The signature Pantheon doors were flung open and Dallas was transported to Goodwood, the home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in West Sussex, England, through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas, an Avondale Dealerships showroom graced with discerning guests last month. They took in the brand’s newly reimagined showroom at 5300 Lemmon Avenue in Dallas.

Reflecting the latest visual identity of the brand, the showroom exudes sophistication, contemporary luxury, and creativity, while incorporating innovative digital technology with an inviting and relaxing interior design. Located in a prominent location in the heart of Dallas, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas now offers clients an immersive experience from the moment they step foot into the building: the front door is modelled on Rolls-Royce’s famous Pantheon grille and provides a discreet, tantalizing glimpse of what lies within. The doorway is topped by the marque’s iconic figurine, the Spirit of Ecstasy.

The celebration provided a unique opportunity to connect guests with the brand. Martin Fritsches, president & CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA acknowledged the work of the premier team from Avondale Dealerships, including Kenneth L. Schnitzer, chairman of Avondale Dealerships; Hesham Elgaghil, president of Avondale Dealerships; and Kevin Chew, general manager of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas.

Avondale Dealerships also celebrated the brand’s partnership with Children’s Cancer Fund. Jennifer Arthur, executive director of the non-profit organization, was on-hand for the reception and the official opening of the new showroom. Avondale is pleased to support the work of Children’s Cancer Fund through its annual gala, which in April 2024 raised a record-breaking $2 million to champion children in their fight against cancer through strategic investments in research and care.

Other notable celebrity guests included Lee Bailey, a philanthropist and devotee of the Rolls-Royce brand; as well as Heidi Dillon, socialite and CEO of Distill Ventures; actress and philanthropist LeeAnne Locken; Chuck Steelman, chief customer and experience officer for Stanley Korshak; high-profile models Carlotta Lennox and Thomas Mullins; influencer Queyoun Makor; and luxury national journalist Kristin Shaw. Rolls-Royce collector Fred Cornwall generously lent incredible vintage Rolls-Royce vehicles from his personal collection for display, including a spectacular 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster.

Opening its doors to a hub of creativity and craft, on top of housing unrivalled motoring masterpieces, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas provides an experience tailored to the bespoke needs of the dealership’s most discerning clientele with meticulous attention to detail.  

“The design, ambiance, hospitality and professionalism is what makes the new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas a welcoming slice of England in the United States,” said Martin Fritsches, President & CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, as he addressed the gathered crowd. 

The new showroom exudes sophistication, contemporary luxury, and creativity, yet still recognizing the importance of heritage for the marque, with quotes from the founding fathers of the brand throughout the showroom. Each Rolls-Royce is unapologetically luxurious, synonymous with beauty and elegance, and a true design icon. Fittingly, each model rightfully enjoys its own dedicated space, framed, and is presented according to its distinctive personality and characteristics. Galleria digital screens further allow a channel of personality to surround each vehicle on display, including Spectre, the most intelligent and powerful Rolls-Royce the marque has ever envisioned; Cullinan, the first all-terrain SUV from Rolls-Royce; and other models for guests to explore.

At the heart of the showroom lies The Bespoke Commissioning Atelier, a sanctuary for clients seeking personalized experiences. Here, discerning patrons can explore myriad options to tailor their Rolls-Royce motor cars to their unique preferences and personalities, ensuring that each vehicle is a true reflection of its owner’s individuality. Housing some of the marque’s most exquisite examples of craftsmanship, this relaxed cocoon allows guests to select personalized surface finishes, wood veneers, leathers, embroidery threads and fabrics in a variety of vivacious hues. The surface-finish samples are presented in the familiar Rolls-Royce speed form shape, making it easy to imagine the almost endless two-tone color combinations; the leathers are rolled on wands with handles from Rolls-Royce’s famous umbrellas, while the veneers are shaped like the cross-section of an aero foil, recalling The Honorable Charles Rolls’ passion for aviation. This sensory-inspired room helps clients to envision their dream commission coming to life.

