Five stories that have North Texas talking: the “X” is back, the Piano Pavilion opens, and have you met Stormy, the cute puppy found in a storm drain?, and more:
The “X” is back. Last week, just days before the 50th anniversary commemoration of the President Kennedy assassination, Dallas street workers removed the white “X” that marked the spot where JFK was shot. We figured it wouldn't take long for it to return. And, this week, the “X” returned to Elm Street in Dealey Plaza. It's believed that vendors around Dealey Plaza have been responsible for placing the "X" on the street and updating it through the years. City of Dallas spokesman Jose Torres told KERA that the city doesn’t have anything to do with the “X.” “The 'X' on Elm Street by the Sixth Floor Museum has been removed from time to time when resurfacing is done or when work is done around Dealey Plaza," Torres told KERA. "The 'X' has always reappeared and we expected this to occur. The city has no plans to do anything about removing it. It always appears and we don’t know who does that.”
- The Independent Spirit Awards, which honors independent filmmakers, have a Texas flair. And there's an emphasis on Dallas. KERA’s Stephen Becker reports: “Behind the camera, Eric Steele was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award for the best feature film made under $500,000 for ‘Pit Stop.’ The film was directed by Austin’s Yen Tan and written by Dallas’ David Lowery. And speaking of Lowery, he was also nominated for editing ‘Upstream Color,’ which was directed by Richardson native Shane Carruth, who was also nominated for co-editing and directing the film. Moving on to Fort Worth, Toby Halbrooks and James Johnston are nominees for the Piaget Producers Award, which honors emerging producers who, despite limited resources, demonstrate ‘creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films.’ Also receiving nominations were Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto for their roles in ‘Dallas Buyers Club.’ And expanding our reach a little ways down Interstate 35, Austin’s Jeff Nichols was another big winner, earning a nomination for directing ‘Mud.’ That film was also given the Robert Altman Award, which honors a film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. Did we miss anyone? No? Good. The awards will be handed out in March.”
- Meet Stormy, the cute puppy rescued from a West Dallas storm drain. The puppy was cold and hungry, stuck for several days in the drain. His yelps could be heard in the neighborhood. His mother had been spotted pacing near the drain. On Monday, several city workers arrived at the drain and rescued the pup. And now he has a name: Stormy. He’s attracting plenty of media attention. On Tuesday, TV crews were interviewing the terrier at Dallas Animal Services. He’ll be put up for adoption on Sunday. We expect a lot of interest. Learn more about Stormy from KERA.
- The Piano Pavilion opens today at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. A ribbon-cutting happens at 10 a.m. Architect Renzo Piano visited his creation last week. KERA’s Bill Zeeble filed this report. The building provides much-needed space for the Kimbell. The expansion includes more room for the Kimbell to display its collection, plus classrooms and a theater. The Kimbell says that Piano’s colonnaded pavilion, surrounded by elms and red oaks, “stands as an expression of simplicity — glass, concrete and wood.” It’s near the museum’s home, designed by Louis Kahn in 1972. KERA’s Jerome Weeks takes a look inside the new Piano Pavilion at Art&Seek. Last week on Think, Piano joined KERA’s Krys Boyd to talk about his Fort Worth creation. Listen to the podcast of the conversation. Check out this video of the Piano Pavilion from KERA's Dane Walters. And what do the critics think of the new building? KERA's Anne Bothwell of Art&Seek has a roundup of reviews.
- An album featured on NPR.org includes a Dallas-based artist. NPR’s First Listen profiles Music For Shut-Ins, a new two-disc compilation of this year’s vinyl-only releases from L.I.E.S. Records. TX Connect’s “Primal Rage” (Gavin Guthrie) is featured. To hear more from TX Connect, click here. Or check out TX Connect’s Facebook page. NPR Music reports: “While electronic dance music remains best experienced in public and out on a dance floor, [Producer Ron] Morelli and his roster of "outsider house" producers still sound most comfortable holed-up in their studios, hunched over analog gear, trapped in their own heads. But it's a space you won't soon want to escape.”
