OJAC to open fall exhibitions Saturday

The Old Jail Art Center will open its fall season of exhibitions this Saturday, September 27, with a public celebration for members and guests from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening marks the debut of three new exhibitions: Texas Moderns: Dickson Reeder, Strange Expanses by Timothy Harding, and Curious, a series of short films on loan from the Blanton Museum of Art.

The exhibitions reflect the museum’s continued efforts to present a wide range of visual art—from mid-century Texas painters to contemporary installation work and multimedia storytelling.

Texas Moderns: 

Dickson Reeder

As part of its ongoing Texas Moderns series, the OJAC will present more than 75 works by Dickson Reeder (1912–1970), a key member of the Fort Worth Circle of artists. The exhibition offers a broad survey of Reeder’s career and includes portraiture, abstract works, and experimental prints. The series is designed to revisit artists whose work was progressive or unconventional during their time and often overlooked by the broader public. Reeder, who blended traditional skills with imaginative forms, fits squarely into that narrative.

The exhibition is co-curated by Shannon Steel and will remain on view through January 10, 2026. 

Strange Expanses by 

Timothy Harding

Also opening Saturday is a new installation by Texas-based artist Timothy Harding, whose work challenges the boundaries between painting and sculpture. Harding creates digital linework that he converts into stencils, layering the patterns with paint on canvas. He then stretches the canvases over shaped supports that cause the surface to fold, bend, or protrude, effectively sculpting each piece into a dimensional object.

His approach combines the gestural qualities of Abstract Expressionism with the precision of Minimalism, resulting in works that are both technically complex and physically immersive. The exhibit is part of the OJAC’s Cell Series, which focuses on contemporary experimentation. 

Short films on loan 

from the Blanton

In a separate space, the museum will present Curious, a film-based exhibition featuring short works by artists Lenka Clayton and Liliana Porter. The films, which are on loan from the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, offer unconventional narratives and artistic techniques that challenge viewers’ expectations.

Porter, an Argentinian artist, uses found objects—figurines, toys, and knickknacks—to create miniature stories that range from humorous to unsettling. Clayton, a British-American artist, presents a trio of videos exploring the emotional balance between parental autonomy and child independence. In each piece, she tests the limits of distance from her toddler son in everyday settings, capturing emotional shifts with minimal dialogue or action.

Exhibitions on view through January

All three exhibitions will remain on display at the OJAC through January 10, 2026. Admission to the museum is free. The Saturday evening opening event is reserved for museum members and invited guests. More information is available at www.theojac.org.