D-ART, a Visual Arts Center for Dallas
the Story.......the Memories.......
 Top - Down D-Art 2917 Swiss, Critic's Choice Jurors 1983,
Judy Smith Hearst & Vicki Meek, Fred & Edith Baker - 1997 Legends Award |
D-Art, the first visual art center for Dallas opened on Swiss Ave in 1981.
This website features the D-Art story of beginning and growth years and the people and traditions that made D-Art a vital part of Dallas art history! There are 100s of memories of D-Art/DVAC. We made life-long friends and watched a community come together with tremendous energy to install shows, volunteer, raise funds and celebrate art. D-Art offered invitational and juried shows and encouraged artist proposals. There were large membership shows allowing every member to exhibit. It took a village of volunteers, a dedicated Board and a small professional staff to make it happen. This website is an attempt to bring together shared "memories" of D-Art/DVAC when it operated at the original site at 2917 Swiss Ave. The people, events and exhibits are a very important part of Dallas art history. Together let's tell the history and the stories of D-Art, the first Art Center for Dallas. Please send YOUR memories to add in these pages to raystudios@sbcglobal.net at: Marty Ray, D-Art Board/Exhibits Chair 1990s Professor Emerita Art, North Lake College  |
The Story of D-Art's Beginnings
D-Art Visual Art Center began as an idea shared by many enthusiastic people in the Dallas community. The creation of local art centers was a prevalent idea throughout the US during the 1970s. Artists, patrons and groups in Dallas envisioned a place to serve as an exhibition, education and resource center for area visual artists. With many laying the ground work, D-Art became a reality in an old restored warehouse at 2917 Swiss Ave. Years of work and perseverance would make D-Art an enduring reality for the Dallas community and visual artists throughout Texas and a highlight in Dallas art history.
D-Art opens doors 1981 Founders recognized
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Three Dallas women, Judy Smith Hearst, Patricia Meadows & Mary Ward were recognized as founders of D-Art at the 1981 ribbon cutting ceremony.
These 3 women were active before meeting one another in leadership roles, planning exhibitions and working for the benefit of the visual arts. Each knew Dallas needed a place for art exhibits, classes, programs and studios. Fate brought them together in Spring 1981 and sparks ignited and ideas merged. Funds were raised, volunteers organized and work to remodel an old ware-house began. An official ribbon cutting to celebrate D-Art's opening was held on Nov. 11, 1981, with Dallas Mayor Jack Evans officiating. The Founding Ladies:
Judy Hearst - During varied leadership roles on the board of the Medellin School of Sculpture at the Creative Arts Center, in the late 1970's, Judy was urged by Octavio Medellin, Betty Graham and Jean Wisenbaker to pursue planning and building searches for a future Art Center with shared space for other art groups. In spring 1980 Judy had left her role as incoming president of CAC and began to work with a friend, Mary Ward to create a Visual Art Center. Their plan began to be called D-Art, the Visual Art Center project.. Judy was elected D-Art board president in summer 1980. She helped coordinate meetings, fundraising dinners, art auctions, recruited board members and led a building search effort. In early 1981 Judy and Mary joined efforts with Patricia Meadows who was seeking art groups to jointly use an old Swiss Ave warehouse she had found. Judy helped lease the building and do the hands-on "dirty" restoration of the space in Aug 1981. She was recognized as a founder of D-Art at the Nov 1981 ribbon-cutting. In Jan. 1982, Judy initiated the lst traveling juried exhibit at D-Art, the Red Horse Flying Show, curated by Alison Kraft & Robert Trammell and first displayed at City Hall. She served three years as D-Art Board President, V Pres in1983 and continued as patron and member of D-Art, DVAC and the Dallas Contemporary until the present. She remains an active supporter of the Dallas arts community and a leader in neighborhood preservation and is a published local neighborhood historian. Patricia Meadows - As President of Artists and Craftsmen, by the late 1970's Patricia saw a need in Dallas for a shared space for art groups, their exhibits, classes and programs. She found an old warehouse at 2917 Swiss and sought others to share the space. She met Judy and Mary in early '81 and together they moved forward with funding and a lease for the Swiss Ave building. She worked on the restoration and hands-on dirty clean-up to turn it into an Art Center. She was the lst Program Director and recognized as a founder of D-Art during the ribbon-cutting in Nov 1981. For many years she coordinated