Published by D Magazine Front Row

By RYDER RICHARDS

November 21st, 2011 

Times of late seem ripe for taking to the streets, and last weekend, two Dallas-area universities did exactly that, though not in protest.

The taken street was Dragon St., that unofficial Dallas arts district, and the venue featured two moving trucks posing as art galleries. Lights ablaze, the alternative art venues signaled a cooperative stance of community inclusion by the area’s commercial galleries. Indeed, embracing these temporary venues fosters a symbiotic relationship between the local rent paying, bricks-and-mortar galleries and the fresh ideas and exploration of energetic students. The student-initiated projects capitalized on the sustained efforts of the gallery owners to draw a crowd, and they also provided the district with a quirky spectacle and infectious enthusiasm, while further bolstering the already significant cluster marketing.

Showcasing a number of photographic images, University of Texas at Arlington’s “Roving Museum of Photography” made use of a 24′ U-Haul truck as display space. This is a semi-annual outing for UTA students and has become an expected method of exhibiting art in the Dallas gallery scene. Within this localized context, the novelty of the truck as gallery format has receded, allowing for a more methodical consideration of the works shown, which were strong and intriguing.

Partnering with Cohn Drennan Gallery,University of NorthTexas graduate art students showcased their inaugural mobile effort with the “Art Rover,” a twelve foot U-Haul truck. Though smaller than the UTA “museum,” the truck boasted a hand made sign with Christmas lights, lounge chairs with music outside, and a group of excellent paintings and drawings inside.

Striving for exposure and welcoming comradery, these non-traditional venues act as a counterpoint to the often sterile, stereotypical gallery experience. Self conscious and eager to engage, the roving venues were low on pretention and high on conversation, offering these emerging artists and the public a platform for discourse and growth.

Ryder, Nov 21, 2011

* By the way, as the South West region “Godfathers” of the Truck Gallery, RJP members are completely thrilled to see our legacy embraced by others.

Truck food + Art:
http://hyperallergic.com/33568/show-and-tell-food-truck/

Rider project
http://budgetgallery.org/sf/

Art Stream
http://www.art-stream.com/

Stand Alone gallery
http://www.standalonegallery.com/

PODA: Portable On Demand Art Project (Box 13 Houston)
http://www.box13artspace.com/current-shows/box-of-curiosities/

Antlers Nomadic Gallery, Bristol
http://www.antlersgallery.com/ 

Nomadic Museum: Pier 54
http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/architecture/11077/

Build your own…

In keeping with notions of accessibility, transparency, information sharing and all that good stuff… the RJP present the RJP 2.0 Gallery Kit as a series of instructional packets. This information will act as an aid for those interested in building their own Nomadic Gallery.

(1) RJP 2.0 Gallery Kit brochure

(2) RJP 2.0 Gallery Kit Stairs/Palettes

(3) RJP 2.o Gallery Kit Crates/Walls

(4) RJP 2.0 Gallery Kit start up costs

or download the complete RJP 2.0 Gallery Kit packet

If you have any questions, ideas, comments, please contact us.

RJP 2.0 Gallery Kit

Utilizing our surrounding, existing infrastructures, (shipping systems, free website modules, home depot, rental trucks, etc…) RJP offers engineered, multi-use components as a complete “gallery kit.” Accessible and economically viable, the “kit” offers the potential to sustainably expand outreach and community engagement.

In keeping with global shipping systems we have developed freight-ready modules as gallery components and containers. The ‘crates,’ which contain our tools and art, unfold to become our gallery walls, complete with embedded lighting. They rest on ‘palettes,’ which transform to become stairs.

A dialogue ensues as the conversion of components reflects the re-purposing of truck into gallery, providing an example of larger transformation possibilities. Following existing internet business models we offer our information and plans as a package, accessible and down-loadable, from which craftsman in the community may develop similar galleries or expand the notion for their own purposes, generating further energy and collaboration.

