Joshua King of Aurora Dallas

​Joshua King of Aurora Dallas

March 14, 2021 (Online Program)

Our mission is to expand the future of art through a dialogue that engages the creative possibilities within ourselves and each other.

ABOUT AURORA

A cornerstone of arts and culture in North Texas, AURORA aims to expand the future of art through a dialogue that engages the creative possibilities within ourselves and each other.

AURORA is a Dallas-based public arts organization working at the intersection of art, technology and community that presents works by the most visionary artists of our time. Through the AURORA Biennial exhibition, AURORA Expanded program and AURORA Artist Relief Fund, the organization engages with both regional and international audiences alike.

In 2020, in light of the significant impact of Covid-19, AURORA announced the development of new initiatives to create more opportunities and resources for Dallas’ artistic community and public. Such initiatives include a transition from the presentation of a single large-scale biennial event to a year-round series of site-specific installations, special events, social gatherings and educational programming, as well as the launch of an emergency artist relief fund.

In 2010, artists Shane Pennington and Joshua King, along with veteran Dallas arts supporter Veletta Forsythe Lill, founded AURORA. The inaugural exhibition was a one-night-only public art event featuring light, video and sound artworks; now, AURORA exists as a multifaceted platform.

AURORA is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501(c)(3), publicly supported charity, Federal Tax ID 75-2890371. All contributions to the AURORA Fund of The Dallas Foundation are tax deductible, as allowed by law.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

AURORA BIENNIAL

Since its foundation, the AURORA Biennial has transformed Dallas neighborhoods into curated, large-scale exhibitions, free and open to the public. The Biennial is also an important platform for exchange between regional and international artists and curators.

In an effort to keep our audience and North Texas communities safe during a high-risk COVID-19 period, this year AURORA Biennial launched its 10th edition, titled ‘Afterwards Was Already Before’ as a decentralized program that will launch in November 2020 and continue to unfold with live and online activations created by artists through 2021. The 2020-21 Biennial is helmed by Brooklyn-based curator Noam Segal and Dallas-based associate curators Tamara Johnson and Trey Burns.

AURORA Biennial exhibitions have attracted more than 170,000 visitors and commissioned and presented over 300 local and international artists. The Biennial continues to expand its reach and impact, boasting a 5:1 return in economic impact to the city.

AURORA EXTENDED

AURORA’s auxiliary program, AURORA Expanded, is a citywide program focused on spotlighting and supporting North Texas artists through a year-round series of site-specific installations, special events and social gatherings. Its most recent event—Area 3, an immersive, drive-thru exhibition in a parking garage—directly supports regional artists and vendors whose incomes have been directly impacted in the wake of COVID-19. Previous AURORA Expanded events have included educational programs as well as exhibitions and performances held in parallel to the Biennial exhibition to activate additional art spaces throughout Dallas.

AURORA ARTIST RELIEF FUND

In an extra effort to support the North Texas creative community as it faces Covid-19, AURORA launched its Artist Relief Fund in the summer of 2020. Through this initiative, artists who have been financially impacted by the pandemic can apply to received $4,000 USD grants.

In Spring 2021, AURORA is pleased to host a second round of Artist Relief Grants specifically for self-identifying BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) artists in North Texas who have suffered from the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19.

Supported by PNC Foundation, the second round of AURORA’s Artist Relief Fund will distribute $20,000 to five grantees ($4,000 each) and will also establish a business wellness program with workshops and mentorship on best business practices. The goal is to support BIPOC artists in North Texas financially and through mentorship designed to enhance the entrepreneurism of individual artists to help them flourish in a post-pandemic world.

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AURORA’s Latest Project Spotlights Dallas Teens’ Stories About Migration
​

by Therese Powell 21 Jan 2021 8:21 PM

Find Out More About Aurora Dallas

Link to the Kera Art&Seek Article

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Joshua King: Bio

Joshua King’s belief in cultivating tomorrow’s culture lead him to being one of the founders and Executive Director of AURORA; an art, technology and community-based organization that expands the future of art through the creative possibilities within ourselves and each other.  With the success of Aurora, the culture of North Texas is rapidly emerging to new international heights. Since 2010, AURORA and King’s work, has exhibited 480 artists on over 270 acres of public land, bringing more than 200,000 in attendance.

King’s personal art work is known for re-defining form and purpose. Giving a new intensity and expression to post-industrial’s objects that are grounded within our relationships to life.  

“Everything has a cycle,” says King. “ideas evolve, visions fade, and societies move on.”

