Radio UTD was invited to have a booth at Dallas Contemporary’s Summer Series event with Toast Toast Recordings, a Dallas indie record label spearheaded by one of our very own alumni, Demir Candas. This event was a unique intersection between art, music, and community in Dallas, where likeminded people could experience our immersive art scene and shop local businesses along the way. I got to meet many great vendors, musicians, and UT Dallas alum at this event—an experience that was both exciting and motivating.

As you walk into Dallas Contemporary, its distinctive display of art is on your right. On your left, an array of vendors present their businesses and items they have to offer. I was impressed by the vast creativity across several mediums that I got to see at this event. There were vendors like Deep Vellum and Soft Spots that offer printing and publishing services, bringing together art, literature, and collaboration. I got to have a great conversation with Julianne who was manning the Soft Spots booth, and she explained that they offer classes for those who want to learn how to print risographs for zines, and offer printing services for those already familiar with the procedure. They foster creativity by making the process simpler for those who are interested, which I believe is very encouraging and rewarding. She also told me that the same people who taught riso classes were giving tattoos at the back of the museum, which I thought was super hardcore. Another amazing vendor was Fine Print, a magazine and poster gallery in Oak Cliff that has a great selection of international magazines about fashion, culture, design, and architecture.

I stopped by all of the vendor booths, wanting to learn more about their passions and interests, and had a great final conversation with Johnny Rutledge, a Texas born visual artist who creates artwork in a variety of different mediums. I first became familiar with his work a few months ago when he created a movie poster for Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket. They gave the poster out for free at the Texas Theatre, where they were doing an anniversary showing of the film shot in Dallas. I thought the print was incredible, and knew a kind soul created it for people to experience good art at no cost. I was certainly right, and we had a great conversation about how art has changed his life and how he has changed his ways to prioritize it. I felt lucky to have such an open and introspective conversation with someone I just met—a trend I feel happens often at these types of events and opens my mind to new perspectives.

You walk past the vendors to a back area that feels like a completely different world. Dark, yet engulfed in bright visuals by Heavy Refuge, Ash, and My Unexpected Pleasure, this area hosted performances by many Dallas-based artists on Toast Toast Recordings.

Jack Diller kicked off the performances, playing songs from his newly released record Fistful Of Flowers. His sound is an incredible blend of surf rock and folk, à la Mac Demarco, with snappy guitar licks that almost take your breath away. It feels like driving down a coastline with the windows down. Combined with the fun and immersive visuals, Diller’s performance lifted up the energy in the room and set the night off right. Heavy Refuge, who also did visuals for the event, had an electronic/ambient set which felt just as captivating as its surroundings. I continued to walk around, taking in the different sights Dallas Contemporary had to offer. The last set I got to see was by HONIN, a jazz/pop band which brought a calming presence to the room. The four musicians played in harmony on stage—synth and trumpet sounds capturing the crowd’s attention. Every artist that played was unique and had a strong sonic presence in this creative space. The music combined with the compelling visuals made for the perfect environment at Dallas Contemporary.

I felt grateful to be invited into such a space by one of our own, and felt Dallas Contemporary was the perfect place to bring together creative individuals sharing their passions and experiencing a change of scenery at the museum. Many genuine and kind people came through this event and were interested in what we have to offer as a radio station. It is great to know that people support college radio and were excited to see us at the event. The Summer Series Closeout and Toast Toast Showcase was not one to miss, but Dallas Contemporary offers events throughout the year that embrace art and community in our area. I am very excited to see what they do in the future—and you should be, too!

About Dallas Contemporary:
Dallas Contemporary is a non-collecting arts space, a kunsthalle, with the mission to present the forefront of contemporary artistic practice and artistic production through exhibitions, performances, and public programs in order to advance the discovery and appreciation of the art of this moment. The museum offers free daily admission, ensuring broad access to world-class art and ideas.

About Summer Series:
Dallas Contemporary’s Summer Series returns this year with a refreshed curatorial focus, expanded programming, and new partnerships. Commencing on the summer solstice, the series runs from June through August and features day and night events designed to activate the museum’s generous space. Admission is ticketed per event and free for members.

Support directly funds Dallas Contemporary. As a nonprofit with free admission, free parking, and free programs—a rare gem in the arts—this ticketed series helps sustain our mission to present the forefront of contemporary artistic practice and artistic production through exhibitions, performances, and public programs in order to advance the discovery and appreciation of the art of this moment.