The new Rolls-Royce of Dallas showroom provides the optimum environment for an inspiring, engaging, and captivating experience for guests. The charm of Goodwood is felt in every space, including the Speakeasy, where guests relax and enjoy refreshments. A comfortable lounge offers a place to luxuriate and enjoy the distinct heritage of the brand along with friends or colleagues. The Cabinet of Curiosities, located in the lounge area, features intriguing pieces that inspire and spark conversations.

“It is our honor and pleasure at Avondale to open the doors to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas. As our guests stepped into our gateway to Goodwood, we felt privileged to provide a sense of history, bespoke craftsmanship, respect for detail, and unbridled innovation that is uniquely Rolls-Royce,” noted Hesham Elgaghil, president of Avondale Dealerships. “This reimagined showroom empowers all of us at Avondale to invite our guests into the Rolls-Royce brand of meticulous craftsmanship and unrivaled history through each and every personalized journey.”

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About Avondale Dealerships: Avondale Dealerships is an innovative business led by a team with decades of success and experience in the automotive industry. Avondale is supported by members who have an incredible spirit for delivering an elevated client experience. This SPIRIT of Avondale runs deep and is channeled in multiple ways to care for the local community. Avondale Dealerships operates Mercedes-Benz of Grapevine, Porsche Grapevine, Sprinter Grapevine, Aston Martin Dallas, Bentley Dallas, Koenigsegg Dallas, McLaren Dallas, Maserati Dallas and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas. In addition, the company manages Avondale Collision & Repair, and Avondale Select, offering luxury daily rentals.

For more information, visit www.avondale.com. To subscribe to Avondale Group’s YouTube channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi9rXleS3RI7bz4x9ROwe3A

Daveed Diggs, Grammy- and Tony-award winning actor, writer, producer and musician, will participate in a moderated conversation during “Arts Inspire: A Celebration of the Arts with Daveed Diggs,” the inaugural event of the Plano ISD Education Foundation’s new lecture series celebrating the arts with the North Texas community. 

The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 12, at the Robinson Fine Arts Center, 1800 Alma Drive, Plano, TX. 

“We are incredibly excited to host this event and bring the North Texas community together to celebrate the diverse and vibrant world of the arts,” said Brittnea Ussery, senior executive director of the Plano ISD Education Foundation. “With the exceptional talent of Daveed Diggs and the variety of artistic experiences we have planned, Arts Inspire will be a night to remember.”

Award-winning actor/musician Daveed Diggs will discuss his career journey, from his breakout role as Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette in the original Broadway run of Hamilton, to his current projects in film, TV, theater and music. Diggs’ unique approach to art, blending traditional techniques with contemporary themes, has earned him international acclaim and a dedicated following. 

The arts celebration includes a juried arts faculty showcase in the Legacy Art Gallery of the Center starting at 6:00 p.m. Plano ISD student performers representing theater, orchestra, band, choir and dance will celebrate the arts to open the event at 7:30 p.m. 

The Arts Inspire series aims to raise funds and awareness for the Plano ISD Education Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the educational needs of students and teachers in the Plano Independent School District. Proceeds from Arts Inspire: Celebrating the Arts will directly benefit arts programming that enhances educational opportunities, fosters innovation in the classroom and provides vital resources for students and educators. 

“I am absolutely thrilled to see our students and community come together to celebrate the arts in such a meaningful way. The Arts Inspire series will not only showcase the incredible talent within our district but also emphasize the vital role of arts education in sparking creativity, critical thinking and passion among our students. We are deeply grateful to the Education Foundation for initiating this experience and providing our students with the opportunity to explore and pursue their artistic dreams,” said Plano ISD Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams. 

