Carolyn Risdale’s “The Art of Shopping” adds a colorful splash across from Kona Grill.
NorthPark Center has its fingers on the pulse—and the paintbrush.
Always thinking outside the box (literally!), NorthPark Center has devised a plan for glamming up barricaded storefronts by doing what it does so well—showcasing art. Instead of pulling out the caution tape or plastering advertisements in order to hide spaces that are undergoing renovations or a location change, the fronts are being used as blank canvases. Welcome to the Pop Up Project...
Artists from or connected to Texas are being commissioned to turn these barricades into another visual treat for NorthPark Center’s 26 million visitors a year. Dallas’ favorite shopping museum is home to some of the city’s most iconic sculptures. But now, 2D art is coming into play as well. “So much of what makes NorthPark’s art strong is how there truly is a surprise around every corner, and you confront art in every space that you enter in really exciting and unexpected ways,” says Taylor Zakarin, the center’s art programming manager.
A handful of pieces are already up and ready for your viewing pleasure. Tucked between the exteriors of Saint Laurent and Tory Burch sits a pretty pink masterpiece by Leah Flook. The Dallas artist says she was excited by the challenge of such a temporary space. “It kind of gave me more room to explore. I wasn’t set with boundaries of this thing lasting forever,” says Flook.
But though each install is around only for a short while, it looks like the Pop Up Project isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So next time you scour the mall, keep a lookout for more than just the best retail finds. After all, this is NorthPark, and art is popping up at every turn. 8687 N. Central Expressway, northparkcenter.com
Photography by: Justin Clemons for NorthPark Center
