Glasstire

Jessica Fuentes speaks with art educator and author Laura Evans about her recently published book, “The Atlas of Art Crime: Thefts, Vandalism, and Forgeries.”

“I remember learning about the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner theft… and then going to visit the museum in grad school and confronting those empty frames, where those works of art were stolen from, was really sobering. Seeing these holes, these gaps, where these artworks were disappeared… it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”

Related Readings: https://glasstire.com/2025/05/18/art-dirt-theft-vandalism-forgeries-talking-with-laura-evans-about-art-crime

If you enjoy Glasstire and would like to support our work, please consider donating. As a nonprofit, all of the money we receive goes back into our coverage of Texas art. You can make a one-time donation or become a sustaining, monthly donor here: https://glasstire.com/donate

William Sarradet speaks with Dallas artist Hava Toobian about the art, culture, and manuscripts they encountered during their recent trip to Ireland.

“I didn’t know what to expect in a national contemporary art museum for the Republic of Ireland, and it was beautiful. It was an astute mixture of contemporary mediums and works in a historical building.”

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/05/04/art-dirt-manuscripts-modern-eyes-seeing-dublin-with-hava-toobian

This week's podcast is sponsored in part by Aurora Picture Show’s Extremely Shorts Film Festival. Always interesting and eclectic, Extremely Shorts showcases all kinds of adventurous contemporary films, all three minutes or shorter. This year’s program includes 30 films from eight countries. Screenings take place May 30 and 31 at Aurora’s new space on Navigation in Houston's East End, with some participating filmmakers in attendance and receptions featuring music provided by Icehouse Radio! Find more information and tickets here: https://www.aurorapictureshow.org

Jessica Fuentes, William Sarradet, and Brandon Zech discuss the trends they found at the 2025 Dallas Art Fair and the Dallas Invitational.

"It stuck out to me thematically that there seemed to be a lot of landscapes and interiors — interiors of houses, some still lives. Overall the work felt a little more conservative to me than the Dallas Art Fair normally feels. Dallas is generally the most adventurous buying-wise." 

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/04/20/art-dirt-reporting-on-the-dallas-art-fairs/

If you enjoy Glasstire and would like to support our work, please consider donating. As a nonprofit, all of the money we receive goes back into our coverage of Texas art. You can make a one-time donation or become a sustaining, monthly donor here: https://glasstire.com/donate

Jessica Fuentes and William Sarradet discuss recent news stories in Texas, including the controversy surrounding Sally Mann's work, the destruction of artwork installed at the Austin Convention Center, and the closure of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

"The Modern (Art Museum of Fort Worth) had a notification at the entrance stating that the exhibition (Diaries of Home) contained mature content. Is a museum allowed to show work that some people might deem obscene if they provide notice so viewers can make the decision whether or not they want to go in? The Modern, in particular, charges an entry fee, you make a choice to go in."

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/04/06/art-dirt-news-roundup

If you enjoy Glasstire and would like to support our work, please consider donating. As a nonprofit, all of the money we receive goes back into our coverage of Texas art. You can make a one-time donation or become a sustaining, monthly donor here: https://glasstire.com/donate

William Sarradet talks with gallerist Bart Keijsers Koning about the Dallas scene and the role galleries play in the art ecosystem.

"An artist going directly from studio to museum is problematic because the language hasn't had a chance to encounter an audience and see what is clear, what isn't working and kind of fine tuning it. The museum's responsibility is to represent and clarify history, culture and not always (dictate) where its going next because we don't know that. That's much more in the gallery's hand, because if you do that as a museum you start getting into very murky water. I think there's a good way for a gallery to sit in between that to foster certain ideas to make sure the narrative is translated in the best way and edited in the best way."

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/03/23/art-dirt-understanding-the-dallas-art-world-a-conversation-with-bart-keijsers-koning/

If you enjoy Glasstire and would like to support our work, please consider donating. As a nonprofit, all of the money we receive goes back into our coverage of Texas art. You can make a one-time donation or become a sustaining, monthly donor here: https://glasstire.com/donate

Jessica Fuentes and Gabriel Martinez talk about the book Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma and some of the cultural creatives who have committed monstrous crimes.

