Collection Overview
Title: DW Gallery Records
Creator: Block, Diana, Linda Samuels, and gallery staff
Dates: 1977–1988 (bulk 1981–1988)
Collection ID: SC–001
Extent: 1.0 linear feet
Language: English
Arrangement: Records are arranged in three series: Series 1. Administration; Series 2. Artist Files; Series 3. Artifacts.
Access/Use Restrictions: Restricted access to artist resumes that contain social security numbers. See Archivist for viewing procedures. No other restrictions on access or use.
Preferred Citation: DW Gallery records, SC–001, Dallas Museum of Art Archives, Texas
Repository: Dallas Museum of Art Archives, 1717 N. Harwood Street, Dallas, Texas 75201
Historical Note:
Along with several other women, Linda Samuels (formerly Linda Surls) started the DW Gallery (DWG) as a small women's co-op at McKinney and Hall streets in 1975. In the first few years, the gallery was staffed by member artists, each of whom worked three days a month and paid a $33 monthly fee toward overhead costs. Throughout its 13-year history, the gallery developed a reputation for recognizing raw talent and eventually became one of the nation's most respected showcases for contemporary regional artists. DWG was the first to exhibit several "new" artists who are nationally recognized today, including Lee N. Smith, David Bates, and Clyde Connell. The gallery was also successful at promoting up-and-coming Dallas artists such as David McManaway, John Hernandez, and Sam Gummelt. In 1978, the gallery was incorporated after receiving backing from founding member Lou Alpert (formerly Frederickson). By 1980, when director Linda Samuels moved to California, the gallery had expanded twice. In 1981, Diana Block succeeded Samuels as DWG director. Under Block, the gallery continued its successful theme exhibits, including a popular Book/Art exhibition. In 1983, DWG expanded to a new space on Main Street in Deep Ellum and opened a bookstore in a renovated warehouse.
In 1986, when the gallery again needed to expand, it moved to new space on Canton and Oakland Streets rented from John Tatum, Dallas developer and major stockholder in DWG. After a dispute over the lease between Tatum and another major stockholder, Lou Alpert, the gallery closed in September 1988. By this time, its operating budget had increased from $24,000 to $100,000 since 1981, with investors contributing less than 25 percent of the annual budget. The closing exhibition, The Last Show, was guest-curated by founding member Linda Samuel. It featured recent works by each of the 28 artists associated with the gallery over the past year. The gallery received postcard tributes from more than 80 artists who had exhibited there through the years, including Bob Wade, Peter Julian, Gilda Pervin, James Surls, Benito Huerta, Dan Rizzie, Danny Williams, Bill Komodore, and Frank Tolbert.
Scope and Content Note:
The bulk of the records cover Diana Block's tenure as DWG director (1981–1988) until the gallery's closing in 1988. Types of records include correspondence, notes, financial documents, certificates, legal papers, exhibition schedules, resumes, policies, press releases, mailing lists, photographs, scrapbook material, creative works artifacts, and ephemera.
The records of the DW Gallery are organized into three series: Series 1. Administration; Series 2. Artist Files; Series 3. Artifacts.
Administrative Information
Acquisition: Donated by Diana Block on May 5, 2000. Prior to acquisition the records of the DW Gallery were in the possession of Diana Block, former gallery director, from its closing in 1988 to 2000.
Processed by: Sammie Morris
Box and Folder List
Box 1: Administration
Folder 1: Director—Diana Block Correspondence, 1981–1988
Folder 2: Director—Diana Block Notes, 1984 and n.d.
Folder 3: Assistant Director—Judy Cohen Correspondence and Budget, 1985–1988 and n.d.
Folder 4: Assistant Director—Judy Cohen, DWG Invitations: Orders and Proofs, 1983–1988
Folder 5: Assistant Director—Judy Cohen, DWG Invitations, 1983–1988
Folder 6: Assistant Director—David Bates Print, 1982, 1988
Folder 7: Assistant Director—David Bates—Resale/Bates
Folder 8: Assistant Director—Billy Hassell Prints, 1987–1988
Folder 9: Assistant Director—Staff Duties
Folder 10: Board of Directors—Artists Represented, n.d.
