I've always had a secret yearning to be a visual artist, but even my stick figures stink. I'm a decent photographer, but the best I've been able to accomplish with most art forms boils down to ... erm, let's call them "abstract" watercolors (I swish the colors around and see what emerges). But inspiration calls from all around me: Dallas-Fort Worth boasts an amazing array of places to make art, no matter your experience level. Sign up for these venues' newsletters or check their websites (and Guide!) frequently, and don't forget the museum festivals, which typically have lots of artsy-craftsy chances to bring out your inner van Gogh, Pollock or stick-figure expert. Here are five of my favorites - best of all, they're all free.
Crow Collection of Asian Art
The Crow's After Dark events always include intriguing, culturally based art activities. On April 17 from 6 p.m. to midnight, After Dark will include the chance to make prayer necklaces and help with a community mandala. The event is in preparation for the arrival later in April of monks from the Tibetan Drepung Loseling Monastery, who will work on an intricate mandala while in residence.
2010 Flora St., Dallas. 214-979-6430. crowcollection.org.
Dallas Cultural Centers
The Bath House, Latino, Oak Cliff and South Dallas cultural centers, all beautiful and inviting, are funded by the city of Dallas' Office of Cultural Affairs (i.e., your tax dollars). They often offer fascinating, fun art-making activities, frequently in conjunction with exhibits by local artists. If you're lucky, the artist in question might even be your teacher. Coming soon, take in the Latino Cultural Center's Target Second Saturday for all kinds of excitement, including arts and crafts. It's April 11 starting at 11 a.m.
Bath House CC, 521 E. Lawther Drive, 214-670-8749; Latino CC, 2600 Live Oak St., 214-671-0045; Oak Cliff CC, 223 W. Jefferson Blvd., 214-670-3777; South Dallas CC, 3400 S. Fitzhugh, 214-939-2787. dallasculture.org (click on "Cultural Facilities" and then your preferred venue).
Dallas Museum of Art
The wonderful Center for Creative Connections offers Studio Creations workshops on select weekends. This weekend, April 4 and 5, drop in from 1 to 4 p.m. and explore "Experiments on Public Space" with guest artist Giovanni Valderas. Participants will work together to build a temporary monument recognizing and celebrating Dallas' Latino community. You'll use piñata-making techniques to create the building blocks for the artwork, which will be installed at the DMA's Late Night on April 17. All ages are welcome. Free.
1717 N. Harwood St. 214-922-1200. dma.org.
Kimbell Art Museum
Studio Five 90, on select Fridays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., uses open-format sessions for mingling, art-making and varied gallery activities. Instructors encourage fresh ways of looking at and responding to featured artworks and themes. The next session is "Capturing Nature's Colors," on April 17. Registration not required, but the event is limited to the first 25 teen and adult participants. Sign up at the entrance to the education studios in the Renzo Piano Pavilion starting one hour before the program.
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817-332-8451. kimbellart.org.
Klyde Warren Park
This splendid outdoor space has gloriously made good on its vision of becoming "Dallas' Central Park." Among the wondrous array of daily activities, many center on art. This weekend, for instance, you can partake in family art activities with the Nasher Sculpture Center on April 4 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and then from 1 to 3 p.m. join the Dallas Center for Photography to make "solar prints" using just paper, sun and water. Finally, on April 12 from 2 to 4 p.m., join the Creative Arts Center for interactive art activities for the entire family, including hula-hoop weaving with Sally Ackerman, Navajo chalk circle with Robert Moore and "April Showers" watercolor with Cynthia Padilla.
2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway (all above classes are in the Reading & Games Room on the north side of the park), Dallas. 214-716-4500. klydewarrenpark.org.
