Strut Your '80s Style on the Fashion Show Runway at Irving Archives & Museum's '80s Fashion Night Celebration!

Venture inside Recology, a 47-acre Recycling and Transfer Center located in San Francisco, CA, and you’ll be immersed in a churning, ever-changing landscape where detritus from all over the city is sorted, recovered, and processed. This metropolis of junk, otherwise known as “the dump,” is home to one of the most coveted Artist in Residence (AIR) programs since 1990. Operating with the belief that art plays a unique role in educating and inspiring the public, Recology offers artists an opportunity to make artwork from discarded materials. Armed with safety gear and a shopping cart, artists have scavenging privileges in the Public Reuse and Recycling Area — what most artists refer to as “The Big Store” — to recycle and reclaim the discarded waste as reimagined art objects. Reclaimed: The Art of Recology, presents a fascinating survey of 33 artists who were selected to participate in Recology’s unique Artist-in-Residence program. This eclectic exhibition of work created from unwanted materials encourages viewers to perceive “trash” in a new light. Featuring approximately 50 objects, the artwork in Reclaimed is varied, unusual, yet familiar: from paintings produced with recycled house paint to tapestries made from used ties, shirts, and other fabrics, to sculptural vases crafted from Ethernet and coaxial cables. The hybrid concoctions are highly creative and mind-blowing in execution and form. Through introspective, playful, and highly original explorations, these artists reveal the hidden stories our rubbish tells us about ourselves and our relationship with the world. On view at Irving Archives and Museum February 18 through April 28, 2024. Reclaimed: The Art of Recology was organized by Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA. Photo credit: Courtesy of Recology San Francisco Artist in Residence Program. Andrew Junge, Pandora's Box, 2005, neon, toolbox, 13.75 x 19.25 x 11.5 in. 

Books, Bark and Beeswax featuring the artwork of Dallas-based artist VET is on view February 18 through April 28, 2024. This exhibition includes a collection of relief sculptures that combine fiber, wood and wax. VET is a native Texas artist who incorporates environmental recycling awareness through her artwork, commissions, and workshops. Her murals and art installations combine the aesthetics of fine art with an inventive application of found and re-purposed objects. VET has been touring nationally and regionally for over 25 years. On view February 18 through April 28, 2024. Learn more about the artist at: https://www.artcycleclubtx.com/.

Help save the Big State Sign!

Join us for a special tour of Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Quiché through Illustration With Artist Jaime Arredondo

Famed Mustangs of Las Colinas Sculptor, Robert Glen, Dies at 83

First & Third Fridays & Saturdays October - December 2:00 PM Guided tour free with purchase of museum admission. Reservations required.

A special exhibition featuring traditional outfits used for Ballet Folklórico, courtesy of Alegre Ballet Folklórico, will premiere at Irving Archives and Museum (IAM). Curated by long-time Folklórico dancer and IAM Apprentice, Dominique Avila Fleming, the exhibition highlights several states across Mexico and the regalia used in the dances. The exhibition is presented in bilingual (English – Spanish) text and offers a variety of educational activities and resources. With roots tracing back to the Indigenous peoples of Mexico, Ballet Folklórico is highly varied in style and dress, and reflects the traditions, cultures, and beliefs of people in a particular geographic region or state in Mexico. Through its movement and music, Folklórico expresses the life and spirit of a people. From the Curator “Growing up in a diverse environment in Dallas encouraged the cultivation of my Mexican roots through the influence of my mother’s family and my involvement with Alegre Ballet Folklórico. One of my core childhood memories is my mother dragging me to a class early one Saturday morning because my sibling wanted to dance, and she insisted they not go alone. What began as a hobby many Mexican children are forced to attempt, has transformed into an integral part of my life that I am deeply passionate about. I am grateful to the incredible talents of my director, Pedro Perez, and lead female dancer, Jessica Garcia. Their guidance and shared avid love for dance are the reason I made it through that first class twenty years ago, and why this exhibit exists today. When I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, my goal was to find ways to cultivate connections between people by highlighting the universal threads that run through our distinct customs worldwide. While every culture possesses its own unique identity, there exists a tapestry of interrelated aspects that often go unnoticed. My intention is that this exhibition will not only reflect my passion for studying and celebrating culture but will invite patrons to expand their appreciation for Mexican heritage as well as inspire them to explore other unfamiliar traditions from around the globe.” – Dominque Avila Fleming About the Curator Born and raised in the Dallas neighborhood of Oak Cliff, Dominique Avila Fleming has always been involved with the community through volunteering and interning at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. She is an ensemble member and group assistant of Alegre Ballet Folklórico, with whom she joined at the age of six, and has since danced across Texas, Mexico, and Oslo, Norway. Her passion for exploring cultures outside of her own led her to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Currently, Dominique is an apprentice at the Irving Archives and Museum, a teaching artist for Cara Mia Theatre Company, and continues her work with the Oak Cliff Cultural Center as well as with Latino Arts Project. This exhibition will be on view September 16, 2023 through February 4, 2024.