Arts Archives - Page 6 Of 9

Yard Dog Gallery: Folk and Outsider Art on South Congress

February 12, 2015 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

View from the entrance of Yard Dog

For almost 20 years, Yard Dog Gallery has resided at 1510 S Congress Ave. When I first moved to Austin and visited the South Congress shops, I was excited to find a gallery space full of intriguing art. Since my curiosity was piqued back then, I’ve always wanted to know more about this space and the artists whose work lines the walls. Last week, I spoke with owner Randy Franklin about what makes Yard Dog a uniquely Austin art gallery.

Defining an Art Gallery

Jan, Randy’s wife, had considered the idea of a Southern Folk Art gallery for a while. Once the perfect space opened on South Congress, they had to act fast to get started. They dove in without a business plan, consulted their folk art book collection and reviewed art shows done in museums in order to track down artists. From there, Yard Dog was born. [Read more…]

Behind the Paint Cans: Austin Street Art

January 28, 2015 by Guest Blogger 17 Comments

Gay Dino Street Art by Mike Truth Johnson

Austin street art (Credit: 1138Studios.com)

Guest article by Gino Barasa

It’s five in the morning and I’m somewhere off 51st Street with Austin’s most dangerous street artists.

Well, not exactly. It is really early and I am watching some of Austin’s finest street artists do their thing, but they aren’t actually very dangerous. In fact, they’re really a bunch of easy going guys who happen to be amazingly talented artists. [Read more…]

One of Austin’s Weirdest Homes: Casa Neverlandia

January 28, 2015 by Kelli McDonald 5 Comments

The front of three-story Casa Neverlandia

After going on the Weird Homes Tour last year, I wanted to take a closer look at some of the odd homes in Austin and the people who live in them. Not far from FlamingO Ranch (my first peek into one of Austin’s unique abodes) lies Casa Neverlandia, the Bouldin Creek home of artist James Edward Talbot.

Welcome to Casa Neverlandia

When I walked up to the door, I noticed there wasn’t a doorbell, but rather xylophones and bells. After dinging a bell, I heard a voice coming from a PVC pipe imbedded in the house asking, “Who is it?” When Talbot greeted me outside, he began to tell me his background and how Casa Neverlandia was born.

What was once a small one-story house built in 1906 is now a three [Read more…]

Clayworks Has Carved and Fired Life in Clay for 35 Years

November 28, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson 2 Comments

Old design and log book at Clayworks, a local business dating back 35 years

If there was a book called Cool Things in Austin You Should Know About, Clayworks Studio/Gallery and the Gray Family would be in the first chapter.

The gallery on East Sixth Street displays tables, art work, tiles, architectural ceramics and more that the Grays have created. A working studio sits behind the gallery, where the Grays make and fire products for individual and company contracts.

Austin landmarks such as the Texas State Capitol Building, The Driskill Hotel and The University of Texas at Austin all house their creations.

The story of the Grays is a story, in microcosm, of what has happened in East Austin for the last three decades. [Read more…]

Behind the Scenes Tour: One of Austin’s Weirdest Homes

November 25, 2014 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Stefanie Distefano and her cat Maybelline at FlamingO Ranch

Stefanie Distefano cradles her co-star Maybelline at FlamingO Ranch

In September of this year, I went on the Weird Homes Tour to explore some of the residences that make Austin living so unique.

Nestled between 1st and South Congress in 78704 sits FlamingO Ranch, a home owned and curated by Stefanie Distefano where she teaches art classes and exhibits her talents as a ceramic and mosaic artist.

I felt very drawn into this quintessential reflection of living in Austin and I wanted to know more about this artistic bungalow and the person who is mirrored in it. I revisited FlamingO Ranch on a chilly and rainy afternoon for an interview, but I was warmed by the bright abode and company of Stefanie and her cat, Maybelline. [Read more…]

Top 14 Famous Statues in Austin

November 13, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson 8 Comments

Statues become mental landmarks of people, animals, fantastic beings from creative minds…and legends.