In addition to originating the fan-favorite role of Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, for which he won a Tony and Grammy in 2016, Diggs is also known for his roles in the critically acclaimed TV series Snowpiercer and a recurring guest role in the popular TV series Blackish. Diggs also serves as the vocalist of the experimental hip hop group Clipping, and he also co-wrote, produced and stars in the film Blindspotting.

Through events like Arts Inspire: Celebrating the Arts, the Plano ISD Education Foundation aims to provide a platform for artists to share their work and inspire future generations.

Ticket prices start at $50 at www.pisd.edu/artsinspire. VIP Meet and Greet tickets are available at $150 and can be purchased with an event ticket. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and individuals who wish to support this important cause while gaining visibility in front of a dedicated audience of arts enthusiasts and community leaders.

For more information about the event, ticket sales, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.pisd.edu/artsinspire .

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About Robinson Fine Arts Center

Robinson Fine Arts Center is a premier cultural and educational institution dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts in the Plano Independent School District and the community. Through a diverse range of programs, performances, and events, Robinson Fine Arts seeks to inspire creativity, foster artistic talent, and enhance the cultural life of the community.

About the Plano ISD Education Foundation

The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises private funds to support the educational excellence of Plano Independent School District. The Foundation focuses on initiatives that directly impact students and teachers, ensuring that every child has access to the tools and opportunities needed for academic success.

Seeking Texas-based women artists – from emerging to established – Texas Vignette today announced a call for entries for its sixth-annual Vignette Art Fair, which will take place Oct. 17-19, 2024, at Dallas Market Hall (2200 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207). The three-day juried event features works exclusively by Texas women artists in an effort to promote exceptional yet under-represented regional talent. Vivian Li, the Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, will serve as curator for the 2024 Vignette Art Fair (see bio below). While the fair is free and open to the public Oct. 18-19, a VIP Benefit Preview will be held Oct. 17.

The call-for-entries opens Tuesday, July 2. The deadline is Aug. 2, and selected artists will be notified by Aug. 26. Submission fee is $36. For qualifications/rules, details and instructions, go to texasvignette.org.

The Vignette Art Fair is unique in that it is fully submission-based, curated in an exhibition-style setting, solely spotlights the work of women artists, and, most significantly, 100% of all sales go directly to the artists.

“Texas Vignette received a record number of artist entries last year, and we look forward to another great response this year with Vivian Li at the helm,” said Jessica Ingle, Texas Vignette founder and president. “Vivian has deep connections to the Texas art scene through her curatorial appointments with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Dallas Museum of Art and has long supported our mission to uplift dynamic female artists in a male dominated art world. We are thrilled to have her expertise for this year’s fair.”

Founded in 2017, Texas Vignette works to close the gender disparity gap as female artists are not represented nearly as often in museum exhibitions, acquisitions and galleries compared to their male counterparts. In fact, of the $196.6 billion spent at art auctions between 2008 and 2019, work produced by women accounted for only $4 billion, or around 2% of total sales.

"The Vignette Art Fair stands out for its transformative impact, not only in elevating female artists but also in cultivating a vibrant culture of collecting their work," said Vivian Li, curator of the 2024 Vignette Art Fair. "I am honored and excited to play a role in this year’s fair, eager to engage in enriching dialogues and weave together diverse perspectives and practices as part of a shared conversation across the state."

Participants must identify as a woman and be a current Texas resident. Submission requirements include an artist statement, bio, CV and a link to the artist’s website and/or Instagram handle.

Vignette Art Fair will be open with free admission Friday, Oct. 18, from noon-7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. In addition, a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase to the VIP Benefit Preview on Oct. 17, from 6-10 p.m. The evening will feature live performance works, meet-and-greets with the artists and curator, music, and an open bar.

For more information, go to texasvignette.org.

