Art in the Hood Returns for 3rd Year
By Stephanie Hancock

Art in the Hood Artists' Studio Tour returns for its third year from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, showcasing the work of a multitude of artists in 8 studios in the Southeast area of Dallas. The self-guided tour is free and opens to the public the homes and working studios of artists, so that people can see art in the various stages of creation. Included on the tour are metal sculptures, jewelry, photography, paintings, glass, ceramics and fiber arts.

Tour takers choose the studios they want to visit and spend as much time as they like there before going on to another stop. The tour is self-guided and there is no defined order or starting point to the studio tour.

The tour's name came from the collection of artists joking about the misconceptions people have about the area they live and work in.

"In my opinion, Art in the Hood amounts to a three-year long running joke. It started with the fervent belief that no Dallasite in their right mind would drive south of I-30 for any event, much less an arts event. The artists that live and work in this area created the tour with no intention of it really being a success," said Russ Sharek of The Morpheus Company, participating artist and tour coordinator. "Turns out the joke was on us. Last year almost 1000 people took the tour."

Unlike previous tours, this year many members of the Oak Cliff Artisans will also be showing at B&A Glassworks. Studio owner Brad Abrams chose to open his home and workspace to fellow artists to show their work so tour takers could be exposed to more local talent. Last year, Abrams' glass blowing demos were a favorite of tour takers.

Another stop on the tour was photographer and metalworker Roy Cirigliana who moved to the Piedmont District of Pleasant Grove in 1981 because of the affordable housing and the area's rural feel. He says the area has an undeserved reputation.

"Talking with people who grew up here in the 50's, Pleasant Grove was one of the roughest area in Dallas, but it wasn't like that when I moved over here."

From long standing locals to new homeowners, tour takers echoed his sentiments and were thrilled to see the strengths of Pleasant Grove highlighted.

"This area ... includes the northeast section of Dallas' Great Trinity Forest. It's rolling hills, old growth trees, and scenic vistas ... are environmentally much more like Austin than Dallas. It is not surprising that many artists have been inspired to live and work in these communities of well built older homes carefully placed among the trees and wildlife habitat," said Linda Pelon, White Rock Historic District president.

More information about the individual artists, and a map of the tour, can be found at www.artinthehood.com or by calling 214-381-9191.

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