The Dallas International Art, Antiques and Jewelry Show is back again. The show opened with a private preview party that was not packed, but had a constant flow of people. The show made a first go of it in 2009 at the Dallas Convention Center, but skipped a year to return at a new location, the Irving Convention Center.
If there’s one reason I hear repeated often for a show’s success or failure-especially in Dallas, it’s paid vs. free parking. Parking is $8. I’m not sure how true it is that parking can make or break a show like this. There are plenty of places I go in Dallas and Fort Worth and have to pay for parking. Those places are often packed. Plus the show has made every attempt to boost the numbers by offering complementary tickets. The web site of New Orleans retailer M.S. Rau, for example, offers downloadable comps.
It’s a good looking show. Not too big, not too small. There are a number of landmark items. Dealer Gavin Spanierman has a Mary Cassatt, Willard Metcalf, Joseph Stella and Andrew Wyeth. David Dyke brought several outstanding Hudson River works by Julian Onderdonk. M.S. Rau brought a Gilbert Stuart. There was an painting of an American Indian attributed to Charles Willson Peale.
For a city without a navigable waterway (the largest landlocked metropolitan area in the world as I understand it), there were plenty of marine items including a number of seascapes by William Trost Richards. Katherine King of Milwaukee had two, plus several works by tonalist master George Inness.
There is English furniture and American furniture, from the 17th to mid 18th centuries. Mark West brought his glassware all the way from England.
The show-stopper had to be a Peaceable Kingdom painting from the 1850s placed in a prime spot by Alexander Gallery of New York. I approached a second time and said “everyone is talking about this painting, I’m curious how much you are asking.” The response had something to do with it being a national treasure. “How much is a national treasure?,” I asked. While I was given a price, I’ll leave it out of this post. Rarely is it that a painting by a little-known artist can gain this stature. Seeing is believing. The next opportunity to see it may in fact be in a museum.
Make your way to the show before Sunday. Support the event. Dallas needs a show like this.
Urban Art & Antiques 
I am really disappointed to see comments on Facebook noting “snooty” dealers at the show. I had a most enjoyable time personally. I really wish antiques shows could shake this aspect. It’s really unfortunate as it throws up a wall to beginning collectors and even just the curious.
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