ABOUT TEXAS VIGNETTE. With a mission to promote, support and connect Texas women in the arts, Texas Vignette highlights talent that has been under-recognized and made ancillary by art institutions and establishments. In service of their mission, Texas Vignette presents an annual juried art fair exclusively featuring works by women artists from Texas in order to elevate exceptional yet under-represented regional talent. Vignette Art Fair is fully submissions-based and works with a different Texas woman curator for each Fair to select the included artists and determine the layout of the show. It is significant to note that the Vignette Art Fair is among the only art fair in the world that solely features the work of women artists and where 100% of all sales go directly to the artists.

ABOUT THE CURATOR. Dr. Vivian Li is the Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. Since arriving at the DMA in 2019, she has realized ambitious collaborations with artists such as Mel Chin and Tiffany Chung, and organized Slip Zone: A New Look at Postwar Abstraction in the Americas and East Asia (co-curated) and the retrospective Matthew Wong: The Realm of Appearances. Prior to coming to the DMA, she worked at the Guggenheim Museum; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the Worcester Art Museum. A specialist in postwar and contemporary art in Asia, she received her PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has edited and contributed to various publications, including the Oxford Art Journal, Art History, Yishu: Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, and the anthology Postwar – A Global Art History, 1945-1965.  

As part of the benefits of membership in the Dallas Historical Society’s (DHS) newest membership group, The Director’s Inner Circle,       the Author’s Table Dinners invites members to enjoy intimate dinner parties featuring bestselling authors and Pulitzer Prize nominees.  These gatherings provide a platform for engaging conversations about their latest works.
        
This Author’s Table Dinner was hosted by Elaine and Karl Chiao, DHS executive director, in their east Dallas home and featured Tracy Daugherty, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Love Song and featured his latest book titled Larry McMurtry: A Life.
        
It was a perfect cool spring evening as members gathered for a reception while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres and chatted with Tracy, along with Mike Higgins, season sponsor, and Tracey McClain, Talmage Boston, Diane and Harold Byrd, David Calhoun, Nancy Shelton and more.
        
As dinner was served, Karl began the conversation and guests talked with Tracy in a delightful exchange about his new book, research and experiences. Afterwards, Tracy signed copies for guests.
        
Comprised of its esteemed founding members, former Fellows of the Dallas Historical Society, The Director’s Inner Circle is designed to engage a vibrant community of proactive individuals passionate about history. This exclusive membership offers exciting and unique programming opportunities. Members of The Director’s Inner Circle will have access to a variety of behind-the-scenes events and intimate gatherings, such as this dinner.
        
For more information, the public can contact the office assistant at assistant@dallashistory.org   or call 214-421-4500. Or visit the website at  https://www.dallashistory.org/programs/

The Dallas Historical Society: Whether someone is new to Dallas or a native Texan, the Dallas Historical Society offers programs and exhibits that educate and inform visitors about their home city and reveal insights and little-known facts that one might be unable to attain from history books alone, especially with the museum’s newest permanent exhibit, the interactive Texas Liberty Forever: The Battle of the Alamo diorama by Thomas Feely.

Ongoing events include Brown Bag Lectures, An Evening With programs, and Pour Yourself Into History happy hours. Join in discovering more about Dallas and take part in one or more of these wonderful programs. Visit the website for more information at www.dallashistory.org

The Dallas Historical Society Celebrated Its Centennial Year In 2022

 The stories of Dallas are shared each day at the Dallas Historical Society through the three million items that comprise our archives and artifact collections. Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves, and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations.

 Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, DHS presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops. 

 Among the three million historical artifacts at DHS are such treasures as Sam Houston’s handwritten account of the Battle of San Jacinto, the only known original Juneteenth document, James Fannin’s watch, and Santa Anna’s spurs. The DHS collection houses over 10,000 bound volumes and receives more than 1,500 research requests annually.

 Each year, the Dallas Historical Society is visited by over 160,000 people and serves more than 20,000 students through guided tours and educational programming at the Hall of State, as well as outreach programs at schools. Visit the website for more information at www.dallashistory.org     

Photos by Thomas Garza