If You Love Art, You Will Love Dallas-Fort Worth for Assets 2016!

By Kim Kolker, ISA AM
As chair of ISA's Fine Art Committee, I have been very involved in planning our great specialty tours for Assets 2016. Here are my top 10 reasons to join us at Assets 2016, April 15-18.

10. THE SPECIALTY TOURS
It isn't often you get to just show up and enjoy the ride, but this is one of them! Our Assets 2016 tour for Fine Art appraisers includes The Nasher Collection at North Park Center, the Dallas Museum of Art, The Dallas Art Fair, and a self-guided tour at The Nasher Sculpture Center.

Antiques and Residential Contents appraisers will tour Pittet Architecturals, The Trammel Crow Asian Art Museum, and The Dallas Museum of Art’s Decorative Arts and Modernist collection.

Both tour groups will have the opportunity to self-tour the Nasher Sculpture Center.

9. MICHELANGELO

Kimbell Art Museum

In 2009, the Kimbell Art Museum acquired a terrifying Michelangelo painting titled "The Torment of Saint Anthony," believed to be created when Michelangelo was 12 or 13 years old. According to Kimbellart.org, "…[T]his work is the first painting by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) to enter an American collection, and one of only four known easel paintings generally believed to come from his hand." While
there, step around the corner to see Caravaggio’s famous "The Cardsharps." The Kimbell Museum is approximately two miles walking distance from our conference hotel.

8. Richard Serra’s "VORTEX"

"Vortex" at The Modern

After you’ve had a nice visit at the Kimbell, walk across the street to the Modern Art Museum. On your way there, stop at Serra’s 67-foot tall "Vortex," go inside, and YELL. Yes, that’s right. This is a great time to let off steam by stomping your feet and hitting the walls too. The structure will echo your delight or pathos with equal vigor and resonance. The Modern is approximately two miles from the conference hotel.

Amon Carter Museum, exterior

7. AMON CARTER
Amon G. Carter has quite a reputation in Fort Worth, and Texas as a whole. He was friends with Will Rogers, and an avid collector of Remington and Russell. You’ll find evidence of these relationships as you walk outside the Modern. Straight ahead is the art deco building—The Will Rogers Colliseum. To your right, behind the Kimbell Museum, is the Amon Carter Museum (ACM). The Amon Carter Museum features an extensive collection of paintings, works on paper and bronzes by Remington and Russell, as well as an exceptional collection of 19th and 20th century American paintings, sculptures and works on paper. The ACM is one of the top American art museums in the country. Located across the street from the Modern and Kimbell, it is also approximately two miles from the conference hotel.

Amon Carter Museum, interior

6. FREDERIC EDWIN CHURCH
The Dallas Museum of Art is proud of "The Icebergs," a 64 ½ x 112 ½ inch oil on canvas, and for good reason. It’s simply beautiful. While you’re there, make at least a second stop at the Wendy & Emery Reves Collection of fine and decorative arts. A 16,500 square foot recreation of their villa in the south of France features both their fine furnishings and paintings from the late 1800s—including Pissarro, Bonnard, Cezanne, Courbet, Manet, Monet, etc. Note: The collection does rotate. You can visit this museum if you sign up for the Fine Art Tour on April 15.

5. HIDDEN TREASURES FROM SPAIN
Venture onto the Southern Methodist University Campus in Dallas for the wonderful collection of Spanish art held at The Meadows Museum. The strength of both their exhibitions and permanent collection is a tribute to its founder, Mr. Algur H. Meadows, who is quoted on the museum website: "Yes, I mean as I said originally, to build a small Prado in Texas." This is a great gem in the metroplex.

Jonathan Borofsky (American, born 1942)

Five Hammering Men, 1982 Painted Wood with Steel, Aluminum, Foan,
Bondo and Electric Motors Each 175 x 6 inches

Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Collection,
North Park Center, Dallas, Texas

4. EXERCISE, SHOP AND DINE—SURROUNDED BY GREAT ART
Opened by Patsy and Raymond Nasher in 1965, and holding an incredible collection of 20th and 21st Century fine art inside and out, North Park Center in Dallas opens early every-day for "mall walkers," those so inclined to walk at 6:00 a.m. An interesting mixture of top retailers interspersed with carefully curated artworks and planted gardens, this mall is still run by Nancy A. Nasher and her husband David J. Haemisegger. Artists in the collection include Borofsky, Rosenquist, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Dine, Stella, etc. Nothing this mall offers is second-rate.

3. NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER
Dallas fought hard to get Mr. Nasher to keep his modern sculpture collection in Dallas. And we’re lucky we won out. The collection sits inside and outside, complemented by large magnolia trees and Renzo Piano’s building that houses it. Be prepared to find art that is sure to both confront your expectations and make you smile.

2. THE CROW COLLECTION OF ASIAN ART
When you leave the Nasher Sculpture, walk straight across the street, and you’ll find the Crow Collection. It’s hard to miss the peaceful image of the Ming Dynasty Chinese bronze statue at the center of a fountain. This unique multi-tiered building houses a collection from China, Japan, India, Korea and Southeastern Asia, spanning from historical objects to contemporary pieces.

1. COWBOY BOOTS
Texas has many cultures, landscapes and peoples. We have great art, and we also have a "cowboy culture," from the Dallas Cowboys Football team to numerous references to the historical cowboy of the West. Having said that, while you are here in Texas, be sure to buy yourself some "sh__ kicking" boots in the historical Fort Worth Stockyards. You’ll have them the next time someone asks you to authenticate the Pollock they bought at the Salvation Army. The stockyards are 3.5 miles from the conference hotel.

S—t Kicking Boots from Leddy’s
(where all self-respecting cowpokes shop for custom fit boots)

GETTING AROUND TO SEE ALL THE GREAT ART:

Taxis
Consult with the Hilton Hotel Concierge for taxi service in Fort Worth or to the airport. To get outside of the Sundance Square area in Fort Worth, I would recommend using Uber, rather than taxis. Uber can be easily signed up for via an app on your smart phone (see note below). Most people drive in DFW, and the available taxi service is typically slower and more expensive.

Train Service to Dallas from Hilton Hotel
Take the TRE train to Dallas; the Trinity Railway Express stop is within walking distance of the hotel. For more information and schedules, go to their website.

Once in Dallas, get off the train at Union Station. Once there, use Uber or a taxi to take you the short ride to the arts district (a few miles away), North Park Center or The Meadows Museum. The Dallas Arts District contains the Dallas Museum of Art, The Nasher Sculpture Center, The Asian Art Museum, and Klyde Warren Park, among others.

PLEASE NOTE ABOUT THE TRAIN TO DALLAS: Trains operate Monday through Saturday. No scheduled service on Sunday. The T & P station and the ITC stations are located ½ mile from the hotel in different parts of downtown Fort Worth. The train ride to Dallas takes about one hour.

Uber.com car services
Using Uber.com is an easy and inexpensive way to get around where you need to, whether that be in Fort Worth or Dallas. Create an account with Uber and download their app on your phone. Whenever you need a ride, you can use Uber to pick you up fairly quickly. They also offer different price points for larger or more economical cars.

JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES AT ASSETS 2016

I hope something piqued your interest on my top-10 list! If you haven’t already, be sure to register soon for Assets 2016.