RJP 2.0-brochure

RJP2 Gallery Kit-combined packet (engineered plans for construction)

images…

LIVE VIDEO BROADCAST of “Unpacking Access”
Friday, April 15, 2011_ performances at 7 and 9 PM

Trailer Space Records @ 7
Pump Project @ 9

Please be patient: Video streaming will suffer lag time…
several videos of the Trailer Space and Pump Project events are available on qik.com

Ryder Jon Piotrs Nomadic Gallery presents Unpacking Access
Friday, April 15, Austin, Texas

Performances::
Trailer Space Records (1319 Rosewood Avenue) @ 7
Pump Project (702 Shady Lane)@ 9

During opening performances the artists park the truck, unpack and install the gallery kit. Works by the artists related to information systems will be on display. Closing performances return the arts venue to its original function, as the artists pack up the truck and drive away. Performances are filmed and broadcast online as a further gesture toward transparency and accessibility — a gesture that is intended to acknowledge its limits, as the notion of the Internet itself as truly public and accessible space is only that, a notion.

~ Virginia Rutledge, Curator of TX B 2011

Post-event press:

Glasstire_ “Arty Party opens Texas Biennial” by Sarah Fisch_ PDF

Austin 360_ “Biennial survives — and keeps thriving — as new exhibits show” by Jeanne Claire van Ryzin_ PDF

Fort Worth Weekly_ Texas Biennial: Austin Bias?” by Anthony Mariani _ PDF

D-magazine: Frontrow_ “Texas Biennial comes to Dallas” by Peter Simek _ PDF

A selection of works on view with Dallas Public Arts Project at ThirdSpace, located at 1608-C Main Street (next door to Neiman Marcus).

AFTER PARTY at Thirdspace on Tuesday the 9th of Feb!

Please call or e-mail Ryder for more information. For more information on Ryder Jon Piotrs collective endeavors please visit the site.

Ryder Jon Piotrs is presented by Ro2 Art at Art in the District.
Fairmont Hotel
Friday- Sunday, Feb 5-7, 2010.

The 1st Annual Dallas Art In The District Art Fair features an array of contemporary emerging art galleries [and artists]. Art In The District provides participating galleries [and artists] with a platform to present new works to a strong and growing audience. Art In The District is for everyone from the first-time buyer to the art savvy collector.

The event is an attempt to present more localized arts and galleries during the Dallas Art Fair, which boasts 45 international art dealers and an attendance of over five thousand in 2009. “Art in the District” was conceived and realized by Ro2 Art, comprised of Jordan Roth and Susan Roth-Romans, and Bryan Embry of Ross Akard Gallery.

The Fairmount, 1717 N. Akard Street, Dallas, is directly across the street from the Dallas Art Fair held at the F.I.G. in downtown Dallas. The exhibition will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Stop by if you get a chance… Please call or e-mail Ryder for more information.

____________

Ro2 Art is proud to showcase works from:
Letitia Eldridge
Elizabeth Akamatsu
Ryder Richards
Piotr Chizinski
Jonathan Whitfill
Sue Anne Rische
J. Derrick Durham
Yan Macs

Apparently the Ryder Jon Piotrs Nomadic Gallery has received a Puffin Foundation Grant.

We wrote the grant in 2008. We received the 1099 tax form yesterday, but never received the check or accompanying paperwork. (I suppose it is due to our nomadic nature. ha.)

We are thankful and elated at the good fortune that has blessed us. Receiving a grant from such a reputable foundation further strengthens our resolve in the benefits of creating a more accessible gallery experience.

More details will be posted as they emerge.

Oct. 23rd, 2009
5:00 pm Nov. 13, 2009: Closing Reception and Artist Talk
Mercurial Imagination

Ira M. Taylor Memorial Art Gallery

Hardin Simmons University,
Abilene, Texas, 79698.
(325) 670-1000

HSU’s Ira M. Taylor Memorial Gallery Gallery presents “Mercurial Imagination,” featuring the work of Ryder Jon Piotrs members Piotr Chizinski, Ryder Richards, Sue Anne Rische and Jonathan Whitfill. The work ranges from altered books and shredded text to gunpowder drawings and cast bomb forms. The work questions social class systems, the intangible form of knowledge, and violence in a modern world. The exhibition will take place from Oct 26-Nov 13, 2009. The gallery will host a closing reception featuring an artist talk and question/answer session on November 13, 5:00-6:30.

Ryder Jon Piotrs (RJP) is comprised of artists who have created an alternative method of engagement with the development of a Nomadic Truck Gallery. The gallery is a converted 24’ Ryder truck complete with white sheetrock panels and track lighting. Since it’s debut over 2 years ago the mobile gallery has prompted several group exhibitions for the RJP members. Most recently the group has shown in Dallas, Abilene, and Marfa. They have also hosted a national juried ceramics exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information please contact one of the RJP members.

press: GLASSTIRE.com