Fort Worth, TX, (Thursday, June 10, 2021) - The Arts Council of Fort Worth and AURORA are partnering to present New Stories: New Futures in conjunction with Fort Worth Public Art’s major installation on Pioneer Tower, curated by DooEun Choi, featuring international artists Refik Anadol and Quayola. Dr. Lauren Cross, curator of the exhibition at the base of Pioneer Tower, selected an impressive roster of ten North Texas artists working with a wide range of new media approaches for their art installations that will be presented between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. on August 20 and 21.

New Stories: New Futures is a uniquely Fort Worth art event featuring historic and modern perspectives, stories, and memories from the region. Each of the artists’ pieces highlights distinct narratives around the collective experiences of North Texans that complement the video artworks that will be projected onto Pioneer Tower by Refik Anadol and Quayola, which explore memories of Fort Worth and the region’s natural beauty.

Curator Dr. Lauren Cross said, “New Stories, New Futures is the culmination of a culturally-interrelated approach and is especially celebratory of the artists I have come to know both in Fort Worth and within the North Texas region. The featured artists share stories in their work of people, themselves, and experiences that are often hidden or overlooked.”

 

Meet the ten regional artists of New Stories: New Futures:

·        Nick Bontrager, Fort Worth, TX, is an interdisciplinary artist whose work and research explores the physical and conceptual nature of the moving image, game-based interactions and exchanges. www.nickbontrager.com

·        Ciara Bryant, Dallas, TX, is a multidisciplinary artist using photography, video, and installation to explore Black culture in the new millennium. www.ciaraellebryant.com

·        Angela Faz, Dallas, TX, is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on racial justice, art disruptions, and the reclamation of public space. www.angelafaz.com

·        Jessica Fuentes, Fort Worth, TX, is an artist, educator, and community advocate working with built structures and projections of home and culture.

www.jessicafuentes.com

·        Jeff Gibbons, Dallas, TX, is an international curator and interdisciplinary artist with extensive regional and international presence who works with video, sculpture, and three-dimensional space. www.jeffgibbons.net

·        Jin-Ya Huang, Dallas, TX, is an interdisciplinary artist exploring social impact at the intersection of equity, design and social justice, especially for immigrant communities. www.breakbreadbreakborders.com

·        Letitia and Sedrick Huckaby, Fort Worth, TX, known collectively as Huckaby Studios, is an artist team that represents images of Black families, communities, and culture. www.huckabystudios.com

·        Raul Rodriguez, Fort Worth, TX, is an artist evaluating and representing Latinx communities and culture surrounding skateboarding, boxing, and Lucha Libre. www.raulrodriguezphoto.com

·        Bernardo Vallarino, Fort Worth, TX, is an interdisciplinary artist that uses sculpture, installation, and light to highlight diverse human experiences. www.bernardovallarinoart.com

Arts Council CEO & President Karen Wiley said, "In creating a platform that celebrates our diverse landscape, we are thrilled to present this group of artists from Fort Worth and North Texas alongside two leading international artists in the field of new media. This is a great opportunity for our community to experience new art forms, discover through the eyes of artists the stories that are part of our history-making, and celebrate the Fort Worth Public Art Program’s 20th anniversary year!"

While the art projected on all four sides of Pioneer Tower is visible across the Cultural District and beyond, visitors will want to spend time within the Pioneer Tower plaza to experience the installation up-close alongside this outdoor, regional exhibition. The exhibition is free to the public, but visitors must reserve a time in advance. Because the Arts Council of Fort Worth is covering all event expenses, tickets are available through www.NewStoriesNewFutures.org where the price of admission is automatically discounted to $0.00 at checkout. The exhibition is open to all ages and visitors can subscribe to the Arts Council’s email newsletter on their website www.artsfortworth.org or follow on Facebook @ArtsFortWorth to learn more about the event and the family-friendly activities across the entire Cultural District that will take place before sundown on August 20 and 21.

