• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Strolling the Sidewalk with Austin’s “Other” Artists

April 10, 2012 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Art @ The Domain in Spring 2012

This guest blog post is by Amy Lynch.

One of the most beautiful things about Austin is its ability to bring seemingly opposing forces together in perfect harmony.  We do, after all, call ourselves “the live music capital of the world,” so it stands to reason that we should be able to pull off such a thing.

But aside from music – the thing we’re globally known for, and the very thing that formed the foundation more than 20 years ago of what is now the juggernaut known as South by Southwest – we’re home to a burgeoning colony of another kind of artist.

Some may never have played an instrument in their lives; others may be completely and utterly tone deaf.  Luckily for their art, though, it doesn’t matter one bit.

Local artists recently converged by the dozens at the upscale commercial-residential hybrid known as The Domain, each showcasing the fruits of their labor for a crowd that, in large part, had never before been exposed to that slice of Austin’s local arts scene.

The event, Art @ The Domain, brought together more than 90 painters, sculptors, photographers, and myriad other craftsmen in an effort to highlight their wares and offer an opportunity for dialogue with passersby.

William Stidham of Austin displays his artwork at The Domain

William Stidham of Austin displays his artwork at The Domain

The venue was an interesting one in that we Austinites have a love/hate relationship with The Domain.  On one hand, it’s virtually the only place here in town to go for a concentrated gathering of high-end retailers like Neiman-Marcus, Tiffany & Co. and Marc Jacobs, and on the other, many of us are such staunch locavores that the only things capable of luring us into the shopping center’s perfectly-manicured, smooth-jazz-laced clutches are a scone set and pot of tea at the locally-owned (and absolutely delightful) Steeping Room, or perhaps a drop-in at the Apple store.

Metal sculpture by Don Drake of San Antonio

Metal sculpture by Don Drake of San Antonio

Location, in large part, is what made last weekend’s event such a fascinating one: it was a perfect illustration of what makes Austin great.  Conservative cowboys, buttoned-up techies and far-flung hippies don’t just co-exist peacefully here; many of us are good friends with one another, and lots of us blur the lines between stereotypes to begin with.  We have a restaurant called “Bacon” that’s thoughtful enough to offer a tempeh option to its vegetarian patrons.  We grumble about the traffic and general inconvenience when SXSW and ACL roll into town – especially if we’re not holding tickets or badges ourselves — but the moment one of those godforsaken tourists asks us where they can “get good barbecue,” we’re off on a twenty-minute dissertation about the mystical wonder of Franklin and inviting them to join us for the hour-long wait so we can walk them through the experience personally.

That’s just how we roll around here; we get a little cranky sometimes, but then we transcend and find ways to come together like The Beatles told us to.

So, when our local artists set up shop in tents outside the likes of Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and Barney’s Co-Op to talk to well-heeled shoppers and looky-loos about the art they’ve created in their modest Eastside studios or homes in nearby towns, it just makes perfect sense.

Austin Art Garage display at Art @ the Domain

Austin Art Garage display at The Domain

If there’s one thing we do right in this town (and actually, there are too many such things to list without taking at least an hour to do so), it’s hear each other out and look for commonalities.

That’s what artists like Austin Art Garage, for example, spent two sun-drenched days doing last week with everyone who paused to look at their stuff.  Here’s hoping they and their fellow craftsmen made some sales so they can continue pursuing their calling and contributing to the texture of this place we call home.

 

(Even if you missed Art @ the Domain, you can still enjoy – and support — the works of local artists by browsing the event’s artist database, keeping an eye out for future events like First Thursdays on South Congress, and following social media pages like I Art Congress and Austin Art.)

 

Amy Lynch is a freelance writer covering culture and design.  She can be found around town furiously making deadlines, typing musings about life into her blog, drinking Turbos from Jo’s, and/or being dragged up and down various Austin sidewalks by her incorrigible rescue pup, Bogey.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week of October 2

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of October 2, 2023, include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, Maisie Peters in Concert, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. […]

10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, Boulderfest 2023, American Indian Heritage Day 2023, and more! Editor’s […]

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of September 29 which include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, NAMIWalks Central Texas, Oktoberfest at Banger’s, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events - Top 10 Things to Do

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

The much-awaited Labor Day 2023 is right around the corner! And as we all know, everybody wants to make the most of this special day and enjoy the last bits of summer. Labor Day pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. In addition to that, it also symbolizes the end of […]

Caverns in Texas - 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Caverns in Texas – 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Looking for caverns in Texas? Want to explore the best caves in Texas? Luckily, there’s a great mix of both in Austin! Before we dive into the different bat caves in Texas or caverns Texas has to offer, what’s the difference between the two? Well, while used interchangeably, a cave is a naturally occurring cavity […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more
  • 10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Rooftop Bar Austin – 20 Best Bars, Dinner Spots, High Rise Restaurants Near You
  • Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • 10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!
  • Birthday Freebies Austin 2023 – List of Over 45 Best Restaurants, Food Places, & Stores with Birthday Month Deals Near You

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x