Museums - 2/3 - The Austinot

10 Beautiful Sights from Umlauf Garden Party 2015

April 29, 2015 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

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…]

Hill Country Science Mill Creating New Generation of Problem Solvers

February 11, 2015 by Guest Blogger 1 Comment

Light wall at Hill Country Science Mill in Johnson City, TX (Credit: Kevin Tully/A Smith Gallery)

Guest article by Anne Hebert

A 40-foot wall of LED lights demonstrating the power of cell phone signals. A giant Romenesco broccoli-shaped sculpture illuminating fractals. A lifelike look at the inside of the Edwards Aquifer, showing the water cycle.

Would you imagine you’d find each of these inside once-defunct grain silos?

This is the new Hill Country Science Mill in Johnson City, a non-profit science museum that encourages interactive learning, creative thinking and scientific discussion.

The 14,000-square-foot space features more than 25 interactive and educational exhibits, plus hands-on maker stations and art installations, all designed to spark kids’ interest and help them fall in love with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). [Read more…]

14 Facts Before Your Visit: Austin’s French Legation Museum

December 12, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson 7 Comments

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…]

Bonjour, Austin! Exploring and Celebrating Austin’s French Culture

November 14, 2014 by Guest Blogger 3 Comments

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…]

7 Things You Must See at the LBJ Library

September 29, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson Leave a Comment

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…]

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…]

Elisabet Ney Museum: Meet a Woman Ahead of Her Time

July 11, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson 3 Comments

The Elisabet Ney Museum in Hyde Park

You don’t know it, but you know Elisabet Ney.

Her sculptures are part of your mental landscape. She’s credited by many for making Austin the Austin it is today – a center of culture. For anyone interested in the arts or Texas history, visiting the quiet little museum in the midst of a wildlife habitat at 304 E 44th Street in Hyde Park is a must.

Elisabet Ney self portrait

In the Austin of the 1880s, German sculptor Elisabet Ney insisted she be treated as an individual. The daughter of a stonemason, she won over misogynists and pushed herself to the highest power circles in Europe and United States. She always had short hair, which was extremely unusual for the times. She wore comfortable clothes, refusing corsets. She never took her husband’s name. [Read more…]

Art.Science.Gallery. Is Intriguingly Innovative

January 28, 2014 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Art.Science.Gallery in East Austin (Photo credit: Art.Science.Gallery.)

This guest blog article is by Madison Torres.

Art AND science? Though they’re typically viewed as unrelated subjects, Hayley Gillespie, founder of Art.Science.Gallery., understands the two disciplines actually merge together in a unique way.

Hayley first opened Art.Science.Gallery. as a mobile gallery in 2012. After more than a year and much anticipation, the gallery launched its first exhibition at its permanent location in the center of East Austin. It’s one of the nation’s first art galleries to feature exclusively science-related artwork. The gallery strives to make science more accessible through visual arts. As a result, the venue is building a community of artists and scientists who want to share their knowledge and experience with the public. [Read more…]

Join in the Big Sing at Blanton Museum of Art

October 14, 2013 by Cris Mueller Leave a Comment

The Blanton Museum of Art (Photo credit: BlantonMuseum.org)

Have you ever been caught singing in public, in your car, in the grocery store, at work? Now’s your chance to belt out melodies in participation with the Austin community, at Big Sing – where the audience is the choir!

Grammy-nominated Conspirare will be hosting this season’s first Big Sing event on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 6:30 PM. The free event will take place at The Blanton Museum of Art, located at 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Big Sing & Carillon 09 034 - Copy sm man & music fr back

Photo credit: E. Stuart Phillips

Emphasizing the current installment of artwork on display at The Blanton, this edition of the beloved and free Big Sing event invites Austin locals to participate in the singing of songs from the German Renaissance era, featuring Hans Leo Hassler, Johann Walter, and Martin Luther.

There will also be popular music featured from other times and places. In the past, Big Sings have included familiar rounds, spirituals, Beatles songs, the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, and popular 20th century standards from the Great American Songbook. [Read more…]

Coming Soon: Thinkery, the New Austin Children’s Museum

September 27, 2013 by Lizzy Newsome 3 Comments

Playing with colors in the new Light Lab at Austin Children’s Museum

Perhaps you have noticed that the Austin Children’s Museum is currently closed? Don’t fret, construction on the Thinkery (the official name for the ACM) is only temporary, and the museum is currently scheduled to reopen in December. Future museum guests will be heading to a new location, a brand new facility in the rapidly expanding Mueller Development.

In Austin’s continuously changing landscape, relocations are inevitable, and the best moves involve careful planning and long desired improvements. One of the most obvious limitations of the downtown location was the limited space for both existing and future exhibits. The new museum in Mueller is almost quadruple [Read more…]