Art Week Austin

Hosting the 2011 Art Week Austin, Art Alliance Austin is taking advantage of the exceptional convergence of special arts events this month, including the annual Fusebox Festival and Umlauf Garden Party, the Texas Biennial, and the Austin Museum of Art's triennial "New Art in Austin" exhibition. The events span April 27-May 1, with a special arts summit co-sponsored by Art Alliance Austin, AMOA, Fusebox, and Texas Biennial on April 30. Here's a snapshot of key events.

"Play Me, I'm Yours"

Through May 1

Art Alliance Austin sponsored this local version of the international project by UK artist Luke Jerram in which pianos are placed in public spaces for anyone to play. Austin artist Johnny Walker was commissioned to curate the project locally, and he placed 15 pianos throughout the central city for the month of April. A map of the piano sites, along with films, photographs, and stories of people's experiences with the pianos may be found at www.playmeaustin.com.

"New Art in Austin: 15 To Watch"

Austin Museum of Art – Downtown, 823 Congress, www.amoa.org

Through May 22

The fourth edition of the Austin Museum of Art's triennial exhibition showcases 15 visual artists who reside within a 50-mile radius of the Capitol.

Texas Biennial

816 Congress, fifth and 14th floors; 1319 Rosewood; Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Barbara Jordan Terminal; Big Medium, 5305 Bolm #12; Pump Project Art Complex, 702 Shady; Visual Arts Center, UT-Austin Art Building, 23rd & Trinity; Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca, www.texasbiennial.com

Through May 14

The fourth version of this survey of contemporary art in Texas showcases more than 40 Lone Star artists in seven Austin venues.

Art Rides

Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop, 400 Nueces, www.mellowjohnnys.com

May 27-30

The city of Austin Art in Public Places program, Art Alliance Austin, and Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop partner to offer a different docent-led tour of public art and art exhibitions throughout Austin each day. Rental bikes are available; helmets and reservations are required.

Pecha Kucha Night Austin #11

Seaholm Power Plant, 214 West Ave.

Wednesday, April 27, 8:20pm

The latest installment of the Pecha Kucha series features 10 presentations, each of which includes 20 images shown for 20 seconds each. The event is free, but seating is limited. Presenters include:

Hancock Brothers, graphic designers

Dana Friis-Hansen, art connoisseur

Tiffany Harelik, food trailer diarist

George O. Jackson, photographer

Southpaw Jones, musician

Beili Liu, fine artist

Jori Lodes, burlesque dancer

Adrian Quesada, musician

Johnny Walker, artist/art curator

Michael Yates, furniture designer

Umlauf Garden Party

Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd.

Thursday, April 28, 6:30-9:30pm

A fundraiser for the museum honoring the work of renowned Austin sculptor Charles Umlauf, the event includes the "Celebrity Seeds" silent auction featuring terra cotta pots decorated by prominent Austinites, wine and savories by more than 20 Austin restaurants, and music by the Nash Hernandez Orchestra. This year's featured artist is Roi James.

Hybrid Arts Summit 2011

Various locations

Saturday, April 30, 10am-4pm, www.artallianceaustin.org

A collaboration of Art Alliance Austin, AMOA, Fusebox, and the Texas Biennial, this free public event explores cross-disciplinary creative practice and its relevance for contemporary culture with speakers, round-table discussions, and an open call for action. Participants may choose from three tracks:

You + Me + We explores how people work together and fund collaborative projects.

Write. Right. Wrought discusses art criticism and how people write about art.

Bleep-Bleep-Bloop focuses on questions, currents, and ideas at the intersection of technology and art.

Featured participants include Jon Rubin, artist, of Pittsburgh; Sarah L. Stifler, director of communications at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles; Duncan Mackenzie, co-founder/co-host of Bad at Sports, Chicago; Wayne Ashley, Future Perfect, New York City; Josephine Dorado of the New School, New York City; and Mattt Thompson, Gowalla, Austin.