DW Gallery Records
Scope and Contents
The DW Gallery Records document the activities of the gallery from its founding in 1975 to its closure in 1988. Linda Samuels was the founding director of the gallery, but the bulk of the records concern the tenure of Diana Block as director, 1981-1988. Throughout its 13-year history, the gallery developed a reputation for recognizing raw talent and eventually became one of the nation's most respected showcases for contemporary regional artists, including Lee N. Smith, David Bates, Clyde Connell, David McManaway, John Hernandez, and Sam Gummelt.
Types of records include correspondence, notes, financial documents, certificates, legal papers, exhibition schedules, resumes, policies, press releases, mailing lists, photographs, scrapbook material, creative works artifacts, and ephemera.
Dates
- 1977 - 1988
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for public research. Researchers must make an appointment to view this collection.
Access to artist resumes containing personally identifiable information (PII) is conditional; contact the archives for access procedures.
Biographical / Historical
Along with several other women, Linda Samuels (formerly Linda Surls) started the DW Gallery as a small women's co-op at McKinney and Hall streets in 1975. In the first few years, the gallery was staffed by member artists, each of whom worked three days a month and paid $33 a month toward overhead costs. Throughout its 13-year history, the gallery developed a reputation for recognizing raw talent and eventually became one of the nation's most respected showcases for contemporary regional artists. DWG was the first to exhibit several "new" artists that are nationally recognized today, such as Lee N. Smith, David Bates, and Clyde Connell. The gallery was also successful at promoting up-and-coming Dallas artists such as David McManaway, John Hernandez, and Sam Gummelt. In 1978, the gallery was incorporated after receiving backing from founding member Lou Alpert (formerly Frederickson). By 1980, when Director Linda Samuels moved to California, the gallery had expanded twice. In 1981, Diana Block succeeded Linda Samuels as DWG Director. Under Block's direction, the gallery continued its successful theme exhibits, including a popular "Book/Art" exhibition. In 1983, DWG expanded to a new space on Main Street in Deep Ellum and opened a bookstore in a renovated warehouse.
In 1986, when DWG again needed to expand its space, the gallery moved to a new location on Canton and Oakland streets. John Tatum, Dallas developer and major stockholder in DWG, rented the space to the gallery. Following a dispute over the lease between Tatum and major stockholder Lou Alpert, the gallery closed in September 1988. By this time, the gallery's operating budget had increased from $24,000 to $100,000 since 1981, with investors contributing less than 25% of the annual budget. The closing exhibition, entitled "The Last Show," was guest-curated by founding member Linda Samuel. The Last Show featured recent works by each of the 28 artists associated with the gallery over the past year. In addition, post-card tributes were sent to the gallery by over 80 artists who showed there throughout the years, including Bob Wade, Peter Julian, Gilda Pervin, James Surls, Benito Huerta, Dan Rizzie, Danny Williams, Bill Komodore, and Frank Tolbert.
Extent
1.00 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection documents the adminstration, artists and exhibitions of the DW Gallery from 1975-1988. The gallery showcased contemporary regional artists.
Arrangement
The records of the DW Gallery (1977-1988, 1 cubic ft) are organized into five series: Adminstration (Director, Assistant Director, Board of Directors, policies and legal files),
Exhibitions, Artist Files, Operations and Artifacts.
The bulk of the records cover Diana Block's tenure as DWG Director (1981-1988) and span until the closing of the gallery in 1988. Types of records include correspondence, notes, financial documents, certificates, legal papers, exhibition schedules, resumes, policies, press releases, mailing lists, photographs, scrapbook material, creative works artifacts, and ephemera.
The Adminstration series contains the records of the Director, Assistant Director and Board of Directors, and policies and legal files. Director, II. Assistant Director, III. Board of Directors, IV. Policies, V. Legal Files, VI. Exhibitions, VII. Artist Files, VIII. DWG Closing, IX. Ephemera, and X. Artifacts. The bulk of the records cover Diana Block's tenure as DWG Director (1981-1988) and span until the closing of the gallery in 1988. Types of records include correspondence, notes, financial documents, certificates, legal papers, exhibition schedules, resumes, policies, press releases, mailing lists, photographs, scrapbook material, creative works artifacts, and ephemera.
Custodial History
The DW Gallery records were retained by Diana Block, the final director of the DW Gallery from the gallery's closure in 1988 to donation in 2000. The collection was kept in attic storage; may have some pest and/or temperature/humidity damage.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the DMA Archives on 5 May 2000 by Diana Block.
Processing Information
Collection was arranged and described by Sammie Morris circa 2000.
Additional description/notes were added for DACS compliance and ArchivesSpace local usage guidelines in 2021.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the DW Gallery Records
- Author
- Sammie Morris
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Dallas Museum of Art Archives Repository