Are you constantly searching for fun things to do in Dallas like me? During the sweltering summer months, Austin and I like to find activities to do indoors where we are less likely to burn to a crisp (we are very pale people). Usually our go-to destination is The Perot Museum, but this time around we decided to let science have a break and give the fine arts some love! We went on a downtown Dallas date to the Dallas Museum of Art.
Neither of us are major art connoisseurs, but both of us can appreciate culture and creativity. We surprised ourselves with how much fun we had exploring this museum, which is totally FREE to visit! Here are a few snapshots of what to expect at the DMA.
Enjoy the Classics
The Dallas Museum of Art hosts pieces from some of the most famous artists in history! Even if you haven’t ever studied art history, you will probably recognize names like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, or Pablo Picasso. New pieces and exhibits transition in and out of museum so that no two trips are exactly alike. Some of the most famous works in the DMA are currently located on the first floor near the main entrance.
This is one of Monet’s famous lily paintings depicting a beautiful reflection of trees on a pond.
I fell in love with this painting of Le Mont Saint Michel, an island in France I visited when I studied abroad in college. It was an impressionist painting made up of tiny multicolored squares that blended together to create the picture.
Experience Foreign Cultures
Most of the museum is divided up into floors and hallways dedicated to different parts of the globe. It’s an exciting chance to learn about other cultures while you marvel at the work ancient people created with their own two hands. As a side note, it would also make a great place for school-aged kids to do research for history or social studies projects.
This shrine was carved out of wood and coated with silver in Southern Asia in the late 18th or early 19th century. The intricate details everywhere caught our attention and made it one of our favorite pieces.
Explore Modern Masterpieces
The bottom floor of the museum houses contemporary art and periodically transitions between different exhibits. The DMA adds a new mural straight onto the museum walls annually so that visitors can step into some modern artwork instead of only gazing at it from a distance. This year’s mural is a silhouette of animals at war against a flaming orange backdrop.
Fine Lands by Minerva Cuevas depicts the effects of capitalism on people and the environment according to the artist’s perspective. For us, it evoked sadness about the way humans treat the environment.
There are several temporary exhibits on display this summer through September 9, but our favorite was Body Ego. This exhibit challenged our perception of seemingly meaningless objects and made us view simple materials in a new light. For example, the grid-like artwork above was the most moving piece in the room. To find out why, you’ll have to visit for yourself!
Consider The Dallas Museum of Art for your next downtown Dallas adventure!
Even if “artsy” isn’t a word that describes you and you can’t tell your Picassos from your Van Goughs, you can still have fun looking and learning at this impressive museum. Next time rain cancels your outdoor plans or you are searching for a creative Dallas date idea, visit the DMA.
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