 

About The Arts Council of Fort Worth:

The Arts Council of Fort Worth was formed in 1963 to provide funding and leadership to stimulate and assure the advancement of the arts throughout Fort Worth. Today’s Arts Council continues to promote, nurture, and support the arts in Fort Worth by providing fiscal and business resources to local artists and arts groups while also serving the community through management of the Fort Worth Public Art Program and Fort Worth Community Arts Center. The Arts Council of Fort Worth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported in part by the City of Fort Worth and the Texas Commission on the Arts. For more information, please visit www.artsfortworth.org

 

About AURORA:

AURORA is a public arts organization at the intersection of art, technology and community that presents works by some of the most visionary artists of our time. A cornerstone of arts and culture in North Texas, AURORA aims to expand the future of art through a dialogue that engages the creative possibilities within ourselves and each other. Since its founding in 2010 by artists Shane Pennington and Joshua King—along with veteran arts supporter Veletta Forsythe Lill—AURORA’s exhibitions, programming and Biennial have attracted over 300,000 visitors and commissioned and presented more than 320 local, regional, and international artists. For more information, visit  dallasAURORA.com.

 

About Fort Worth Public Art:

Fort Worth Public Art is a City of Fort Worth program created to enhance the visual environment, commemorate the city’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity, integrate artwork into the development of the City’s capital infrastructure improvements, and to promote tourism and economic vitality. Managed by the Arts Council of Fort Worth with oversight by the Fort Worth Art Commission, FWPA strives for artistic excellence and meaningful community engagement. For more information, please visit www.fwpublicart.org.

 

Presenting Partners:

Fort Worth Public Art

Arts Council of Fort Worth

AURORA

City of Fort Worth

Project Sponsors:

Texas Commission on the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts

Fort Worth Promotion and Development Fund

JO Agency

Wolfgang Puck Catering and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth are excited to share that the new Café Modern will open for lunch, brunch, and bar service beginning May 18, 2021. Closed since March 2020, the café is under new management by Wolfgang Puck Catering, with returning General Manager Roxanne Mclarry and the addition of Chef Jett Mora, a seasoned Wolfgang Puck Catering veteran, who leads the culinary team.

Café Modern promises guests warm hospitality, creative cuisine, and seasonal menus rooted in Texas ingredients. The menus feature comfort food with global influences and a beverage program showcasing local spirits. Seating is available indoors and on the expansive outdoor patio. Reservations will be taken online through OpenTable or by calling 817.840.2157, beginning Monday, May 17.

Lunch Menu Highlights

Sicilian Melt featuring Eggplant and Portobello Agrodolce, Fontina Cheese Blend on Sourdough

Natural Chicken Paillard with Warm Local Rainbow Chard Salad, Golden Raisins, Almonds, Parmesan, and Aleppo Honey Vinaigrette

Pan-Roasted Mahi Mahi with Bengali Curry, Sugar Snap Peas, Zucchini, Avocado Butter, and Chili Oil

Charred Kalbi Beef Bowl with Marinated Flank Cut Beef, Chili Garlic Rice, House Kimchi Pickled Vegetables, Ssamjang Sauce, and Fried Timberview Farms Egg

Brunch Menu Highlights

Birria Beef Migas with Toasted Corn Tortilla Omelet, Guajillo Chile-Braised Beef, Cilantro, Onion, Avocado Crema, Queso Fresco on Pinto Beans

Southern Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich featuring Kelley Honey Farms Butter, Spicy Aioli, Housemade Angel Biscuit, and Breakfast Potato

Café Modern Operating Hours

Lunch

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 11 am-2:30 pm

Brunch

Saturday, Sunday 10 am-3 pm

Beverages and Light Bites

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm, Friday 10 am-10 pm

Dinner service will begin soon and will be offered on Fridays, from 5 pm-8:30 pm.

About Executive Chef Jett Mora

A graduate of the Academy of Culinary Education in California, the Los Angeles-born and bred chef Jett Mora began his cooking career with the highly acclaimed Wolfgang Puck Catering (WPC) in 2011. Working in WPC’s flagship Hollywood & Highland kitchen, Mora spent years working alongside Wolfgang and his team of chefs to create menus for weddings, special events, corporate galas, and some of the country’s premier events, including the Oscars® Governors Ball.

Throughout his ten years with Wolfgang Puck Catering, Mora’s creativity, leadership, and support enabled him to advance quickly through the ranks, leading corporate dining at a top technology and entertainment client before joining Puck’s West Hollywood restaurant Red Seven as Executive Chef.

Mora then received the coveted opportunity to cook inside Wolfgang’s Test Kitchen, the master chef’s culinary incubator where Mora created his own multi-course tasting menus. This “experimental” restaurant allowed Mora to explore new dishes, ingredients, and cuisines and to design menus without limitations.

