Dallas Fair Park Dioramas by Texas Regionalists Draw New Attention
The former Dallas Museum of Natural History, located in Fair Park and shut since 2006, recently showcased 50 dioramas during the World Cup and on select Sundays in August and September. These three-dimensional displays illustrate the ecological regions of Texas and were originally crafted for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. Many of the dioramas were painted by artists Granville Bruce, Olin Travis, and Reveau Bassett. Walt Davis organized the exhibition, and there are intentions for the museum to operate during the Great State Fair of Texas. Visitors may be guided by docents, including Master Naturalists. Texas artist Billy Hassell, who drew inspiration from the dioramas, hopes for the museum's full-time reopening to motivate emerging artists.
Key facts
- 50 dioramas are housed in the former Dallas Museum of Natural History in Fair Park.
- The museum closed in 2006 after merging with The Science Place and the Dallas Children's Museum to create the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
- The dioramas were on view during the World Cup and on some Sundays in August and September.
- Many dioramas were constructed and painted in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition.
- Most dioramas were painted by Dallas artists Granville Bruce, Olin Travis, and Reveau Bassett.
- The pop-up exhibition was organized by Walt Davis, former exhibits curator of the museum.
- Billy Hassell sketched the dioramas in college around 1975 and said several later paintings were directly inspired by them.
- Davis is arranging for the museum to be open during the Great State Fair of Texas.
Entities
Artists
- Granville Bruce
- Olin Travis
- Reveau Bassett
- Billy Hassell
- Frank Reaugh
- William Leigh
- Boardman Robinson
- Michael Hoinski
- Walt Davis
- Scott Chase
Institutions
- Dallas Museum of Natural History
- The Science Place
- Dallas Children's Museum
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Texas Centennial Exposition
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Public Works of Art
- Sunset High School
- Corsicana High School
- Texas State Fish and Game Commission
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- John H. Reagan Building
- Hall of State
- Art Students League
- Dallas Petroleum Club
- Big Bend Conservancy
- Audubon Texas
- New York Times
- Great State Fair of Texas
- Glasstire
- Foltz Fine Art
Locations
- Dallas
- United States
- Fair Park
- Texas
- Chicago
- New York
- New Mexico
- Austin
- East Texas
- Big Bend
- Texas Gulf Coast
- Caddo Lake State Park
- White Rock Lake