a beautiful evening at the pool

There’s a new kid in town, folks, and you are definitely going to want to go and make introductions.  In this case, the ‘kid’ is a place, and the place is a pool.  Or rather, it’s called “The Pool” in Fort Worth, Texas.

Nestled into the ground floor of the building that used to be “Massey’s” chicken fried steak restaurant, this new community art space received a very warm welcome from Art Lovers last weekend.  Their kickoff show featured numerous works of blown glass art from Fort Worth’s own Sinaca Studios.  I am someone who happens to adore blown glass art pieces, and this collection is a beautiful sight to behold.  I love how the shapes often seem to defy physics and gravity, and how the swirls of color appear to have been in full, fluid movement and then locked in place forever, as if frozen in time.

Maybe it stems from the delicate nature of the finished product, or the improbable shapes and swirls that the artists are able to tease into existence, or the sheer fact that I know that I would literally incinerate my hands, fingers, hair, and anything else in my general area if I tried to do it myself, but something about blown glass just pulls me in.

Due to my well-documented clumsiness, my husband and chaperone for the evening made sure that I stayed a safe distance away from the art at all times, even though I was dying to lean in close and stare deeply into the gorgeous, multi-colored collections of glass.

All of the art is available for purchase and there was also a silent auction table with unique pieces that you could bid on. This art exhibition and will likely sell out, based on the high quality of the work and the great prices. In addition to sculptures that you carry home with you, there were also some large installations like the “A Million Tears” sculpture.

This incredible piece is representative of struggles women have dealt with in the armed forces like PTSD from sexual assault. The glass droplets represent tears to signify the abuse these women faced. On one of the tears, the phrase, “roots of rape” is carved ever so secretly. You wouldn’t see this immediately unless you got in close. I found this message very moving.

According to a display sign at the event, “The paracord represents their connection to each other through the armed services – green for the dominant male figures in their fields and pink for the outnumbered women”. 100% of the proceeds fund further program for this creative programming thanks to the Texas Commission of the Arts, The National Endowment of the Arts, The Arts Council of Fort Worth and The Art Station“. In light of the exciting environment and opening of this space, I felt humbled that a heartfelt and passionate project was on display. I was reminded that art can sometimes have a deeper meaning and that it’s important to take time to learn.

There were many familiar faces in the crowd while I took in the show, including several members of Arts Fort Worth, the amazing painter Jack Daw from Near Southside, and to my great surprise, Caya Crum was there as well.  For those who don’t know her, Caya is the high school student who was chosen to preserve and re-invent the iconic Massey restaurant signs that had greeted local diners since the 1940’s, and her creation is part of the permanent collection at The Pool.  She is one to watch in the years to come!

If you weren’t already aware, the Texas Commission on the Arts announced its approval of Fort Worth’s Near Southside as the state’s newest Cultural District in 2020. This area south of downtown is on fire and the Director of Events and Communications, Megan Henderson was quoted online saying, “The Near Southside has long been a hub of Fort Worth’s creative culture and we are proud that many artists call the district home and work. The Pool is the culmination of decades of art advocacy, dreaming, and planning by a passionate community of artists and arts patrons. We couldn’t be prouder of the opportunity this community-owned space will provide to both established and emerging arts professionals in the Near Southside”. 

For all you art enthusiasts out there, Save The Date: April 23, 2022 for ARTS GOGGLE. This 1 day only event is Fort Worth’s largest festival of local art held on Magnolia Avenue in you guessed it, Near Southside.

Artist: Rob Stern - "Viola"
Chad Holliday - "Flexed Ellipse Sprocket"
Caya Crum - Artist behind refreshing the MASSEY'S sign
now a permanent artwork at The Pool
Artist: Justin Ginsberg - "Spun Glass Vessel #3"
Artist: Tatara Siegel - "Chillin' in the Clouds"
Artist: Chuck Savoie - "Blue Zanfrinco Goblet"
Artist: Elena Greer - "Glow"
Artist: Duncan McClellan - "Transformation"

Follow @thepoolnearsouthside on Instagram for more!

or visit Near Southside Fort Worth

Article & Photos: Mouty Shackelford
Your support allows us to continue sharing art stories, feature creative works and contribute to art society.
We are passionate about supporting artists and your donation will help us continue our mission.
Thank you & Cheers to Art