now in his 90s, as he works to complete the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. The film tells the story of a man who has transformed architecture around the world through his work. The Louvre in Paris, and the introduction of the glass pyramid are just a couple examples of his insightful bravery to cross cultural divides and bridge worlds.

LEMMY

Directed by Wes Orshoski and Greg Oliver, LEMMY is a documentary portrait of heavy metal icon and Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Featuring appearances by the members of Metallica, Dave Grohl, Billy Bob Thornton and pro wrestler Triple H, the film takes an entertaining and detailed look at Lemmy’s personal and public life.

WHEN I RISE

Directed by Mat Hames, WHEN I RISE tells the story of Barbara Smith Conrad, a gifted University of Texas music student who found herself at the epicenter of a racial controversy and struggled against the odds to ultimately ascend to the heights of the international opera community.

Commenting on the additions to the 2010 lineup, Artistic Director James Faust said, “These five documentaries are exciting additions to an already great lineup of films. Fascinating, to enlightening to out and out crowd pleasers – they run the gamut and we couldn’t be happier to add them to the mix.”

The DALLAS International Film Festival will run April 8 – 18, 2010. Passes and tickets are currently on sale both via online (www.dallasfilm.org <http://www.dallasfilm.org/> ), and at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Window located at 5330 Mockingbird Lane on the Hotel Palomar retail strip facing Mockingbird Lane (214.295.5142).

THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY

The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society.  A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today’s world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual DALLAS International Film Festival, to be held April 8 -18, 2010, is a presentation of The Dallas Film Society. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city. For more information, visit www.dallasfilm.org.

The Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation The Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization created to assist the building and growth of other foundations through leadership, management, marketing, and public relations. Established by Dallas-area business leader and philanthropist Arthur E. Benjamin, the Foundation’s core focus is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and animals, support young adults through educational efforts, and aid women in breast cancer recovery.

SPONSORS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Behringer Harvard, Barefoot Wine, Brierley + Partners, Brilliant Magazine, CBS Radio, Central 214, Colibri Promotions, Convergence Network Solutions, D Magazine, DART, Design Expediting Services Inc., Deux, Digital 3 Printing, El Creative, e-Rewards, e-Miles, Faulkner Design Group, Hotel Palomar, Informate DFW Magazine, Match.com, Mockingbird Station, Modern Luxury Dallas, MODIA Home Theater Store, Movie Magic, MPS Studios Dallas, Neiman Marcus, Paul Paredes, Post Asylum, Pure Evil Sound & Music, REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT, The Residences at Palomar, Screen International, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois, Stoli Vodka, Studio Movie Grill, Target, The Dallas Morning News, Time Warner Cable, The Container Store, TM Advertising, TXU Energy, Univision 23, vitaminwater, West Village, WFAA-TV, Whole Foods Market, World Affairs Council, WRR Classical 101.1 FM.

When the chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman, visited Philedelphia recently, there was much of the usual talk about arts-as-economic engine. You’re familiar with it: ”talk of the arts as an economic engine, the arts as a tool of neighborhood revitalization, the arts as a key to tourism, the arts as linchpin of economic development.” In that article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rachel Zimmerman of InLiquid calls the arts administrators out, wondering where the artists fit into this equation:

“It seems that culture and art are important as long as they redevelop neighborhoods or have some quantifiable measure,” Zimmerman said. “We’re continually losing sight of the value of what’s created, not just as a means of social or economic change, but as art. It becomes a Band-Aid to fix the ills of society and is not about the art or the artists anymore.”

Philadelphia is mighty familiar with the uneasy relationship between art administrator and art object. This Friday, the Angelika will open the film The Art of the Steal, which documents the conspiracy that ripped the Barnes Collection from its collector’s intended sanctuary and brought it to downtown Philly. The film is steeped in these questions of artistic economies. Look for a review of the film on FrontRow Thursday.

The winner of this week’s giveaway is Michael for his contribution to the discussion about the opening of Joshua Goode’s show at Guerilla Arts. Next we’ll giveaway a pair of tickets to Modern 2 Midnight at the Fort Worth Modern.

Just when you were getting used to the idea that a good week-and-a-half of your April was going to be given over to a film festival – wham, more must-see movie magic is heading to Dallas. Yesterday word dropped in the inbox that the Frightmare Film Festival will kick off on April 28. And the weekend-long fest is bringing in some impressive flicks and guests, including the U.S. premiere of Tim Sullivan’s 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams, and a screening of George Romero’s Survival of the Dead. More details in the release below:

PRESS RELEASE

TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND ANNOUNCES EXTENDED SLATE FOR 2010 TEXAS FRIGHTMARE FILM FESTIVAL

TITLES INCLUDE US PREMIERE OF “2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS,” GEORGE ROMERO’S “SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD,” AND ADAM GREEN’S “FROZEN”

DALLAS, TX, March 29, 2010 – Texas Frightmare Weekend announced it has extended the dates for its companion Texas Frightmare Film Festival this year (April 28 – May 1). Highlights from the lineup include the US Premiere of Tim Sullivan’s 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS, George Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD and Adam Green’s Sundance hit, FROZEN.