With influences from Christian Boltanski, Michael Heizer and Tom Friedman, King’s artwork challenges the viewer to pay attention and to explore outside the confines of the traditional art space.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2014 Harpoon: Insular & Universal, Baang + Burne Contemporary, New York & Texas
2012 Two Hydrogen One Oxygen, Dallas City Performance Hall, Dallas Texas
2012 Goods & Services, WAAS Gallery, Dallas Texas
2011 Cedars Open Studios, 204 Gallery, Texas
2010 Rise, American Beauty Mill Gallery, Dallas, Texas

Group Exhibitions

2017 Lawley Art Group: Dallas Texas      
2016 Axis Gallery: Sacramento, California
2015 600 Biennial: Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo Texas
2015 Erin Cluley Gallery, Dallas Texas
2014 Untitled 1-4, Illume Gallery, Dallas Texas
2013 Art Miami | Context, Miami Florida 
2013 Two Hydrogen One Oxygen, Meddlesome Moth Gallery , Dallas Texas
2012 By Product, ABM Gallery, Dallas Texas
2012 Stump Speeches, The Cohn Drennan Contemporary, Dallas Texas
2012 Eurdire, The Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas Texas 
2011 Spare Parts, The Belmont, Dallas, Texas
2011 Upstart Productions, American Beauty Mill, Dallas, Texas
2010 Aurora, Dallas Heritage Village, Dallas, Texas
2010 Dallas Portfolio Exchange, The Magnolia, Dallas, Texas
2010 Fort Worth Ave Project, Haley Henman Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2010 Dallas Fashion and Art, 4 Dog Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2010 110 degrees, Tractorbeam Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2009 Function, 2008 Corinth, Dallas, Texas 
2009 Blue Polipo, Paul Schafer Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2009 Art of Guapo, Manny Rodriguez Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2008 Yolk, 4 Dog Gallery, Dallas, Texas

Curator and Organizer:

2020 AURORA, Afterwards was Already Before, Dallas City Hall, 3 Artist
2020 Area 3, DalPark Car Park, 16 Artist 
2018 AURORA, Future Worlds, Dallas Texas, 28 Artists
2017 The Hill Art Mural Program, 33 murals
2017 Plano Mural Project, 3 murals
2016 Prelude, Dallas Arts District, 5 Artists 
2015 Aurora, All Together Now, Dallas Arts District, 78 Artists 
2013 Aurora, Light of Convergence, Dallas Arts District, 103 Artists
2012 Glimpse, The Art of Light and Sound, Dallas Arts District, 19 Artists
2011 Aurora, The Art of Light and Sound, Dallas Arts District, 97 Artists
2010 Aurora, The Art of Light and Sound, Dallas Heritage Village, 40 Artists
2010 Cedars Open Studios, ABM Group show, Dallas, Texas, 22 Artists
2010 Upstart Productions Charity Fundraiser, ABM Gallery, 4 Artists
2009 Dallas Fashion and Art, 4 Dog Gallery, 30 Artists
2009 2nd Thursday, Co-founder

Selected Publications:

Dallas Innovates, Top Future 50; Dallas Texas January 10th 2020
https://dallasinnovates.com/dallas-innovates-2020-the-magazine/
ArtNerd.com, Baang and Burne Presents Harpoon: Insular and Universal. by Lizzy Zimmer; New York, November 6th 2014.
http://art-nerd.com/newyork/harpoon-insular-and-universal-in-a-top-secret-location/
Dallas Culture Map, Joshua King takes on NYC with ambitious two city show, by Kendall Morgan; Nov. 5th 2014
http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/arts/11-05-14-aurora-co-founder-joshua-king-dallas-new-york-baang-burne/
Patron Magazine: Secret Agent Man and Women, by Terri Provencal; October/November 2014.  (pg 52)
Creem Magazine: Joshua King, But is it Art. by Charlie Grosso; January/ February 2013. 10th Issue  (pg 18)
FD Luxe: 2013 to Watch, The new creative class. by Christopher Wynn.  December/ January  2012  (pg 86)
Dallas Observer: 100 Dallas, Creatives. June 20th 2014 by Jennifer Smart http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2014/06/100_dallas_creatives_no_92_artistic_luminary_joshua_king.php
FD Luxe: 2013 to Watch, The new creative class. December/ January  2012 (pg 86)
Dallas Culture Map, Take a Glimpse. October 17th 2012
http://dallas.culturemap.com/newsdetail/arts-glimpse-interactive-art-installation-in-the-dallas-arts-district-prelude-to-a-blowout-aurora/
La Mode Dallas, Joshua King. September 7th 2012.
http://lamodedallas.com/art/joshua-king/ 
125th Anniversary Dallas Morning News, Metro Section. October 15th 2010 (pg 1)
“Art & Seek” Aurora article by Gale Sachson, November 2010
http://artandseek.net/2010/11/22/aurora-2010-the-art-of-light-at-dallas-heritage-village
The Shot: Photo District News, Top prizewinner “In the Sky” February 2011(pg 58)
The Rise Project, Modern Dallas dot net, article, November 2009 (pg 13)

Honors and Awards:

2012 FD Luxe The New Creative Class: 13 people to watch
2012 Selected TEDxSMU artist: Two Hydrogen One Oxygen
2012 Featured Artist, Water Thirst Organization
2010 Photo District News: The Shot Photography, Contest winner
2010 Dallas Morning News 125th Anniversary, Grand Prize Winner
2010 Dallas Portfolio Exchange, Selected Artist

Charities & Foundations:

2012 Water Thirst Organization
2012 Art & Advocacy 
2011 Water Thirst Today 
2011 Upstart Productions
2010 Art the Rescue 
2009 Art the Rescue