In 2021, Mora relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, to lead the culinary team at the Modern, overseeing food and beverage operations, menu creation, and catering and events, including running the museum’s signature restaurant, Café Modern.

LOCATION

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

3200 Darnell Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Telephone 817.738.9215

Toll-Free 1.866.824.5566

www.themodern.org

Museum Gallery Hours

Tue-Sun 10 am-5 pm

Fri 10 am-8 pm

General Admission Prices (includes special exhibition)

$16: General (age 18 and above)

$12: Seniors (age 60+), Active/Retired Military Personnel and First Responders with ID

$10: Students with ID

Free: Under 18 years old

The Museum offers half-price tickets on Sundays and free admission on Fridays.

Admission tickets are not necessary to visit Café Modern or the Modern Shop.

The Museum is closed Mondays and holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.

FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY IS SET TO REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN JUNE

Fort Worth, TX (May 11, 2021) — The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is excited to announce its reopening to the public on Friday, June 25. The Museum closed its doors for several months in 2020 and 2021 in response to guidance from local, state, and federal health officials, and has remained closed through the Spring due to extensive water damage from the winter storms in February.

Museum staff is excited to unveil several new and reimagined experiences that they have been working on throughout the closure.

This June, the Museum will launch the Current Science Studio, a brand-new 2,500 square-foot exhibit sponsored by a $255,000 grant from Facebook. Anchoring the new exhibit space will be Science On a Sphere® (SOS), a giant global display system suspended from the ceiling developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In addition to the Current Science Studio, the Museum will reopen the Children’s Museum, Noble Planetarium, Cattle Raisers Museum, DinoLabs, DinoDig®, and the Heritage Gallery. The Omni Theater, however, will remain closed indefinitely.

Reopening Schedule

Following the public reopening, the Museum will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday from Noon – 5 PM, reserving the weekdays for the Museum’s Little Scholars Program.

The Museum continues to take safety seriously. To protect the health of visitors and staff, the Museum will reopen in accordance with current public health and safety guidelines. Visit the Museum’s website to learn about the Museum’s updated health and safety protocols for reopening.

To stay informed about the Museum’s upcoming programs and reopening schedule, visit the Museum’s website at www.fwmuseum.org.

A media kit with details about the reopening is available here.

To view on your web browser, please visit our press page.

On May 7, KERA’s Art&Seek and the Kimbell Art Museum will present “What We’ve Gained in a Year of Loss — and What’s Next,” a live online State of the Arts discussion.

Fort Worth’s creative community will reflect on challenges and changes across genres and how residents engage with art in this time of social distancing. The conversation will celebrate innovation and resilience while exploring what the future holds.

State of the Arts Fort Worth, produced by KERA’s Art&Seek and the Kimbell Art Museum, identifies important trends and issues affecting North Texas arts organizations. It brings artists, experts and arts leaders together for a thought-provoking, one-hour conversation.

DJ Perera, artist and art educator; Jeffrey Smith, founder of Downtown Cowtown at the Isis; and Dana Schultes, executive producer for Stage West, will join moderator Miguel Perez, arts reporter and producer for Art&Seek, in the discussion.

The free one-hour event begins at noon May 7 on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/NqNweRSjQMY

Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks – an award-winning and record-breaking exhibition that uses beautiful works of art made from simple toy blocks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and humanity’s relationship with nature – is coming to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas from May 6 through Aug. 1.

Nature Connects depicts important topics that New York artist Sean Kenney holds dear, from protecting an animals’ habitat, to planting a garden or showcasing a beautiful orchid – subject matter with particular appeal to gardeners.

“Through captivating art with an educational message, Nature Connects creates yet another way for visitors to experience the Botanic Garden,” said FWBG|BRIT Assistant Director Bob Byers. “The summer timing is perfect for children out of school and families on vacation looking for new ways to enjoy the outdoors.”

Explore the beauty and wonder daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a limited engagement May 6 through Aug. 1. Exhibit viewing is included with the price of garden admission or free with an annual membership.

Purchase tickets online.

Texas A&M University, Texas A&M School of Law and Camp Bowie District invite residents to tune in for a livestreaming event of a Fort Worth Mayoral and District 7 Council Candidate Forum.

