“Time passes.  A place remains.”-Richard Long, Words After The Fact (1982)

WELCOME TO semigloss.

The conception of this publication was the result of comments made at the Radical Regionalism panel held at CentralTrak this past spring. One of the ideas that resonated most with me, as with many of my peers and colleagues who attended, is that North Texas is undergoing a proliferation of experimentation in the ways artists and curators are treating work and space.

In addition to the mention of these excited energies, someone noted (almost in passing) that one thing missing from the North Texas arts community is a publication that represents the artists themselves. This assertion stuck with me, and I suddenly felt that, not only were we, as a region, lacking a document of our arts community from within, but that it was an entirely reasonable pursuit—someone just had to get it started.

In keeping with a curatorial approach, it was decided that each issue would align itself with a certain purpose or theme. As the catalyst for this publication was the locality of our arts community, the idea of “place” seemed to be the most appropriate focal point for the first issue. I requested that each contributor ruminate on the idea of place and interpret this concept in any way he or she saw fit.

I envision semigloss. functioning as a series of exhibitions, with each issue offering pieces that compliment and layer upon one another, all drawing from the growth that we, as artists, educators, gallerists, curators, students, and art administrators have been experiencing. As a vital part of the diverse burgeoning arts culture in North Texas, it will be important to include a range of contributors and foster connections between the many aspects of this region.

I would like to personally thank each and every person that I had the absolute pleasure of working with on this endeavor, from the very first meeting to the very last email. I am humbled and honored to have received the support and genuine enthusiasm that made this beautifully crafted document possible.

— Sally Glass, Editor-in-Chief