Salon! Salon!

It's not really necessary to visit a museum to see great artwork anymore. NorthPark Center has an extensive collection on display for you to enjoy between trips to Forever 21 and Chick-Fil-A. Many large corporations have their own impressive collections on display in lobbies and towers in downtown. And I seem to remember Meridian Room having a pretty nice exhibition last time I was there (though I'm a little fuzzy on the details). That type of broad accessibility to art began with the salon movement in the early 20th century; a movement that sought to take art out of stuffy museums and put it in places where the public could interact with it in a less formal manner. Don't get me wrong--museums are (obviously) great places to see art, but it's also nice to appreciate paintings, sculpture and photography in a more laid-back atmosphere once in a while. This is the inspiration behind Salon du FIT, an exhibition of pieces from more than 40 artists in a gallery transformed into a bohemian, comfortable space that encourages artistic exchange. Couches, chairs and tables are set up to promote conversation, dialogue and an overall communal experience with a variety of artwork. The exhibit runs through August 9 at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive. Visit bathhousecultural.com for more information.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: July 12. Continues through Aug. 9, 2008