Folder 11: Board of Directors—DWG Board Resignations, 1984–1985
Folder 12: Board of Directors—Ellen Soderquist, DW Gallery Stock Certificate, 1982
Folder 13: Board of Directors—Lou Alpert (Alice Louise Alpert), 1987–1988
Folder 14: Policies—General Policies, n.d.
Folder 15: Policies—DWG Layaway Policy, Blank Forms, n.d.
Folder 16: Legal—Consignment Contracts with Artists, 1981–1983
Folder 17: Legal—Art Commission Agreements, 1986–1988
Folder 18: Legal—DW Contracts/Legal, 1982–1984, n.d.
Folder 19: Legal—Property Return, n.d.
Folder 20: Legal—Clients/Consultants/Corporate, 1988, n.d.
Folder 21: Exhibitions—Book/Art, Curated by Diana Block, 1983
Folder 22: Exhibitions—Exhibition Schedules, 1982–1988
Folder 23: Miscellaneous Press and Press Release List, 1984–1985, 1987, n.d.
Folder 24: Parties/Artists, n.d.
Folder 25: Parties/Artists—Patricia Forrest Gallery Talk, 1980, 1986
Folder 26: Resale/Tax Exemption Certificates, 1977–1988
Folder 27: Notes/Phone Log, 1987
Folder 28: Shipping Information, 1983–1988, n.d.
Folder 29: Card File System
Box 2: Administration/Artist Files
Folder 1: Ephemera—Note Cards and Exhibition Advertising Cards
Folder 2: D.A.D.A. (Dallas Art Dealers Association)
Folder 3: Raffaele Martini Paper on Art Criticism, 1983
Folder 4: Artist Files—Anderson, David
Folder 5: Artist Files—Bagley, Frances, and James Baker
Folder 6: Artist Files—Beeman, Malinda
Folder 7: Artist Files—Chambers, Nancy
Folder 8: Artist File—Cohn, Julie, 1986
Folder 9: Artist File—Dowell, James
Folder 10: Artist Files—Finnell, Linda
Folder 11: Artist Files—Grant, Susan Kae
Folder 12: Artist Files—Harris, Tracy
Folder 13: Artist Files—Maroney, Dalton
Folder 14: Artist Files—Monroe, Gary
Folder 15: Artist Files—Smith, Lee N. III, Scrapbook Material
Folder 16: Artist Files—Smith, Lee N. III, Photos
Folder 17: Artist Files—Smith, Lee N. III, NEA and Smith Press, 1987–1988
Folder 18: Artist Files—Smith, Lee N. III, Paris, 1988
Folder 19: Artist Files—Smith, Lee N. III, Ephemera and Miscellaneous
Folder 20: Artist Files—Swenson-Roberts, Carroll
Folder 21: Artist Files—Warner, Mary (1 of 2)
Folder 22: Artist Files—Warner, Mary (2 of 2)
Folder 23: Artist Files—Washmon, Gary, and Laurie Weller
Folder 24: Artist Files—Wilder, Steve
Folder 25: Artist Files—Various Artist Files and Artist Resumes, n.d. (Carolyn Louise DeBus, Martin Delabano, David Bryan Erwin, Vincent Falsetta, Patrick R. Faulhaber, Patricia Forrest, Linnea Glatt, Billy Hassell, John Hernandez, Emily Jennings, Marilyn Jolly, Tom Kraa, Susan Magilow, Heather Marcus, Celia Muñoz, Susie Phillips, John Pomara, Lela Helen Rose, Randy Twaddle, Jean Wetta)
Box 3: Artifacts
Item 1: DW Gallery T-Shirt, blue
Item 2: DW Gallery T-Shirt, Pink
Item 3: Bandana Invitation, Fashion Play: A Performance by C. Kenneth Havis
Item 4: Final Opening Letterhead Design, pencil design on tissue, mounted on foam core