Celebrating 20 years of diverse cultural exhibitions, the Crow Museum of Asian Art will hold its second-annual Jade Ball on November 3, 2018. Located in the Dallas Arts District’s heart, the museum inspires learning and initiates a dialogue about Asian culture through its exhibitions. Free and open to the public, its exhibitions showcase an array of art from ancient to contemporary.
Mrs. Carmen Hancock is chairing the black-tie or traditional dress event. It will commemorate the museum’s success of being the only Texas museum dedicated solely to Asia’s arts and cultures.
Steve Kemble, the event producer, promises a magical night filled with live entertainment, unique performances, and lots of surprises! Throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to browse at silent auction items before being seated for a formal sit-down dinner.
The name Jade Ball was inspired by Qing Dynasty jades, which make up the heart of the Crow Museum’s collection and will be a prominent theme throughout the evening.
Sponsors of the gala include Balfour Beatty, Jill C. Bee, and Loren M. Glasser, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Itzel and Nathan Crow, Friedman & Feiger, GFF Architects, HealthWellness MD, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, Rick Liberto, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Ku, Morgan Stanley, Oglesby Greene Architects, Pritchard and Associates, Trammell Crow Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, and Joan and Pat Williamson.
Interview with Gala Chair, Mrs. Carmen Hancock
How did you become involved with the Crow Museum of Asian Art?
My involvement with the Crow Museum is a true family affair – through my husband Trammell Hancock, I have become heavily invested in the Museum and the collection, and the legacy that the Crow family has created for the city. I have heard many stories of Trammell and Margaret’s interests, adventures, and deep love for Asian culture, and have been inspired by their travels and insight. They were truly pioneers at a time when most of Asia was unknown to the West. Obviously, it has carried down through the generations, and I am looking forward to our children continuing the legacy as they grow up.
How was the Crow Collection established?
The Crow Museum began as the Crow Collection of Asian Art in December of 1998 – what they considered a gift to the city from Trammell and Margaret. They had personally amassed more than 600 pieces of Asian art in their personal collection beginning from the 1960s; when they decided to open the Crow Collection of Asian Art, they enlisted the leadership of Clarence Shangraw, a noted Asian art historian, and curator, to help build the collection with significant pieces from around the world. Now there are more than 1,000 exceptional pieces in the permanent collection. My husband’s uncle, Trammell S., is Board President. He studied Chinese religion and history while at Yale and has been instrumental in guiding and shaping the next chapter of the Museum. I think that Trammell and Margaret displayed remarkable foresight in their vision – to give free access to the collection to visitors from around the world – and to share their love of Asian arts and culture.
What current exhibits can be seen?
The Museum has a constantly rotating schedule of exhibitions featuring both the permanent collection and traveling exhibitions and specially curated exhibitions with loans from prominent collections and institutions from around the world. On September 28, we opened five spectacular shows, four of which feature exclusively from the permanent collection:
- JACOB HASHIMOTO Clouds and Chaos (September 28, 2018—April 7, 2019), will feature a large-scale site-specific installation and the U.S. premiere of his latest woodblock prints;
- Our Asian Art Museum: The Crow at Twenty (September 28, 2018—August 11, 2019), will connect twenty masterworks from the permanent collection with twenty community and Museum leaders and friends;
- The Art of Lacquer (September 28, 2018—January 6, 2019) introduces lacquerware objects from the Museum’s collection to showcase one of the most enduring and distinctive forms of craftsmanship in the world;
- Immortal Landscape: Jade from the Collection (September 28, 2018—January 6, 2019), will highlight outstanding Chinese carved jade representations of mountain landscapes and forms from nature;
- Avatars and Incarnations: Buddhist and Hindu Art from the Collection (September 28, 2018—February 24, 2019) will explore the concept of divine avatars in Hindu and Buddhist art represented in the collection.
The Crow Collection has undergone a major renovation. What can you tell us about it, and how will it position the museum compared to others in Dallas?
We opened on October 6th; our newly renovated and expanded exhibition galleries, new Lotus Shop, and Pearl Art Studio are open for visitors to enjoy and engage. As one of just a handful of museums in North America dedicated solely to the arts of Asia, our newly designed Museum will help us highlight more pieces from the collection, attract a larger international audience, and continue to be a place of learning and peace for the community. We are so honored to continue to be a relevant space for the ever-growing Asian-American population. We continue to be free to the public so that as many people as possible can have access to our exhibitions and programs, including schoolchildren and families. Our wellness classes and offerings also set us apart from other institutions – integrating mindfulness with art is a core tenet of the Museum. Practicing Tai Chi in the galleries surrounded by centuries-old art is a unique experience that only the Crow can offer in Dallas.