Observing a statue can be a zen like or aesthetic experience. Or for those who love to do statue art, it’s a convivial fun fest of reactions and poses for statue photos.

Here are 14 famous statues in Austin you should include on your next public statue pilgrimage:

#1 Lady Hare With Dog

Lady Hare with Dog

Sophie Ryder’s mythical creatures stand throughout the world. Lady Hare With Dog is near the Zach Theatre and it’s a classic Ryder work. The figure of the hare holding the dog is funny, poignant and compelling. [Read more…]

Light a Fire and Blow at Hyde Park’s Blue Moon Glassworks

November 3, 2014 by Cris Mueller 1 Comment

Glass blown ornaments at Blue Moon Glassworks

Glass blown ornaments from Blue Moon Glassworks

Tucked neatly into an envelope of leafy boughs in Hyde Park, Blue Moon Glassworks and owner Jim Berry have breathed life into an artistic niche in Austin for more than 14 years.

The store is filled with a colorful and ingenious array of one of a kind glass creations, and today my own unique collection of blown glass ornaments sits among these treasures.

Jim grew up in a home filled with artistic craft projects which he learned to recreate later in life. After retiring, he found himself learning new techniques and even selling pieces, soon setting out with a personal agenda to teach. At that, Blue Moon Glassworks was born. [Read more…]

The Story of Umlauf Sculpture Garden’s Beloved Artist

September 23, 2014 by Kelli McDonald 3 Comments

Umlauf Sculpture Garden, with Ballerina in the foreground (1977, bronze)

“You don’t have to know. It’s just beautiful,” a man said while shrugging, after his friend seemed confused about a piece at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum.

It’s true; visiting the Umlauf can be enjoyable with little or no knowledge about Charles Umlauf (1910-1994) or his artwork. The grounds feature nice gravel paths, lush native plants, a waterfall, two ponds and a museum all nestled in the heart of the city next to Barton Springs and Zilker Park. [Read more…]

Call Yourself a Real Austinite If You Know Sam Hurt’s Art

September 2, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson 1 Comment

Austin artist Sam Hurt at Pease Park

Sam Hurt desired to become one of the best comic strip artists, ever.

He reached that goal. Unfortunately, fame and fortune did not follow.

The Art of Hurt

If you suffer from Stendahl’s Syndrome, take care with Hurt’s work. The bizarre splendor of burned out matches carrying lit candles, of spoons loving forks, of profound, yawning oceans bursting from the canvas will disorient even one with a normal psyche.

The blazing weirdness of Sam Hurt, 56, is not for those wanting to buy art to match their color scheme. Rather, you might consider designing a room around just one of Hurt’s pieces.

Of the thousands of artists in Austin, Hurt has emerged over the last decade as a giant who is known by those artists, but not by the public at large. An uncanny, poignant light burns in Sam Hurt’s paintings and drawings that draws one in like a child who can’t distinguish cartoons from reality. [Read more…]

Have You Seen This Colorful Surprise on UT’s Rooftop?

August 20, 2014 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

James Turrell, Interior of The Color Inside, 2013. Photo by Florian Holzherr. Courtesy of Landmarks, the public art program of The University of Texas at Austin.

The Experience

When a bird flew inches above our oval cutout, some of us gasped and then laughed at our response. Our slowly changing focal point had shifted suddenly and shot us out of a relaxed, contemplative state and back to the reality that we were staring at something ever-changing, yet accessible: the sky.

If you haven’t visited James Turrell’s Skyspace titled The Color Inside, you may not understand the full thrill of the bird sighting. Turrell’s art piece is an incredible permanent space located on the rooftop of the Student Activity Center on UT’s campus. The Color Inside was commissioned by Landmarks, UT’s public art program, and describing the piece isn’t an easy task. [Read more…]

Defining an Art Gallery

Welcome to Casa Neverlandia

#1 Lady Hare With Dog

The Art of Hurt

The Experience

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