What do you do when the popular kids throw a party and specifically tell you you’re not invited? Go home and cry yourself to sleep? Oh, heck-naw! You call up your friends, go out under a moonlight tower in the middle of nowhere, and rock it until even the morning sun comes out to party! You’ve got to go out and make it happen yourself if you want something these days. You’re in Austin, for crying out loud.
Last year, Nohegan was started by Jill Pangallo as a “loving tribute” to the prestigious nine-week artist residency Skowhegan. Close to three dozen artists headed out to McKinney Falls State Park for four days of camping, camaraderie, and creating art. Campers hosted workshops ranging from crocheting and stargazing to hunting Sasquatch and creating slasher-movie make-up. For the Sunday barbecue, invited art guests (myself included) were given a preview of work being created. A week later, that work was shown in an exhibit at Mass Gallery.
This year, with the help of the UT College of Fine Arts’ ArtsReach program, Pangallo is hoping to have a broader impact on the Austin community. Following the East Austin Studio Tour’s example, Nohegan’s Sunday barbecue will feature “open cabins,” with campers displaying their creations in or around their cabins instead of in an exhibit elsewhere. Widening the net and working the casual spirit of Nohegan, Austin campers will be joined by individuals hailing from San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. For these art campers, a talent show will be conducted, with the winners highlighted during the Sunday barbecue. Art campers will also conduct a talent show for visitors on Sunday, with winners showcased during the barbecue. Everyone wins.
Speaking of Sunday visitors: You’re invited! Head out for a day in the park with your favorite local artists and meet new favorite artists. After you pay your park entrance fee, take a short art-walk around the six camp shelters, play relay games, and enjoy some barbecue. Prospective day-campers and overnight campers should contact Pangallo via www.nohegan.org, as space is limited.
The uncharacteristically cool and rainy weather put a damper on the summer, but on Aug. 19, 2-7pm, we’ll have the opportunity to come together in the wilds of southeastern Travis County to make and support art in such frenzy that the sun itself will want to come down and participate. It’s gonna be hawt in Austin.
This article appears in August 10 • 2007.