Culture Archives - Page 12 of 15

Reflections on 2013 Veterans Day Ceremony at the Texas State Capitol

November 12, 2013 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Veterans Day Ceremony 2013 at Texas State Capitol

I’m proud to live in a state that takes care of its veterans. From property tax exemptions to complimentary state park admission, from vocational rehabilitation to specialty license plates, Texas has numerous policies in place to support veterans and ease the visible and invisible burdens they bring home after armed conflict.

I attended the 2013 Veterans Day Ceremony on the steps of the Texas State Capitol with certain expectations – given our state’s track record for veterans. After the morning’s parade up Congress Avenue concluded, veterans, public officials, and Austin residents gathered for an hour-long ceremony.

Many speakers took the podium during the ceremony. Multiple government officials gave addresses, resolutions were read, hands were clapped.

There were two standout speeches. The first was given by a World War II veteran with a [Read more…]

Explore Artwork by Local Homeless at Art From the Streets Annual Event

November 1, 2013 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

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…]

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…]

Free Art Friday: What’s the Buzz All About?

October 8, 2013 by Guest Blogger 2 Comments

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…]

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…]

Museum of the Weird on 6th St. Draws National Attention with Oddities

September 18, 2013 by David Thomas 1 Comment

Steve Busti Owner of Museum of the Weird

Hanging out with Steve Busti, enthusiastic owner of Museum of the Weird

Austin is weird, right? It’s how we’ve branded the city.

We’ve all seen the tie-dye shirts, but how weird is Austin really? Is it mermaid mummy weird? Is it shrunken head weird? The Museum of the Weird on 6th St. is that weird.

The Iceman Cometh

When Steve Busti was just a young lad, he went with his aunt to a K-Mart. In the parking lot was a man with a truck, taking money from a line of people as they peeked into the back of it.

Steve’s aunt paid the man and lifted Steve up so he could see into the back of the truck. He came face to face with the world famous Minnesota Iceman – an ape-man frozen in ice, of controversial origin, which has attracted the attention of the FBI, Smithsonian Museum, U.S. Customs and Vice President Walter Mondale. The world famous moniker is not hype. The Iceman has attracted the attention of international paleontologists and scientists. [Read more…]

23rd St. Artists’ Market: For the People, By the People

September 4, 2013 by David Thomas 2 Comments

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.

The Market

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…]

Austin Civic Orchestra Embraces Change for New Audiences

May 21, 2013 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Butler School of Music University of Texas

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…]

Discover Tons of Creative Local Crafters and Vendors at Austin Flea

May 9, 2013 by Brittany Highland 2 Comments

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…]

Make Way for Austin Mini Maker Faire: Creativity Gone Wild

April 25, 2013 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

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…]