“The Dispersals” alighting for the Austin Studio Tours
Experience the transformation of my sculptural painting series “The Seeds We Plant” as well as new work about pollinators and native Texas prairies
November is the month to discover art, talk to artists and learn about the growing creative community in Austin. I am looking forward to this time to connect with all of you and share the projects that are inspiring me to push my work in new directions.
Image 1: Bending steel rods to rework the base of the large sculptural painting that was dubbed "The Grotto” because of it’s location in a creek bed surrounded by a cave-like copse of trees.
Image 2: Springtime in the “The Grotto” along the trail at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. It’s hard to believe this photo is only from April of this year!
Image 3: My submission to the Austin Studio Tour group show, “Welcome to the Grotto.” A 12” x 9” wood box with small versions of a few of my artworks from “The Seeds We Plant,” including recycled scraps from the laser-cutting process. I’ve also been working these into my new project, “The Upside Down Forest.”
Dispersal Dates
Three weekends and Three locations on the 2023 Austin Studio Tour
Hours are noon to 6pm unless otherwise noted!
November 4-5 and 11-12
Stop #173
2502A Wilson St, 78704, in Bouldin Creek for the West portion of the tour
This is the spot to visit if you want to catch up with me. I’ll be here both days of the first weekend and all day on the second Sunday, Nov. 12th. Come to my artist talk on Nov. 5 at 4:00pm to consider with me what happens to site-specific artwork when it moves to a new space. Hint, maybe the name changes to accommodate new meaning!
See below for more details about the two amazing artists I’m sharing space with
Nov. 11-12 and 18-19
Stop #392
638 Tillery St., 78702, PollinatorPalooza at Tree Garden
An EAST side group exhibition fundraiser benefiting the SIMS Foundation. Family-friendly interactive activities, artist-led talks, and November 11 includes a huge event with live music, drinks, food and of course, art! I plan to be at this event but might not be onsite other days. I’ll have a new wall hanging sculpture for sale in the group show as well as medium to large outdoor artworks in the outdoor gallery and hanging throughout the gardens!
See below for more details
Stop #278
Nov. 11-12 and 18-19
2801 S I-35 frontage Rd., 78704 at Good Dad Studios
The massive new southeast Austin complex for working artists, galleries and creative community partners where I have set up a community space for artists who are also parents or caregivers. Come meet some of the members and experience this fantastic new hub for working artists. I’ll have sculptural artwork outside and fabric wall hangings inside. Please note that I won’t be on site often. (Needing a studio? They have a few left that are ready to rent!)
Grand opening party is November 11…see below for more details.
I hope you can stop by one or all of the three studio tour stops where I’ll have these and many other of the original 70 artworks I created for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The look and feel in the new surroundings will drastically change the experience of them…both visual and in concept.
First stop on the studio tour bus…West Austin
I will have the new iteration of my “Grotto” series installed in the front yard of a lovely home in Bouldin Creek. You have to come out to see it!
What a different experience to go from this dappled creek bed at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to a house with two palm trees out front.
My friend, collage artist Paige Booth (image left), invited me to show at her home studio along with botanical painter Clair Gaston (image right). As you can see below, our work is a well-balanced cross section of the ways you can celebrate and appreciate the natural world. We’ll have the downstairs home and front yard set up for viewing during the WEST portion of the tour. November 4-5 and 11-12.
Plus, we’ve got some extras!
• Stop by on Nov. 5 for a live oil painting demo by Clair at 1:00. She’ll work in the front yard, surrounded by nature and my installation.
• That same day I’ll give my artist talk, starting at 4pm.
• The second Saturday (Nov. 11) Paige will have an interactive garden collage out on the side porch. Come by and get crafty, then enter a drawing to win the final masterpiece!
Next up is TreeGarden
Experience pollinator-themed art, inside and outside at this lovely local garden. This is an EAST event, open to the public both Saturday and Sunday Nov. 11-12 and 18-19. Below are more details about the main fundraising event day on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 3-9pm:
Have you heard the buzz? TreeGarden and Masonry are back for another unforgettable Austin Studio Tour show. And this year, we have something extra sweet and special planned to honor the pollinators that power our planet!
Partnered with SIMS Foundation, Masonry + TreeGarden present PollinatorPalooza! This extraordinary art experience will celebrate our beloved pollinators, the rock stars of nature, as well as local musicians and artists who keep Austin vibrant!
Enjoy a stunning exhibition of buzz-worthy art from over 40 local artists plus live performances from Kalu + The Acoustic Joint, Her Mana (featuring members of Ley Line), Parker Woodland, and Soulshine Rhythm Experience. PollinatorPalooza will also feature an exciting array of interactive activities including a Pollinator Creation Station, Save Our Species ArtVenture Trail, Community Rhythm Circle, educational pollinator experiences, eats, drinks, and family-friendly fun!
This collaborative community celebration is free to attend and donations to SIMS Foundation are encouraged. Attendees can get a VIB Buzz Bag for bottomless beverages plus goodies from our sponsors! All RSVP donations + 10% of art sales will directly benefit SIMS Foundation’s mission to provide mental health + substance use recovery services and support for musicians, music industry professionals, and their dependent family members.
Final stop, Good Dad Studios
My good friends David (of Bolm Arts and Studios!) and Jacquie (of Mothership Studios!) launched this place in late July and it is in a state of explosive growth.
More than 60 artist are already working at this South Austin building—formerly offices and a bank—and nine community partners are activating project spaces—such as the Carver Museum ATX Foundation, Art for the People, and Ivester Contemporary. I’m excited to be a part of what is growing; it felt so right to have a few of my “Dispersals” land and take root here!
Open for regular EAST tour hours, plus….
Nov. 11 4pm-10pm: Massive Grand Opening Party
Nov. 19th, 7-8pm Panel Discussion: “Old Austin Becomes: Bridging the Gap”
A July article in Glasstire magazine sums up the need this new southeast Austin space is filling:
“The past eight years have seen major changes in Austin, with development pushing out many artist-run spaces and studio complexes that had previously been located in the city’s east side. A significant loss of affordable studio space occurred in 2018, when the studio complex Pump Project moved out of its longtime home. In the years since, it has become increasingly difficult for artists to find spaces, causing some to move to smaller towns further outside of the city.”— Jessica Fuentes
Thank you for reading and being part of my community! Please share this with folks who plan to get out on the tours. I hope to see you there!
