Following two weeks of items involving architecture and the arts scene in Austin, with another architectural tidbit – make that two – to add to them this week, I’m starting to think I should rename the column. But of course, two Chronicle columns with “Architecture” in the title would be two too many, wouldn’t it? Well, on with the news…. In the “Singing About Architecture” Division comes the announcement from Austin Lyric Opera that it’s chosen the prestigious Texas firm Lake|Flato to design its new home on Barton Springs Road. Lake|Flato is one of the leading design firms in the Southwest, and its projects for the Carver Cultural Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art, and Dallas Arboretum, among others, bodes well for ALO’s new headquarters… And under the “Painting About Achitecture” heading comes the news that the Austin firm of Graeber, Simmons & Cowan won an institutional First Place Award at the 1998 Design Excellence Awards sponsored by the Texas Chapter of the International Interior Design Association for its work on the Austin Museum of Art‘s downtown galleries at 823 Congress. The award specifically recognizes excellence in design for a public project providing service to the community.
Off the Desk
Mexic-Arte Museum is sponsoring “Noche De Oaxaca, a Magical Evening of Art, Music, Dance, and Food,” on Friday, May 15, 7:30pm. Inspired by the museum’s exhibition, “Art of Oaxaca: Rodolfo Morales – Juegos y Evocaciones,” the event offers an enchanting evening of delectable foods, marimba music by Alberto Rangel, traditional dances by the Ballet Folkl�rico, and more. Tickets are $25 ($15 for museum members). For this one night, Oaxaca can be found at Mexic-Arte, 419 Congress. For more info, call 480-9373.
This weekend sees the debut of a new – and we hope yearly – festival here in the Town That Just Can’t Get Enough Festivals: the Pro Arts Eastside Arts Festival. This community arts celebration honors and extols African-American culture in East Austin, with visual art by established painters, sculptors, and craftspeople, as well as by young African-American artists from the Austin Independent School District, plus music by DJ’s “Kool-Aid” and DJ Jefito, other entertainment, food, balloons, face painting, a visit by the Austin Fire Department, and more. ProArts, an African-American arts company, is the host, and it offers all this fun Saturday, May 16, 1-5pm, at two sites: the historic Victory Grill, 1104 E. 11th, and the soon to be historic Ebony Sun Java House, 1209 E. 11th, Suite C. For info, call 472-8875.
The Learning Curve
Austin Visual Arts Association is hosting a seminar titled “Art Business: Galleries & Advertising Agencies.” This event, the second in AVAA’s Leading Visions Seminar Series, will help artists learn how to get their artwork into galleries and how to sell their talents to advertising agencies. Featured speakers will include Scott McAfee, vice president and creative director for GSD&M; Fred Schmidt, CEO and managing partner of Wild About Music; Wally Workman, owner of Wally Workman Gallery; and Will Klemm, an accomplished pastel artist based in Austin. The seminar is Wednesday, May 20, 7pm, in the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd. (Reception following.) Admission is $2; free for AVAA members. Call 457-0075 for info.
This article appears in May 15 • 1998 and May 15 • 1998 (Cover).