"There aren't good celebrities and bad celebrities. They're all just people. There is a spectrum of behaviors with people. There's nobody that's purely good, and there are maybe a few people who are purely evil, but it's rare. It's kind of ridiculous to assume that any person is going to always be good. I don't say that to excuse any of these truly heinous and criminal behaviors. I don't think they should be excused... I think that it's foolish to uplift a celebrity and expect a certain standard of behavior."

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/03/09/art-dirt-monsters-of-art/

This week's podcast is sponsored in part by Arts Fort Worth and the Arts Forward Summit, happening on Saturday, March 29, 2025. What if everyone who enjoys the creative arts came together at once? What new collaborations and ideas are waiting for a chance meeting? What best-kept local secrets are ready to become your new favorite thing? At the Arts Forward Summit, Arts Fort Worth invites you to join hundreds of creative and curious people as they create art, share resources, discuss big ideas, and dream together about where the arts can take us next. Learn more about Arts Forward here: artsfortworth.org/summit

Jessica Fuentes and William Sarradet discuss the role artists play in enacting political change in their industry and beyond.

"What do we expect out of artists in these critiques? Do we expect the artist to make the change? — to be productive in forcing change? or is bringing awareness enough?"

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/02/23/art-dirt-political-expression-in-the-arts

If you enjoy Glasstire and would like to support our work, please consider donating. As a nonprofit, all of the money we receive goes back into our coverage of Texas art. You can make a one-time donation or become a sustaining, monthly donor here: https://glasstire.com/donate

William Sarradet and Gabriel Martinez discuss two films from the late 70s whose protagonists embark on slow journeys and a third film that stages "Hamlet" inside "Grand Theft Auto."

"I was completely awestruck. I was really grateful to see that yes it is true that you can make fictional film that is relatable and doesn't have to rely so much on artifice to be interesting or entertaining."

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/02/09/art-dirt-in-the-zone-film-roundup/

This week's podcast is sponsored in part by Discovery Green in Downtown Houston, which through February 16 is presenting ATLAS, an immersive installation by Jen Lewin. The piece features 24 oversized and ethereal glowing moths. The majestic creatures are suspended from the trees and react to the movement of visitors. Each represents a unique endangered North American moth species — symbolizing the vital role these creatures play in the environment. Find more information on free events associated with the installation at www.discoverygreen.com/atlas

Jessica Fuentes, Gabriel Martinez, and Brandon Zech discuss the different types of immersive art spaces and the historical work that paved the way.

"I've realized that the spaces that really affect me are the ones that put me into a weird situation and take me out of wherever I am, take me out of my body a little bit, and make me have to negotiate. But not everyone is gonna want something that challenges them in that way when they go out to do something for pleasure."

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/01/26/art-dirt-the-rise-of-immersive-spaces

This week's podcast is sponsored in part by the Menil Collection, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Cy Twombly Gallery. To mark the occasion, this year the museum will present special programs about the work and legacy of artist Cy Twombly. Highlights include a book signing with artist Tacita Dean, performances by Meredith Monk, and a Neighborhood Community Day. Admission is always free. Learn more at menil.org/cytwombly30.

William Sarradet talks with artist and educator Dr. Estelle Voisin-Fonteneau about the loss of Eros, the architecture of sacred spaces, and the written language of patriarchal societies.

"I'm very interested in the idea of the sacred within the profane. The profane comes from the word profanum which is the space before the temple and that is where most of the rituals took place. It wasn't in the temple, it was in front of the temple because only the priests or sacred virgins could go inside of the temple."

See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/01/12/art-dirt-talking-with-dr-estelle-voisin-fonteneau/

Art Dirt is sponsored in part by the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, which is proud to present two exhibitions for the winter: Japheth Asiddu-Kawartang and Adrian Esparza. These artists' exhibitions are complementary in the fact that they are both studies on the immigrant experience and personal identity. Visit www.amset.org for more information.

This week's podcast is also supported by The Architecture of Culture: Works from the Guess Lawson Collection, which is sponsored by Gensler and runs through April 1, 2025, in Houston. Featuring icons like John Biggers and Giana De Dier, alongside rising stars, the exhibition challenges us to see art as a force for change and ignites the connection between art and activism. Talks with leaders like Vicki Meek and Harrison Guy will amplify the show's dialogue. Learn more at www.guesslawsoncollection.com.