Full Disclosure: I live in Victory Park and have a particular affinity for special events held from time to time in the neighborhood. Artopia is the "upscale celebration of Dallas art" presented by the Dallas Observer and held in Victory Park.
Let that sink in. Stop laughing.
History has shown that unless your event comes with a jersey or a guitar, getting people to attend in Victory Park can be a challenge. Artopia does have one thing going for it that we associate with Victory Park: a high price tag. At $25-$35, entry is a pretty steep cover charge for what is essentially an unknown. Even a visit to the event website doesn't really shed much light on what to expect for the money.
So...I've presented all the negatives upfront.
Unexpected location.
Unknown offerings.
High price.
Honestly, I was all set to have a front row view of watching this thing flop. But while walking my dogs the over last couple of days, I've been able to get a preview of Artopia and, frankly, it looks pretty good. First, your cover charge includes drinks and food from Medina, Kenichi and Naya, all Victory Park favorites. There's live music, DJ sets, performance art, a fashion show, art-making demonstrations that cross several genres and even something described as an "art fight." All this is set amongst inflatable sculptures of what are called Macrodons (I don't know, either).
I try to write about things going on in Dallas that add to quality of life or the overall experience of living here. In spite of my earlier reservations, Artopia might qualify, afterall.
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