Green’s FROZEN stars Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell and Kevin Zegers and follows the life or death choices a trio of skiers and snowboarders must make when they find themselves abandoned on a ski resort chairlift. The film, which was a surprise hit at the Sundance Film Festival in January will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Wednesday, April 28 at 7:00PM.

Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is the 6^th film in his vaunted zombie series. The film follows characters from his prior outing DIARY OF THE DEAD and takes them to an island community inhabited by two feuding factions of locals divided not just by their approach to the zombie threat, but to years of family disputes. The film, which adds an unlikely western flavor to Romero’s legendary themes, will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Thursday, April 29 at 7:00PM.

Sullivan’s 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS follows the mayhem that ensues after the failure of a fresh group of unsuspecting Northerners to show up for their annual Guts N’ Glory Jamboree, inspires the residents of Pleasant Valley to take their cannibalistic carnival on the road and head to Iowa where they encounter the cast and crew of a reality show. The film will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Thursday, April 29 at 9:00PM. Attending the screening will be Sullivan along with cast members Bill Moseley, Christa Campbell, Kevin Ogilvie, Ryan Fleming, Lin Shaye, Katy Johnson, Jordan Yale Levine, Nicole Rae and Kathryn Le.

The screenings will feature red carpet entrances populated by several stars and filmmakers of the films as well as the horror and the genre stars attending Texas Frightmare Weekend.

Screenings on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 will take place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel (4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, Texas).

Texas Frightmare Film Festival Director Loyd Cryer said, “The film festival component has always been an important part of our convention. After all, we are here to celebrate and highlight the work of horror legends and genre fan favorites, so adding two additional nights of theatrical screenings to see their films was something we always knew we wanted to do. And it’s a thrill, in our fifth year to have grown to that point already.”

The Texas Frightmare Film Festival titles include:

BLOOD NIGHT: THE LEGEND OF MARY HATCHET

Director: Frank Sabatella

Cast: Nate Dushku, Samantha Facci, Danielle Harris, Bill Moseley, Samantha Jacobs

The film focuses on a group of teenagers celebrating the anniversary of the death of a local axe murderer that suddenly find themselves face to face with the realities of the haunting urban legend.

DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW

Director: Frank De Felitta

Cast: Charles Durning, Robert F.Lyons, Lane Smith, Larry Drake

The film tells the story of a retarded man, who after being unjustly accused of attacking a young girl, hides in a cornfield disguised as a scarecrow only to be hunted down and shot. Later, after it is revealed he saved the girl from a vicious dog attack, members of the search posse begin being stalked and killed by a mysterious scarecrow.

THE FINAL

Director: Joey Stewart

Cast: Marc Donato, Jascha Washington, Whitney Hoy, Justin Arnold

The film follows a group of high school outcasts that decide to take revenge on the kids that have tormented them.

FROZEN

Director: Adam Green

Cast: Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers

The film follows the life or death choices a trio of skiers and snowboarders must make when they find themselves abandoned on a ski resort chairlift.

LONG PIGS

Directors: Nathan Hynes, Chris Power

Cast: Anthony Alviano, Paul Fowles, Nathan Hynes, Chris Power

The film shows the results after two desperate young filmmakers stumble upon their ultimate subject, a 33 year old cannibalistic serial killer, who has agreed to let them document every aspect of his horrifically violent life-style.

THE RETELLING

Director: Emily Hagins

Cast: Kristoffer Aaron Morgan, Jessica Wilson, Richard McDermott, Simone Heim

The film is about a young boy and his family that face an unsettling presence at the home of his ailing and blind grandfather. The young boy and his new friend investigate the source and discover a murder from the past that may have finally found its connection to the present.

RODRIGO GUDINO SHORTS

The founder and president of Rue Morgue Magazine presents 3 shorts:

THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MISTER HOLLOW

Director: Rodrigo Gudiño, Vincent Marcone

THE DEMONOLOGY OF DESIRE

Director: Rodrigo Gudiño

THE EYES OF EDWARD JAMES

Director: Rodrigo Gudiño

SPIRIT CAMP

Director: Kerry Beyer

Cast: Julin, Brandon Smith, Denise Williamson, Roxy Vandiver, Alyssia Dujimovich

The film follows the clash that follows a street smart “goth girl” after she is forced to attend cheerleader camp as part of her rehabilitation from a juvenile correction facility. When members of the spirit squad start turning up dead, the girls must put aside their differences and struggle to survive the murderous rage of a crazed psycho-killer lurking among them.

