"You said you outside, but you ain't that outside" DFW Fun under $40: Part 1

Because the Smithsonian museums have been in my backyard all my life, I am against paying for museums. But I have been getting tired of only trying food and drink places in the DFW area, so a trip to the museums in Dallas has been on my list for a while. I understand that I am not home, so I may have to pay for admission to museums if I want to go to specific ones. While I didn't spend a dollar to visit the museums I visited, a few of them have admission fees depending on the day. Therefore, allow me to introduce you to my: Fun under $40 series. A series dedicated to fun, festive and sometimes free things to do in the DFW area. This series will highlight some of the fun things I have done, and you can do, in the area that will not break your pockets.

I took a weekend and decided to not only go see the free museums that I have been interested in but going to some of the exhibits at local museums that are only here temporarily. I initially wanted to go to the African American Museum, but I got lost and couldn’t find it initially. Instead of asking for help, I just walked around Fair Park until I came across the Hall Of State. If you are unfamiliar with Dallas or even Texas, like me, this is a cool place to start. If you want to know a little more. Built by the state in 1936, this place is the home of the Dallas Historical Society. Within these walls, there’s a wealth of knowledge about Texas and its origins. However, I lit up when I got to see “the last known original copy” of the June 19th, 1865 military order also known as the “Juneteenth Document.” So while I didn’t get to see the museum I wanted to see, I got to see a little bit of “Black” history. I was still one museum down on my free museum tour.

I left Fair Park (I will be back in the Fall to visit the other museums) I went downtown to the Nasher Sculpture Center. Home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculptures in the world, the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection. Normally admission to this museum costs $10, but Admission is FREE every first Saturday of the month and every third Friday of the month, 6 p.m. – midnight. I chose to just walk around but if you want a guide to help better understand the museum stop and talk to one of the Visitor Experience Facilitators who are available to discuss all things Nasher.

Directly across the street from the Nasher Sculpture Center is The Crow Museum of Asian Art. This always free (donations are encouraged and accepted) museum features an ever-changing display of collection features pieces from China, Japan, India, Korea, and Southeastern Asia spanning from historical to contemporary. While there I got to see two of the current exhibits: JooYoung Choi: Songs of Resilience From the Tapestry of Faith

Exhibition and Rare Earth: The Art and Science of Chinese Stones. I truly lucked up getting to see JooYoung Choi’s exhibit as the last day to view it was September 4th. Through painting, video, sculpture, animation, music, and installation art, JooYoung Choi documents the fictional narratives and relationships she has created in this mythical world named the Cosmic Womb. Vibrant, bold, and fascinating, I honestly felt like I didn’t appreciate this the way I should have.

But what was excited about, was the crown jewel of my museum tour. The one reason I chose to make this outing: The Dallas Museum of Art: Cartier and Islamic Art: In Search of Modernity at the Dallas Museum of Art. The Cartier name is synonymous with wealth, jewels, and affluence but I had no idea that the Maison Cartier in the early 20th century drew inspiration from the Middle East, India, and North Africa. This inspiration is truly reflected in this exhibit, the pieces are truly breathtaking, I can not fully describe the jewels and the craftsmanship that went into them. This exhibit left the DMA on September 18th, but I am sure the DMA will have another exhibit to match the extravagance. While entry to the DMA requires a free general admission ticket, this special exhibit requires a paid ticket for admission ($25). But like I said, I am against paying for museum admission so I waited until Free Community Day. (Thank you Dallas Museum of Art's Board of Trustees.)

I didn’t get to view the other exhibits within the museum, it started pouring down and I wanted to go home, but I will be back. Overall, the museums in Dallas have a lot to offer, from what I learned, Fair Park museums are free, downtown ones vary depending on museum. So check them out, go take photos, enjoy the views.