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Sharon’s Folk Art House living room
When I visited Sharon’s Brentwood home during Weird Homes Tour 2015, I was in awe. Her 1,500-square-foot home peeked out from behind a tall front yard garden. The tour cryptically dubbed the location, “Sharon’s House,” so I wasn’t sure what to expect at first.
Blue Lapis Light performance (Credit: Earl McGehee)
For some, hitting the dance floor can be challenging. Imagine executing those same moves while hanging in air. Now, take that scenario to the side of a downtown building, underneath the I-35 bridge, or suspended from 25-foot high scaffolding.
Welcome to the world of Austin’s Blue Lapis Light.
Blue Lapis Light is a site-specific dance company that combines the art of dance and music, athleticism, aerial silks and the drama of Austin’s skyline into unique yearly shows. Their current performance, Edge of Grace, serves additional functions. It gives the public a look at Blue Lapis Light’s new south Austin studio location, while celebrating 10 years of creative performance and educational outreach. [Read more…]
Kurt Cobain by Kirk Weddle, on display at Modern Rocks Gallery
I knew this wasn’t your average ho-hum art gallery when I noticed it was nestled between Sa-Tén and Blue Genie. If you’re a lover of music, nirvana is waiting.
Tom Waits by Herb Nolan (1976)
A collection of rock stars silently await your arrival: The Clash, the Ramones, the Talking Heads, The Cure, Bob Marley, Elvis Costello, the Grateful Dead, Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Madonna, among others, are on display at Modern Rocks Gallery.
The list of musical legends on exhibit competes with Gene Simmons’ tongue–it’s lengthy! But what makes this sanctuary of rock truly unique are the stories behind the images as told by the photographers, beginning with the gallery’s owner. [Read more…]
Bollywood dancing in front of the Austin skyline
Austin Bollywood Day 2015 was a success! While the weather was exceptionally hot, hundreds of visitors were in good spirits while checking out the festivities at the Long Center. If you missed this recent August event, don’t worry. There are several happenings throughout the year to celebrate the vibrancy and excitement of Bollywood in Austin, and you can get involved. [Read more…]
Nancy Rubins, Monochrome for Austin, 2015. Photo by Paul Bardagjy. Courtesy of Landmarks, the public art program of The University of Texas at Austin.
The University of Texas campus contains a large community. For those who don’t have a direct connection to this part of town, it can be daunting to navigate or even considered an area to avoid. For art lovers, this is a huge mistake.
UT features a wonderful art museum along with recognizable sculptures and incredible contemporary public art to engage students and the public. UT’s public art program, Landmarks, is to thank for curating James Turrell’s Skyspace and numerous other pieces that provide distinguishable visual markers on the large campus.
Though Landmarks provides an accessible map and monthly tours, I asked their External Affairs Coordinator, Nick Nobel, to introduce the Austinot community to six of UT’s notable landmarks. [Read more…]
There is one thing Austinites love more than breakfast tacos, and that’s local businesses.
But not all local businesses are created equally. Just as an up-and-coming chef might begin their journey with a food trailer, local artisans often open virtual storefronts before they are able to expand to brick and mortar. Etsy is one of the best websites to find quality craft items, but it can be a little overwhelming. Especially if you’re searching specifically for Austin artists.
So I decided to do the work for you and find 10 amazing local artisans to follow. Many have full-time day jobs and work on their craft on the side. Another thing they all have in common? Perfect 5-star ratings. So without further ado, here are the top Austin Etsy artisans. [Read more…]
Helios Glass class work and color samples
Helios Fused Glass Studio is one of the few studios in the world that focuses entirely on fused glass. Since 2007, Helios has offered classes and retail to the Austin community. I was fortunate enough to take the Absolute Beginners class from founder Paul Tarlow to jumpstart my discovery of this versatile medium and unique studio.
Paul’s interest in glass inspired him and his wife Karen to start the business. In January 2015, they moved to their new, more spacious location off of Highway 183. I found my class to be incredibly organized, accessible and not at all intimidating to a beginner. [Read more…]
Ballet Austin Butler Dance and Fitness Center is located at 501 W 3rd St (Credit: Andrew Yates via Ballet Austin)
42,000 people attend Ballet Austin performances each year. Who knew that some of the most exciting works of ballet are being performed in our backyard?
You don’t have to be a diehard ballet geek to appreciate the cultural value Ballet Austin adds to our city. You don’t even have to be a current fan of ballet to enjoy what Ballet Austin has to offer.
Here are 5 things you never knew about Ballet Austin. [Read more…]
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum is located at 605 Robert E Lee Rd near Zilker Park
(Credit: Rebecca Belcher Photography)
Last week, I joined local photographer Rebecca Belcher at Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum for one of the loveliest events in Austin, the 17th Annual Umlauf Garden Party.
This major fundraiser featured fare from 20 local restaurants, wine, a silent and live auction, live music and, of course, striking artwork. Though the humidity that night made us feel like we were in Houston, the event was unmistakably Austin with excited chatter, beautiful summer dresses and a garden full of sculptures made by a man who loved this city, Charles Umlauf (1910-1994). [Read more…]
Jennifer blends her love of pop culture and art (Credit: Rebecca L. Bennett)
As an artist, mother and comic book geek, Jennifer Cunningham is the embodiment of Austin, TX.
Her life long love of art started early. Despite life throwing her curve balls, Jennifer has never forgotten how it feels to create. In her own words, “I’ve been drawing and creating various things for as long as I can remember. My mother still has a thing I drew when I was about 4 years old, an illustration of a dinosaur behind an X-ray screen with a mouse in its belly among the bones. My first recollection of getting in trouble at school was a result of me coloring the bunny’s eyes the wrong color in a kindergarten class assignment.” [Read more…]