classes, exhibits, member shows & Business of Art seminars. She served as Board President and initiated important D-Art traditions including Critic's Choice in1983, the Medici and Collector's group in the '90s and the Legend Awards. She served as Director of Exhibitions for years and member of the Board 1981-1998. Patricia left active work with D-Art to become curator of the Hall Art Collection and Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Properties in Frisco, Tx. Serving as juror, guest speaker and member of several Boards of public art committees, Patricia remains an active patron of the arts across our state and a champion of Texas artists. Mary Ward - Upon moving to Dallas in late 1970's, Mary saw a need for a city Art Center. She visited with the Dallas City Arts Program office and was encouraged to visit art groups with similar ideas. She had experience working at the Fort Mason Art Center in San Francisco before the move to Dallas. In early 1980, she joined Judy Hearst who was working with others of the Medellin School of Sculpture to create an Art Center. The two reached out to artists and art groups and in May 1980 Mary was elected Project Coordinator of the Visual Art Center Project at the first of three public meetings to establish the need for the center. At the next public meeting Judy was elected President. Mary and Judy held fundraising events and sought support and a space. The "project" name became D-Art and a Board was formed. Upon meeting Patricia Meadows who had found a space and sought art groups to form a combined-use Art Center, the 3 "leading ladies" of D-Art became a team and Patricia became Program Director.. Mary was recognized at the 1981 opening ceremony as one of the founders and appointed lst Executive Director of D-Art. She was important in getting it started, however she moved from Dallas and the D-Art position in early 1982, |
 Mayor Jack Evans recognizes D-Art Founders
Mary Ward, Judy Smith Hearst & Patricia Meadows November 11,1981 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for D-Art  Mary Ward & Judy Hearst at Bare Bones Party 1981
 Dinner & Auction - November 1982
Event Chair Kanell Lontos, D-Art President Judy Smith Hearst, D-Art Programs Director Patricia Meadows |
Early planning and fundraising for D-Art
a non-city funded Art Center
 May 11, 1980. A planning luncheon for upcoming public meetings to discuss a Visual Art Center for Dallas.
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Spring, Summer, Fall - 1980 - Judy Hearst and Mary Ward gave a series of Polish Dinner Parties at Judy's home on Thomas Ave in Dallas. The dinners were planned especially for the promotion and planning of a Visual Arts Center for Dallas. |
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 Dinner for Bill Marvel and wife at home of Judy Hearst |
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From ACT to D'Art
The Artist Coalition of Texas (ACT) held meetings, published newsletters and worked to create a city-funded Art Center 1977 - 80. First president and primary leader was Dallas artist, Mary Albrecht. In 1978 ACT gained a legal non-profit status. Backed by the City Arts Coordinator, art groups, teachers and artists, ACT gave a grand effort to establish an Art Center for Dallas. The goal hinged on a city-funded building with funds through a Dallas Bond Election. The Bond surprisingly failed. Hopes were dashed, primary leaders left office and by early 1980 a new ACT board looked for a non-profit arts group to accept their assets, required by law due to their non-profit status. Before the ACT board closed, Mary Ward and Judy Hearst were allowed to use the ACT letterhead and operate under the ACT org to initiate three public meetings and further survey needs and plan for an art center. Mary and Judy used the name D’Art, A Visual Art Center for Dallas at these meetings. With a name morphing from ACT to D'Art, the two accepted the small ACT treasury for operating expenses in summer 1980. At the lst public meeting D'Art and ACT members elected Mary Project Coordinator and at the next meeting Judy was elected President. Patricia Meadows joined the D'Art board soon after having sought an art center working with Artists and Craftsman and had found the perfect building. All needed was lots of money, tons of volunteers and hard work to make an old warehouse become an Art Center. D-Art finally became a functioning Art Center at 2917 Swiss Ave and the 3 "leading ladies" were officially recognized as founders at the ribbon cutting ceremony in Nov 1981. |
Walls of old warehouse at 2917 Swiss before lots of dirty work turned the space into a usable art center.
Inside view of 2917 Swiss the month volunteer work began to create a space for exhibits, classes and space for multiple art groups.
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