CHALET Nasher is the next chapter of the CHALET project - a collaboration with Los Angeles-based conceptual artist Piero Golia to re-imagine the art space as a “social sculpture”. Following the success of its one-year tenure at LACE in Hollywood, it was decided the CHALET would be “reborn” at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas for six months. This creative journey is documented by two entries in the Design Journal - with Part I focusing on the CHALET’s transformation at the Nasher; and Part II on the finished space, (once again) captured by the photography of Jeremy Bittermann.

The CHALET Nasher was realized by using the same modular heavy-timber components from the design in Hollywood.

The site-specific artworks created by artists Mark Grotjahn, Pierre Huyghe, Christopher Williams and Jeff Wall were reinstalled in the pristine gallery space of the Renzo Piano-designed museum.

The heavy-timber components were reconfigured to suggest spatial division in the gallery while still maintaining a sense of openness and visual connection between the different artworks.

For the opening, Los Angeles-based artist Sterling Ruby created ceramic tableware for the dinner reception.

We also re-purposed the green Finland-from plywood from Hollywood into a sculptural dining table for 40 invited guests.

A Mariachi band (from a Dallas local high-school) was invited to play …

The CHALET Nasher was transformed into a Mexican fiesta.

The “amphitheater-like” design of the heavy-timber provided different vantage points for guests to view the spectacle.

Jeremy Stricks (right), director of the Nasher Sculpture Center, celebrated the opening event with Nancy Nasher (middle right) and Carol Stakenas (left), former director of LACE in Hollywood.

The red velvet curtain that lined the hallway at the CHALET Hollywood was also re-purposed as the backdrop for the Mariachi band.

Artist Sterling Ruby (second from left) enjoying the event with fellow artists from Los Angeles and New York.

But visitors of the CHALET Nasher often included members of the local Dallas community.

For a special occasion, the CHALET Nasher was transformed into a mechanical bull ring.

Los Angeles-based artist Paul McCarthy also created a special intervention during the holiday season of 2015.

The blue Venetian plaster sparkled in the bright Dallas sun to compliment the warmth of the white-oak timber.

Unlike the CHALET at Hollywood when it was in operation primarily in the evenings, the CHALET Nasher was also programmed during the day for education and community engagement; including frequent visits from school groups when children were encouraged to play on the legendary “piano” from the Dusseldorf Academy of Arts (Kunstakademie Düsseldorf).

On weekends, performance artist “Maneesh the listener” was a regular to enchant daytime visitors.

British artists Tacita Dean also hosted a special screening of her video “the Green Ray” at the CHALET Nasher.

The five chandeliers from Hollywood were re-positioned to play a more prominent and integral role in the overall sculptural composition of the Nasher gallery.

Meanwhile, the piano continued to entice improvisations ...

While guests mingled in the CHALET's unique, lounge-like setting ...

Or immersed in deep conversations in an intimate alcove …

At the closing event, the marching band (also from a local high school) played one last time …

Until the CHALET would be re-born once again at another location in some future date!