Here are this weekend’s openings.

Photo:  (From left) “Afghanistan, 1956,” Painter on the Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1953,” and “Three Baguettes, Paris, 1953,” photos by Marc Riboud (Courtesy of Photographs Do Not Bend). The living legend, French photographer Marc Riboud, will be speaking at Photographs Do Not Bend on Saturday, October 2.

“Webb Gallery of Waxahatchie” at the Belmont Hotel – September 29 : 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM; 901 Ft. Worth Avenue, Dallas, Tx 75208.

“Opening Reception” with Megan Adams, Lynn Blanchard, Nicole Potter, ..read more

Moments ago, the Annette Strauss Artist Square was officially dedicated, and a cadre of D staffers was there to witness history. Or sweat and giggle at Mayor Tom Leppert’s gaffe. Depends on your perspective. First, some journalism-style information about the square that you might find useful, then some folderol.

The square will play host to free video simulcasts of opera performances within the Winspear. I’m in for that. I can see kiddos gamboling over the lawn while their parents sit on ..read more

Denton-based band Seryn stopped by the D offices a few weeks ago, back when the Trinity was flooded to her levees and our city looked like a misty river town, for the latest installment of our music performance series. The band played four of their sweeping, harmonious tunes, and we’ve broken their set up into two videos. They will be playing Art Conspiracy next month on October 23, but if you need a fix before then, stop by Fort Worth’s Central Market this evening beginning at 6 p.m. Seryn will be supporting Ruby Jane, complete with tacos and fajitas.

In Great Balls of Fire, the 1989 film dramatizing the career of Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Lee is rebuked by a young, female, would-be fan: “My mama don’t want me listening to rock and roll. She says it leads to impure thoughts.”  Dennis Quaid, channeling Lewis’s notorious brashness, quips “mama’s right.”

I am not about to quibble over definitions of purity, but there is truth in that scripted remark.  To some degree, the mystique of rock and roll has always been ..read more

1. As Mark Lowry reports on Theater Jones, the Dallas Summer Musicals 2011 season lineup was not supposed to be released until next week, but an ad in the Shrek Playbill (that was supposed to be pulled) inadvertently let the cat out of the bag early. The gaffe burns all the more because the DSM season looks like a bore:

If this lineup says anything, it’s that the touring product is seriously lacking right now. . . . There is hope: An insider at DSM confirms that there’s still one more show to be announced for the 2011 season. Considering this mostly dull lineup below, we’re not holding out hope for anything terribly interesting.

2. The ribbon cutting for Annette Strauss Square takes place today at the old venue’s new location, tucked behind the west side of the Winspear Opera House. The Dallas Morning News looks back at the legacy of the outdoor venue’s namesake, the former mayor with a passion for arts. And KERA reports on the challenges of designing the venue for a location that abuts a highway.

3. Last week the Facebook-centric movie Catfish opened locally, and tomorrow the Facebook founding drama The Social Network comes out, both films drawing attention to the influence the social media site has had on society. But has its impact been as fundamental as some like to profess? Not really, writes Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker. Culling examples from the Civil Rights movement and the Italian Red Brigades, Gladwell argues that the networking and personal associations that helped form these activist movements is alien to the way Facebook connects:

The kind of activism associated with social media isn’t like this at all. The platforms of social media are built around weak ties. Twitter is a way of following (or being followed by) people you may never have met. Facebook is a tool for efficiently managing your acquaintances, for keeping up with the people you would not otherwise be able to stay in touch with. That’s why you can have a thousand “friends” on Facebook, as you never could in real life.

The Nasher Sculpture Center recently launched a new exhibition called Revelation featuring, for the first time at the Nasher, the work of a living regional artist, and chances are you’ve never heard of him. His name is James Magee, a man who in the course of a lifetime has worn the hats of a New York City cabbie, an off-Broadway set designer, a lawyer and a vagabond, among other things, but who has been working as an artist of little renown ..read more

As Peter noted, Lone Star has been canceled after airing but two episodes. Six episodes were completed, according to reports. No one is sure yet how Fox will burn those off. They might just end up getting thrown on Hulu at some point.

As one of a dozen or so people nationwide who watched both episodes, I feel uniquely qualified to explain how producers might have been able to avoid this premature death sentence. I thought it was a good show, ..read more

I listened to this story on KERA about the state of Premiere Video’s operation in light of Blockbuster Video’s bankruptcy with sweaty palms and bated breath. I fear Premiere Video closing like a death, and that’s not hyperbole. Consolation comes towards the end of Jerome Weeks’ story. First, owner Sam Wade says that declines in sales have leveled off. Then, he asserts his commitment to staying open:

“My brother-in-law asked that same question. He said, What’s your endgame? And I said, Death! I don’t think he appreciated that. But it’s certainly not as profitable as it used to be and probably won’t be in the future. But when you really enjoy something – and I strive on coming in everyday – so I mean, I’ll ride it probably longer than I should ride it.”

1. Jason Heid will be saddened he is just stuck with Chase on Monday nights and can pull the plug on his Lone Star recaps: the Dallas-produced TV show has been given the hook after just two episodes:

Lone Star was a critical favorite among new shows, but ratings for its pilot episode were dismal, with 4.1 million viewers. Those ratings dropped to 3.2 million for the second episode.

2. As all the reviews of Henry IV trickled in (DMN, WFAA, Theater Jones, Alexandra Bonifeld, Dallas Observer, and FrontRow — who said there was a criticism drought?), I was wondering what Art and Seek’s Jerome Weeks thought of the performance. Today, we find out that unlike most critics, Weeks was not so wild about Harry:

It’s actually [Randy Moore’s] Falstaff character – and the entire production – that feels stripped down and emotionally skinny.

3. Yesterday we showed you Peter Rand’s brilliant mash-up of Donald Judd and “Double Rainbow.” Today, take the Donald Judd vs. Ikea furniture challenge, a quiz that asks the question, “Is it Judd or Ikea?” Feel free to post your scores in the comments and let us know what pieces tripped you up. (h/t to Jerome Weeks).

That’s right — five, thanks to the good folks over at The Loft and Palladium Showroom. All you have to do is leave your favorite 1992-96-era GBV song and your e-mail in the comments. First five get ‘em. Go!

UPDATE: Contest over. Thanks, gang.