Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1366501
ART TOPICS COURTESY THE ARTIST AND PDNB GALLERY CLUED IN PHOTO FOCUS AT RIVER BEND: 26 + 100 AN ICONIC PHOTO DEALER ON THE MOVE + DESIGN DISTRICT MAVEN ADDS OAK CLIFF ADDRESS. BY CATHERINE D. ANSPON. O ne of America's most important photography dealers has a new address, just in time to celebrate 26 years this spring. Cue PDNB Gallery, which relocates from Glass Street to River Bend — now the bona fide art nexus of the Design District. The move trades square footage f o r g r e a t e r intimacy, as the gallery footprint decreases slightly 3,900 to 3,150 square feet. Owners Missy and Burt Finger tapped their go- to architect: Wa s h i n g t o n , D.C.-based Thomas Krähenbühl of TKTR Architects, Dallas. PDNB's opening act at River Bend features photojournalist/feminist Ruth Orkin (through July), timed to the centennial of her birth, including iconic post-war images such as the now-controversial American Girl in Italy, 1951; White Stoops, West 88th Street, NYC, 1952; Above: Ruth Orkin's Couple in MG, Florence, Italy, 1951, at PDNB Gallery and Couple in MG, Florence, 1951 — all moments that mirror the zeitgeist of that vanished era. Paired with Orkin are new works by PDNB's lens-based talents. Missy tells PaperCity: "We have always liked the concept of the gallery compound in Santa Monica, California — Bergamot Station. I see River Bend luring in more galleries to do business there. River Bend houses the offices of the Dallas Art Fair, and their own art gallery. You can imagine the draw of art collectors." Of their quarter- century-plus in the art biz, she says, "It's been a long journey — lots of great stories, travels, and great art. Most of all, we have established great relationships with artists and collectors that we thrive on." PDNB Gallery, 150 Manufacturing Street, pdnbgallery.com. T he gallerist who became a dealer because of the advice of a soothsayer returns to her roots, with a project space of possibilities in a neighborhood of paradoxes. As we closed our March issue, Erin Cluley emailed with big news: One of Texas' most watched next-gen galleries would be adding an annex space. "We are opening a new satellite space called Cluley Projects," Cluley shared. The inaugural exhibition features Dallas- based artist Xxavier Edward Carter. Cluley has tapped as her collaborator a power woman who pairs the chops of working artist with luxury clout and connections. In a Zoom call, Cluley introduced us to Nell Potasznik Langford, the director of the newly minted space, whose A-list retail résumé is peppered with high-profile posts at Hermès, Harry Winston, Dior, and other luxury spots in Dallas. "Nell and I will work together to establish a program to include unrepresented artists in the region and to also give Erin Cluley Gallery's main COURTESY THE ARTIST AND CLULEY PROJECTS, PHOTO KEVIN TODORA Xxavier Edward Carter's Mineral Rights (11 Points or a Golden Ticket), 2021, at Cluley Projects roster of artists a chance to present transitional or more experimental bodies of work [down the line, Whitney-exhibited Nic Nicosia]," Cluley said. "We also hope to engage independent curators a couple of times of year — in particular women and BIPOC [black, indigenous, and people of color] curators." She noted that restaurateur/collector Shannon Wynne was the matchmaker. "Nell and I (via Shannon) connected through art — with interests in the discovery of new talent, assisting clients build collections, and appreciating Texas art in general." Lyle Burgin with Four LB Consulting directs the design and construction for the 1,100-square-foot space, transforming a modest interior lining an industrial strip into Dallas' next art incubator. Cluley's latest digs — her main River Bend location remains as HQ — conveniently neighbors Bill's Plastics, the art world's go-to for custom plexi, and is within walking district of the Deco-era Belmont Hotel. Xxavier Edward Carter through May 15; John Miranda, May 22 – June 19, at Cluley Projects, 2123 Sylvan Ave., cluleyprojects.com. 30