Terrain Dallas is proud to be a part of this project begun by artist Sabina Ott and writer John Paulett of Chicago. We are also happy to be collaborating with curator Sara-Jayne Parsons and excited that she chose Alyssa Hawkins as the Biennial artist for Terrain Dallas.
Alyssa Hawkins was born in Arlington, Texas. She recently earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Christian University, concluding with her solo exhibition ladylike. Hawkins currently lives and works in Fort Worth, Texas.
Hawkins works in a range of mediums, from painting to three-dimensional sculpture and installation, reflecting her interest in materials as a form of visual language. Her works deal with themes of identity within constructed cultural norms, often layering materials, text and visual imagery.
Sara-Jayne Parsons joined the Art Galleries at TCU in Fort Worth in August 2014 and began her tenure with solo exhibition by Venezuelan artist Javier Téllez. Prior to this recent appointment she was the Exhibitions Curator at the Bluecoat in Liverpool, UK, where sheproduced a contemporary exhibition programme featuring the work of a diverse group of artists in various media, including artist residencies and publications. In that time she was also part of the curatorial team for the Liverpool Biennial (the largest international contemporary art festival in the UK). Parsons’ curatorial practice is informed by working inclose partnership with artists to produce new works through commissions and exhibitions, and previous collaborations include John Akomfrah, Ayman Baalbaki, Sonia Boyce, Daniel Bozhkov, Jyll Bradley, Gina Czarnecki, Alec Finlay, Hew Locke, Paul Morrison, Janek Schaefer, Sadia Salim and Laura El-Tantawy.
Terrain Dallas
1122 Elmdale Pl
Through a series of subtle interventions, Fort Worth-based artist Alyssa Hawkins elegantly draws attention to the physical and psychological boundaries of home, and our everyday understanding of public and private space. Her selection and presentation of text and objects is an exercise in domestic semiotics; resulting in a visual shorthand that points critically to a conceptual exploration of ordinary life.
What and where is home? For Hawkins its location rests on the relationship between phenomenology and negotiation. In recognizing our daily efforts to maneuver between physical thresholds of glass, brick, lawn and privet, she invites suburban voyeurs to walk up the garden path, peek in and experience the discomfort of something ordinary.
Importantly, Hawkins’ practice involves sharing and exchange, and in placing personal objects on display inside Iris Bechtol’s (TERRAIN Dallas’ curator/owner) family home, she facilitates a conversation about aesthetics and care; a meaningful reflection of the trust between an artist and curator, and more broadly perhaps, a contemplation on how neighbors live together, looking at, upon and with each other.
The wider context of the questions posed by Hawkins’ investigations is also significant. Located in the historic Dallas neighborhood of Oak Cliff, which has seen its fair share of gentrification and development in recent years, TERRAIN Dallas functions as a site of imagining and self-representation. What do we “show” of ourselves? How are we perceived through the decisions of what we reveal or display?
The third installment of TERRAIN Dallas, Estranged Space is part of the second TERRAIN Biennial alongside simultaneous exhibitions in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Founded by local artist Iris Bechtol, TERRAIN Dallas is a new public exhibition space located in Elmwood, a historic neighborhood in Oak Cliff - Dallas, TX. Taking inspiration from Chicago based Terrain Exhibitions founders, TERRAIN Dallas will focus on exhibiting site specific, temporary interventions by established and emerging artists in and around the landscape of a suburban dwelling. Offering artists a place to experiment within an alternative setting, Terrain Dallas functions as a site of connection, exposing the community to new ideas and experiences through challenging works of contemporary art.
Terrain Dallas is located at 1122 Elmdale Pl, Dallas, TX 75224
Viewing Hours: Sat/Sun, 10am - 4pm during exhibitions
Please be respectful and do not disturb our wonderful neighbors
For more information, please contact irisbechtol@gmail.com