The moderated forum features a Q&A with Fort Worth mayoral and District 7 runoff election candidates on issues facing the community. Topics include economic development, workforce development, community issues and the future of Fort Worth.

The forum at 6:30 p.m. May 6 will be livestreamed on Camp Bowie District’s Facebook and Instagram.

Mattie Parker and Deborah Peoples will face off in a June 5 runoff election for Fort Worth mayor. They had the top vote totals in the May 1 municipal election.

Runoff elections will be held June 5 for Council Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 since no candidate in those races achieved more than 50% of the vote.

Four City Council candidates were elected, and there will be no need for a runoff election: incumbent Carlos Flores, District 2, with 64.94% of the vote; Michael Crain, District 3, 71.32%; incumbent Cary Moon, District 4, 51.39%; and incumbent Gyna Bivens, District 5, 62.81%.

Early voting in the runoff is scheduled for May 24-June 1.

View vote totals.

As an ode to the country’s perseverance throughout the past year, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will host a socially distanced America Strong concert at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on July 4. The one-night performance will feature more than 60 minutes of music from the highly regarded FWSO and world-renowned opera singers, all conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya in his final season with the orchestra.

“I am so proud of how this organization has continued to perform live during this pandemic. The gift of live music continues to provide a healing power to communities during some of the most trying times. The America Strong 2021 concert will feature leading composers and opera singers who represent the very fabric of our country and join the orchestra in performing for a live, socially distanced audience,” said FWSO Board Chairman Mercedes T. Bass. “This is our gift to the Fort Worth community and beyond for showing such resilience over the past year of this pandemic. We invite all of you to join us at Dickies Arena on July 4 for this celebratory concert.”

The America Strong concert will feature prominent composers and musicians from across the globe. Beginning with John Stafford Smith’s “Star Spangled Banner,” patrons will be surrounded by a united spirit of patriotism and passion before moving to the brilliant “Lightspeed – Fanfare for Orchestra” by Texas Christian University’s own up-and-coming composer Kevin Day. While the rest of the program will remain under wraps until the day of the show, the FWSO crafted a lineup to bring together a diverse range of music, performers and composers for DFW to enjoy.

Similar to the FWSO’s 2020 America Strong performance, this year’s concert will be broadcast live by WFAA on Channel 8 on July 4. Check local listings for broadcast time.

For those wanting to attend the event in person, tickets will be available to the public beginning at 10 a.m. April 26. All patrons must purchase tickets through Ticketmaster in pods of two, three or four seats, and pricing begins at $29.30 per person.

In an effort to keep all musicians, staff and patrons healthy and safe, the FWSO will implement the same guidelines it has enforced throughout its 2020-2021 season for the America Strong concert. Patrons will be required to wear masks throughout the performance, social distancing protocols will be enforced and tickets will only be available on mobile devices.

Work continues along the Seventh Street Corridor to provide landscaped medians, bike lanes and other improvements.

The project includes pedestrian, landscape, illumination and traffic signal improvements (two new traffic signals and five upgraded traffic signals). The project will also realign Museum Way to line up with Stayton Street. On-street parking will be retained throughout the corridor; however, some spaces may be unavailable during construction.

The project is funded by the 2018 Bond Program.

West Seventh Street from University Drive to Trinity River Bridge:

• The city awarded the contract to Reyes Group.
• The White Settlement Bridge is now open and construction activities on West Seventh Street started April 19.
• One-lane closures are anticipated during construction.
• A community meeting was held on March 3. Watch the recorded meeting.
• Estimated construction duration: one year.

Museum Way:

• The project is under contract with 2L Construction.
• Signal poles have been installed and a portion of the roadway has been poured.
• Access to Trinity Park from Museum Way may be intermittently closed.
• Construction completion is anticipated in May 2021.

To learn more, contact Project Manager Ronak Rekani by email or at 817-392-6591.

Trinity Metro is hosting a public hearing for A Better Connection, the bus system redesign to make connections more efficient for customers.

The public hearing on the draft plan will be at 6 p.m. May 6 at Fort Worth Central Station, 1001 Jones St.

Attending the public hearing is not required to offer input. Residents may also submit comments in one of three ways by 5 p.m. May 7:

Send an email.

Write to Trinity Metro, 801 Cherry St., Suite 850, Fort Worth, TX 76102 to the attention of Planning & Development Department.

Call the comment line at 817-215-8793.

Learn more about the proposed system redesign.