Author, journalist, film producer, former State Rep staffer adds artist to her repertoire with Dallas Design District gallery opening

DALLAS – Award-winning author, travel writer, crime/politico journalist, film producer, and former State Rep staffer recently added artist to her list of accomplishments.

Dallas (Bishop Art) resident Rita Cook says the idea to paint has been brewing in her soul for many years.

“I spent about nine years living with an artist in LA,” Cook said, adding during that time she was also surrounded by many other artists and creatives.

“The discussions and experiences during those years – as well as traveling the world – these were all catalysts that finally allowed me to come to the point of my creations earlier this year. I began tapping into a sense that had just been waiting patiently to be acknowledged.”

In March, Cook visited an old artist friend from LA who had moved to Kentucky. It was there she began to paint – and couldn’t stop.

From the initial dabbling she got serious, and when she was told she needed to frame her work before she could show it, she also got creative.

“I was in Versailles, Kentucky with my friend in horse country and these beautiful surroundings, and I decided to go to the Goodwill store there,” Cook explains. 

“I knew the importance of thinking outside the box from my days as an indie film producer. At the Goodwill, I bought a few paintings with amazing frames and painted over the existing art.

“A few days later I went back and my eyes focused on this beautiful mirror and the frame.

“From there it became an addiction to find the perfect mirror frame and create the perfect story on that mirror.

“The two elements come together – old and new – and it is very sustainable since I am recycling the mirrors and giving them a new life.”

By using the mirrors, Cook said she is also tapping into her esoteric side. She is asking the observer of her work what they see in the mirror.

What patterns and stories she has created through her subconscious mind allows the observer to look at the work with an eye toward their own soul.

“That is the best part,” she says. “Some people have seen things in my art that I didn’t even see as the artist.

“My tagline for my self-portrait mirror series is “The Old, The New, Do you dare to look at you?”

Since she began painting earlier this year, Cook has painted roughly 100 pieces. 

Now, 43 of those pieces – acrylic on mirror and glass – are hanging in a gallery for the next four months in the Dallas Design District.

The artist reception is Saturday, Nov. 5, from 6 to 10 p.m., E Gallery Studios, 1110 Dragon Street, Dallas.