Articulations
An invitation to the city's loosest arts awards ceremony from the Austin Critics Table, a happy birthday to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, and playwright Ruth Margraff is a hit in Big D.
By Robert Faires, Fri., June 8, 2001
Critix Crew Seex Mix 4 Pix
Come one, come all! The members of the Austin Critics Table (our motto: "We make it up as we go along") cordially invite all actors, technicians, designers, directors, playwrights, singers, dancers, sculptors, choreographers, composers, painters, instrumentalists, and every other kind of artist, patrons and lovers of the arts, and all their friends and family members to the city's loosest awards ceremony this Sunday. (Excuse the misprint in last week's column. It should have read: Sunday, June 10.) Once again, a handful of scribes on the local fine arts beat -- this year, it's just writers from the Austin American-Statesman and the Chronicle -- have gotten together and settled on a number of individuals, companies, and organizations that they feel contributed especially outstanding work to the local cultural scene in the past year, and, as usual, the presentation of their picks will be highly informal, with much frivolity, spontaneous eruptions of silliness and sentiment, a few embarrassing bits, and conspicuous consumption of alcohol by the presenters, which always helps precipitate the former episodes. But it wouldn't be the Table if a few things weren't different. For instance, as the Table has survived into its ninth year, the critics are feeling rather generous and so are conferring more than 50 honors in the disciplines of theatre, dance, classical music, and the visual arts. (Let's see a big turnout from all you opera, chamber music, and visual arts types.) And the ceremony, which has traditionally been held on Monday, will be held this year on Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. ("Just like the Tonys!" enthuses Table co-founder Michael Barnes.) Moreover, the event is in a new location again this year: the Bad Dog Comedy Theater, 110 E. Riverside Dr. So, join us, won't you? The fun starts at 7pm sharp. No cover; just come thirsty and help make this a worthwhile evening for the Bad Dog. The full list of awards will appear in next week's Chronicle.
Happy Tenth, Umlauf!
And if you're looking for something to do before the Critics Table Awards (as if anyone in this town is ever at a loss for something to do), may we suggest the 10th birthday celebration of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum? You can enjoy free birthday cake, lemonade, and music by the Mundi Ensemble, as well as the enduring artistry of Charles Umlauf's sculptures in one of the city's most tranquil locales. The party is Sunday, June 10, 1-4:30pm, on the museum grounds, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd. Call 445-5582 for information. By the by, speaking of Charles Umlauf, the exhibition "Charles Umlauf: A Retrospective, 1933-1992," reviewed in the June 1 Chronicle, has been extended through June 10 at Spazio by Lytle Pressley, 1214 W. Sixth. Call 474-5768 for information.
Big D Takes to JUDGES
Playwright Ruth Margraff is enjoying success with her latest piece, JUDGES 19: Black Lung Exhaling, in Dallas. The two-character opera, by the author of Wallpaper Psalm and The Cry Pitch Carrolls, premiered at this year's FronteraFest starring Margraff and collaborator Nick Brisco. The pair are reprising their roles for the version at Big D's Undermain Theatre, which inspired Dallas Morning News critic Lawson Taitte to write: "Under Katherine Owens' knowing direction, Ms. Margraff and Mr. Brisco show us layer after layer of richly textured emotion … You may occasionally be perplexed but you most assuredly won't be bored. You may even find yourself carried away by [the show's] eerie power." If you're heading to the Metroplex this weekend, you can still catch the show before it closes June 9. Call 214/747-5515 for information.
