Earlier this winter, my friend Chris and I decided to broaden our cultural horizons with a post-holiday trip to the Dallas Arts District. Our original plan was to visit the Nasher Sculpture Center, but the cold, drizzly weather didn’t really lend itself to walking outdoors, so our itinerary shifted to the Dallas Museum of Art.

I’m a fan of primitive and folk art, so I was happy to check out one of the traveling exhibits, African Masks: The Art of Disguise (until Feb. 13). It included lots of great sculptural costumes from around Africa. Then, knowing we couldn’t possibly see it all in a day, we attempted to choose which galleries to view. We ended up meandering through the second floor visiting modern design, early 20^th-century decorative arts, into Pacific Island art and past some wonderfully detailed Japanese sculptures. We even came upon a re-created villa—fully furnished with artwork on the walls.

I like the spacious, but warm, feel of the DMA building. It offers lots of opportunities to wander through different worlds of art, and—my favorite—to watch people interact with art. Not a bad place to spend a rainy day!

On a break, we took a walk around the vicinity and were pleasantly surprised at the proximity of the Nasher and the Crow Collection of Asian Art. I see another trip or two to this area in my future.

Side trip: Our excursion included a quick jaunt through downtown Waxahachie to check out the Ellis County Courthouse. I’ve always wanted to see this building in real life, particularly all those face sculptures on the outside. I’m not sure if these are likenesses of the legendary Mabel or not, but they sure are expressive! If you’re curious, read about the gargoyles on the Waxahachie courthouse.

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