One of the most significant of the Tyler Race Films is The Blood of Jesus, written by and starring Spencer Williams. As with many of Williams’ films, this is a study of the continuing conflict between good and evil, holiness and godlessness, church and juke joint. Williams filmed it with a largely amateur cast and…Continue Reading The travels of The Blood of Jesus
Even the most incurious visitor to the Hamon Arts Library cannot have helped but notice the six works posted near the entryway. These pieces are part of a series entitled “Paper Dolls,” by Colleen Shull (SMU MFA ’11) and Justin Shull (former SMU Division of Art Adjunct Lecturer). This show, curated by guest curator Shannon…Continue Reading Reflections on Paper Dolls
Please stop by the second-floor gallery outside of Bywaters Special Collections and view how the portfolio XTOL by Octavio Medellin was researched by the artist in 1938 and later published in 1947 by the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, which preceded the Dallas Museum of Art. Work began in 1938 when Octavio Medellin spent six months…Continue Reading Octavio Medellin: Maya-Toltec Temples and Carvings, 1938 on display
American conductor and musicologist Robert Craft passed away on November 10 at the age of 92. Craft was best known as the advisor and close friend of Igor Stravinsky from 1948 until Stravinsky’s death in 1971; at times, he even lived in the Stravinsky home. But Craft was also a tastemaker in American classical music during…Continue Reading Robert Craft (1923-2015): An improbable life
The Jake and Nancy Hamon Papers contain the personal papers of Jake and Nancy Hamon. Jake Hamon was a legendary Dallas independent wildcatter while his wife Nancy was a celebrated hostess and philanthropist. The collection offers insights into Dallas social and cultural history. The bulk of the materials originates from Dallas, Texas….Continue Reading Collection Spotlight: Jake and Nancy Hamon Papers
Photographs in the Paper Dolls series confront the viewer with fundamental questions of viewer agency and power central to the critical investigation of visual culture. A feminist critique of visual culture, especially the culture of fashion magazine consumption by young women, is suggested by the selection and treatment of the six images comprising the exhibition….Continue Reading The fantasy / comparison model of fashion image processing: A prospective model of viewer engagement
On Wednesday, November 11, art historian and critic, Michael Fried, and Dallas Museum of Art Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Gavin Delahunty, discussed Jackson Pollock’s black paintings, the focus of the exhibition opening at the DMA this coming Friday, November 20….Continue Reading Pollock’s Black Paintings: A Conversation
For the second time in less than five years, the Dallas Opera is producing the world premiere of an opera by composer Jake Heggie with the libretto by Terrence McNally. Great Scott opened Friday, October 30th and will continue its run at the Margo and Bill Winspear Opera House through November 15th….Continue Reading Great Scott and great voices at SMU
Does Fondren have ghosts? Some say yes. As far as we know, the only entities haunting Hamon late at night are SMU students. Let’s get on with the second installment of Collecting the macabre….Continue Reading Pictorial: Collecting the macabre, Part 2
In the spirit of Halloween, we’ve gathered here some of the most macabre items from Central University Libraries’ special collections….Continue Reading Pictorial: Collecting the macabre, Part 1