14 January 22 - 28, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Art of Renewal Four local artists reflect on new beginnings as they explore transfor- mation by finding in- spiration in the blank canvas of a new year. BY PRESTON BARTA T he calendar turns a page, and with it, a city holds its breath. January in Dallas is a gentle charge of possibility. For the creatives who color our world, this annual turning point is the moment of renewal, a theme woven into the very fabric of art. It’s the blank canvas, the silent film reel, the empty page. For four Dallas artists, 2026 represents a chance to explore this concept, each translating the idea of new be- ginnings through their own unique lens. The first notes of renewal often arrive on a soundwave, a melody that washes away the old. For Denton-based artist and musi- cian Claire Morales, renewal is a concept she can both see and hear. Her visual art of- ten depicts cycles, wheels and moments of awakening, but it’s in music where the theme becomes a visceral experience. “There’s something to be said for the ca- tharsis and re- birth we all undergo both playing and wit- nessing music,” Morales says. “It has this power to let us release what we hold in, and I think that let- ting go is at the center of renewal and rebirth.” This perspective is deeply rooted in per- sonal transformation. Her latest album, Lost in the Desert, was born from the dust of a sudden breakup, an experience that shat- tered her world and forced a profound self- reckoning. The solitude that followed became a fertile ground for growth. “The ache and emptiness that lingered in the wake of that left room for me to reflect and question and find who I was without having my identity tied in with anyone else’s,” she says. This journey taught her to see mistakes not as failures, but as essential parts of the human process. For Morales, the beauty of art is its redemptive power. “It’s so liberating to know that even if this song or piece of art isn’t ‘it,’ there’s always room to begin again,” she says. This interplay of sound and vision, of pain and catharsis, creates a powerful visual narrative as well — a story unfolding not just in song, but in frames. It’s a sensibility shared by musician and filmmaker Julian Sol Jordan, who sees storytelling as an act of rediscovering oneself. “I am deeply drawn to artistic expression that explores the human experience,” he says. “What it means to change, but equally what it means to remember who you are amidst uncertainty and chaos.” Raised in East Dallas, Jordan’s work is a love letter to his home. He finds inspiration on long walks around White Rock Lake and in the familiar corners of his neighborhood. “I use the locations I grew up going to in almost all my stuff,” he says. For Jordan, renewal is a constant state of becoming. “I think we are always coming-of-age in some way,” he says. “I don’t think it’s exclu- sive to adolescence.” In 2026, Jordan is channeling this theme into several projects, including an intimate short film with his cousin and a feature- length script about a character confronting their past in their hometown. His approach is meticulous, using visual storytelling to con- vey emotion where words might fall short. “I think that if you can get a point across without much dialogue, it can sometimes be equally as powerful, if not more,” he says. He manipulates pacing to create a heart- beat for his films, sometimes slow and con- templative, and at other times ramping up to evoke sudden change. For Jordan, the chal- lenge lies in keeping the message pure amidst the moving parts of filmmaking. His solution is to work with those who intui- tively understand his vision, creating a syn- ergy where “good energy is the most important thing.” This power of capturing a single, potent image is the domain of a photographer. Princeton-based family and branding pho- tographer Taylor Rollins freezes moments of beginning, from a newborn’s first days to the launch of a small business. For her, the new year offers a quiet space for creative germination. “The slower winter months really allow me to be creative and think through things I want to tweak or launch for the coming year,” Rollins says. This year, with her children starting school, she is carving out new midweek availability to expand her work with corpo- rate headshots and branding sessions. While she helps her clients capture new begin- nings, her own journey of renewal involves overcoming the internal critic. “Whenever I think about new projects or ideas independently, imposter syndrome can very easily sneak in,” she admits. Her renewal comes from her support sys- tem — her husband and parents speak truth into her process when she feels fearful of stepping into new waters. Creatively, she pushes boundaries during the quieter months with model calls that allow her to experiment with new locations, stretching beyond the familiar consistency her clients often seek. It’s in these experimental shoots that she can truly visualize abstract ideas of growth and change, translating them into a single, compelling frame. Frozen images often leave stories to be interpreted, so we turn to the words that frame our existence. For author and poet Joaquín Zihuatanejo, every approach to the page is an act of renewal. “The chance to create a line or image or poem that is somehow odd or breathtaking. ... I’m writing against what is behind me,” he muses. This philosophy is at the heart of his up- coming collection, Immigrant, a work that honors his heritage by presenting a poem first in Nahuatl, then in Spanish, before it “devolves into English.” Zihuatanejo’s work is steeped in the landscapes of border towns and the cal- loused hands of migrant workers, exploring the past to inform the future. But in 2026, he is renewing his focus with a new work of nonfiction titled First Gen Field Guide for Life. Following his practical guide on schol- arship essays, this book aims to advise first- generation students on navigating life before, during and after college. He seeks to provide the guidance he never had, cov- ering everything from high school study habits to understanding financial tools. “This new book will hopefully renew hope in those that are struggling with this journey toward their American dream,” he says. Still, his Dallas roots are ever-present. He credits one of his teachers at Woodrow Wil- son High School, Mrs. Mallewick, for first recognizing his gift with words. That mem- ory, along with the barrio boys he grew up with, shapes his narrative. “They are all Dal- las. So am I,” he says. For Zihuatanejo, the act of renewal isn’t just about writing; it’s about reading. When blocked, he pushes the keyboard away and picks up a book, freeing his mind from the weight of the world. From sound to screen, from photograph to poem, these four artists embody the spirit of renewal. They are delving into personal his- tories, navigating professional transitions and creating works that resonate with the univer- sal human desire to start anew. As Dallas steps into 2026, its creative heart beats with the promise of what’s next, proving that the most profound art often grows from the sim- ple, hopeful act of starting over. Preston Barta Above: Poet Joaquín Zihuatanejo at Deep Vellum. Left Claire Morales brings her story of loss and renewal to life through music. | B-SIDES | t Music “THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THE CATHARSIS AND REBIRTH WE ALL UNDERGO BOTH PLAYING AND WITNESSING MUSIC.” –CLAIRE MORALES Taylor Collins