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD

Director: George A. Romero

Cast: Richard Fitzpatrick, Athena Karkanis, Heather Allin, Kenneth Welsh, Alan Van Sprang

The film follows characters from his prior outing DIARY OF THE DEAD and takes them to an island community inhabited by two feuding factions of locals divided not just by their approach to the zombie threat, but to years of family disputes.

SWEATSHOP

Director: Stacy Davidson

Cast: Ashley Kay, Peyton Wetzel, Brent Himes, Melanie Donihoo

The film focuses on a young woman and her friends break into an abandoned warehouse and begin setting up an impromptu party. Unbeknownst to them, something lurks in this dark place…and they are about to pay for their mistake.

TEXAS FRIGHTMARE MASSACRE

Director: Joe Francis

Cast: Joe Francis, Parrish Randall, Tristan Lavelle David Ayers

The film is a horror comedy about a nerd that goes to Texas Frightmare Weekend with his stepsister and her boyfriend. Upon realizing that they are not his friends and that he can’t rely on his movie heroes, he goes on a murderous rampage.

2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS

Director: Tim Sullivan

Cast: Bill Moseley, Christa Campbell, Kevin Ogilvie, Ryan Fleming and Lin Shaye

Mayhem ensues after the failure of a fresh group of unsuspecting Northerners to show up for their annual Guts N’ Glory Jamboree, inspires the residents of Pleasant Valley to take their cannibalistic carnival on the road and head to Iowa where they encounter the cast and crew of the reality show.

Texas Frightmare Weekend will feature appearances by John Carpenter, George Romero, Lance Henriksen, Doug Bradley, Kane Hodder, William Katt, Margot Kidder, Derek Mears, Julian Sands and over forty genre icons.

Highlights will include a CHRISTINE reunion with stars Keith Gordon, Alexandra Paul and John Stockwell. Also, one of the final 2 remaining 1958 Plymouth Fury cars used to film the movie will be at the show for fans to see.

Premiere Props will also auction over 500 props and collectibles from films like RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, BOOK OF ELI, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, CHRISTINE, PIRANHA 3-D, BEASTLY, LETTERS TO JULIET, TAKERS and EASY-A. Additional props and fright fare will be announced courtesy of top genre studios and production companies like Lionsgate, Ghost House Pictures, Sony, Screen Gems.

Texas Frightmare Weekend will also feature the 3rd Annual Zombie Walk sponsored by Moxley Manor as well as the 3rd Annual Hearse and Shock Rod Show.

The Texas Frightmare Film Festival and Texas Frightmare Weekend will run April 28 – May 1, 2010. Passes and tickets are currently on sale online at www.TexasFrightmareWeekend.com.

TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND

Texas Frightmare Weekend presented by Anchor Bay Entertainment in association with Rue Morgue Magazine is a three day horror convention that takes place annually in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Since its inaugural event in February 2006 Texas Frightmare Weekend has hosted appearances by horror icons George A. Romero, Malcolm McDowell, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and more. True to its motto, “The Southwest’s Premier Horror Convention”, their goal is to provide fans with an unrivaled experience by celebrating all aspects of genre film making. Texas Frightmare Weekend hosts celebrity appearances, autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties and horror memorabilia vendors from all over the country. The event is also extremely proud to have featured the rising talents of many Texas “Frightmakers” in screenings, panel discussions and Q & A’s. For more information on the event, please visit www.TexasFrightmareWeekend.com

1. Yesterday on Frontburner, Tim pointed to the guerilla video Erykah Badu made in Dealy Plaza (sans clothes), which sparked a lot of noise. City officials were peeved (but they’re probably still annoyed Zapruder didn’t get a permit). The San Francisco Chronicle was scratching its head wondering what Badu was trying to say with her video. Hunter Hauk asked Badu what she was up to in an interview on Quick.

2. Steve Green, the president of Hobby Lobby, has a hobby: collecting rare bibles and other scripture artifacts (papyri, Hebrew scrolls, etc.). That collection may become a Bible museum in Dallas.

3. Via Wilonsky on Unfair Park, the Park Department only has funding to run the fountain at Main Street garden from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. everyday. I don’t know if that is more funny or depressing. It also makes me wonder what other big idea parks don’t have money to run properly ( Woodall, the Trinity).

What would happen if no one ever told children about the birds and the bees? What would happen when puberty hits and their hormones go haywire and their bodies betray them? That’s the premise of Spring Awakening, the winner of the 2007 Tony for Best Musical and latest installment of the Lexus Broadway series at the Winspear. Based on a play so controversial it was banned from the day it was written, this musical braves the subject of budding sexuality ..read more