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Entrance to the French Legation Museum grounds (Credit: French Legation Museum and Daughters of the Republic of Texas)
The oldest wooden frame home in Austin sits alone on a hill with an unobstructed view of the State Capitol.
It dates back to the Republic of Texas, when France seized an opportunity to grab a piece of the new country and its wealth.
But the French sent the wrong man for the job. [Read more…]
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…]
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…]
Delicious French cuisine can be found in Austin, like the Steak Bearnaise at Chez Nous (Credit: Chez Nous)
Guest article by Kristella Montiegel.
Within the hip and diverse city of Austin, you’ll find an alluring presence of French culture and community. Fittingly so, since French colonization of Texas dates back to the the 1600’s. Traces of French influence – especially in historical locations, food and art – can be found throughout the Austin area.
While it might be a stretch to attribute the creative and experimental culture of Austin to the avant-gardism of modernist Paris, the fact remains that an impressive French community has been sustained through Austin’s growth and diversification. So, whether you’re a native of France or someone who’s simply curious about their customs, Austin has plenty of opportunities for you to get your daily dose of French lifestyle. [Read more…]
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:
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…]
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 LBJ Presidential Library
You eavesdrop on a phone conversation. You realize the voices are President Lyndon Baines Johnson and former First Lady and now widow Jackie Kennedy on the line. It’s an emotional discussion. Even though the phone call happened more than 50 years ago, you feel like a kid sneaking on the extension. Your ear’s glued to the earpiece, listening to these two have a personal and almost awkward discussion about Jackie’s access to the President. You hear Jackie confess she’s received more letters from LBJ in the last 10 days than she ever received from John F. Kennedy.
You put the receiver down, a bit drained and surprised at the closeness of the phone call, as though you’d listened to a friend talking on their smartphone set to speaker.
Two presidents from Texas have built libraries in Texas in the last two decades. But you need to see LBJ’s library. [Read more…]
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…]
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.
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…]
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.
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…]