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Art from the Streets artist
One of the most magnetic things about Austin is that our streets, walls, and residents are billboards of color, creativity, and experimentation. Art is a way of life here and personality is praised.
Therefore, it was no surprise when Art From the Streets hit our radar: a non-profit that uses art to help local homeless residents connect to a sense of purpose and foster higher self-esteem. [Read more…]
Photo via @ruffhousearts
This guest blog article is by Kendra Wright.
Fridays in Austin are becoming more than a doorway to the weekend. Thanks to local artists and social media, a weekly treasure hunt is lighting up the streets with free art and the local Austinites who are chasing it down. If you’re eager to score some pro bono goodies, lace up your tennis shoes and fire up your Instagram. Free art is on the line every Friday.
Free Art Friday, as its dubbed, is no new phenomenon. But with Austin’s love affair for all things local and a surplus of creative talent in our city, the Austin branch has caught fire. [Read more…]
23rd St. Artists’ Market draws a lot of foot traffic from the Drag, especially when UT classes are in session
A couple of years ago when my fiancé and I were first dating, I took her to the Drag. We ate at Dirty Martin’s and went for a walk. Coming across the 23rd St. Artists’ Market, we perused the booths and went about our day’s adventures. Little did I know, we had actually come across an Austin institution as time honored as Eeyore’s Birthday and Barton Springs Pool.
23rd St. Artists’ Market was founded way back in 1972 after a citywide vote in 1971 led to a referendum establishing the market. In 1976, vendors were restricted to selling only handmade crafts by local artists, and the market hasn’t been moved or changed since.
This past weekend, my fiancé and I returned to 23rd St. Artists’ Market to check things out. The market is [Read more…]
The Austin Civic Orchestra recently performed at UT’s Butler School of Music
The startling clash of cymbals, the thunderous boom of the kettle drums, the precise and fiery melody of the strings. No matter how old you are, if you’ve never experienced a full orchestra live, you’re missing out.
Being on the younger end of life myself, I understand that sitting in a dark concert hall for a couple of hours may not seem enjoyable. But in the middle of our fast-paced lives and over-stimulation, we could use some exposure to classical music that has withstood centuries because of how amazing it is. Live orchestra performances aren’t boring, and the Austin Civic Orchestra exists to prove that point. [Read more…]
Austinot Brittany checking out the event t-shirts at Austin Flea
Every 6-8 weeks, Austin Flea gathers dozens of Austin’s most creative individuals together to showcase and sell their unique products.
The Highball hosted the event for two years.
But due to current renovations there, The Rattle Inn has stepped up as host. The March 2013 event at 610 Nueces (off W. 6th St.) was jam-packed with vendors: downstairs in the bar and lounge area, upstairs on the patio, and lining the sidewalk along Nueces. [Read more…]
R2-D2 at the Austin Mini Maker Faire
This guest blog post is by Lizzy Newsome.
Do you like shiny things? Does the smell of hot glue make your pulse race? Do you truly believe that 3D printing is the wave of the future?
Then it’s time to have a little conversation about Austin Mini Maker Faire! This one-day gathering at the Palmer Events Center on Sunday, May 5th, brings together the city’s most dedicated crafters and tinkerers, with exhibits covering the complete spectrum of handmade, from Arduino to Zoo (Robot Petting Zoo, that is).
Also featured: Tinkering Workshop, 3D printers, an inflatable planetarium, and a special exhibit from the Austin Bike Zoo (two zoos!). [Read more…]
Laguna Gloria on Lake Austin
There’s a quiet retreat waiting for you. And if you live in Austin, it’ll only take you a few minutes to get there.
Feel free to take your dog, child, significant other, or best friend. But you may find that Laguna Gloria becomes your favorite place in Austin to explore all by yourself. [Read more…]
Revival Cycles on Bolm Rd.
I was at a house party in East Austin last week, and one of my friends told me, “I’ve never been this far east before!”
I’m not surprised. Years ago when I was at UT, the common recommendation was to stay away from the eastside. The area was old and “not safe.”
These descriptions still apply to parts of Austin’s eastside, but those who venture under I-35 to previously unexplored territory are surprised by what they find. Good food, unique local businesses, nightlife and a vibrant art community are right on our doorstep, with a flavor all their own.
One of the best representations of the underrated beauty of the eastside was displayed [Read more…]
Nicholas Dertien experiments with glass – “Trapped Breath”
If you’re an Austin artist, your work can be displayed at City Hall. All you need to do is apply…and be selected over nearly 400 of your peers.
Think you got the chops?
The People’s Gallery is in its 8th year at Austin City Hall and runs through January 10, 2013.
The exhibition exists to “showcase regional artistic endeavors and to encourage public dialogue, understanding, and enjoyment of the visual arts.”
It’s great to live in a city that values cultural depth and development, wouldn’t you agree? [Read more…]
What will become of the bound book in the age of Kindles and Nooks? Will pages disappear alongside the scroll and clay tablets? If the citizens behind the Austin Book Arts Fair have anything to say about it, the answer is a defiant, printed and bound, “No!”
This weekend, the Austin Book Arts Fair will celebrate one of mankind’s greatest inventions: the humble book. Taking place on the beautiful grounds of the Villa at Laguna Gloria, owned and operated by the Austin Museum of Art, the Austin Book Workers promote books and book arts throughout Central Texas. This is the perfect event for children and adults who believe in the power of books to transform and enrich life. [Read more…]