Home Events Arts

One thing I’ve loved about newer theatre or museums is the space given for land acknowledgement – statements about the ancestral roots of the space being used. Space that was not always ours, but taken. The Blanton’s latest exhibit tackles that question, but pushes the boundaries. It’s not just about what Native America was, but what it can be. Curator and lauded artist Wendy Red Star has assembled nine other Native artists to create a rich exploration of what life in America is today. Shown through a variety of mediums, something is guaranteed to resonate with the audience. Whether it’s the photos, paintings, videos, or multimedia works is up to you. – Cat McCarrey

This sweet opportunity comes to us from the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Pease Park Conservancy, and Ride Bikes Austin – so we know it's a damned good thing indeed. Take the self-guided Art & Parks Tour to explore the best of what Downtown Austin art and parks have to offer through this selection of curated murals, artworks, and green spaces. You can sign up anytime, so click that URL and get ready to learn the most vibrantly visual parts of your city soon – live and in person.

The local powerhouse of figurative painting, the art school that's the smart school for artists of all kinds, they've got a painting-along-at-home series going to help you keep your skills honed in these socially restrictive times, featuring live costumed models posing on camera and a thriving community of creatives rendering that lovely human biotecture from their separate studios. "Join us for a three-hour costumed-model drawing session. Use any supplies you wish, listen to music, share your work, chat with others. It’s a great way to stay connected with your art community!"

Art! Oh, I love it. But sadly, when I open my pockets, moths fly out. Good news for me and all my broke friends: Every Tuesday, the Blanton opens its doors to all visitors free of charge. Why, unburdened by the weight of an empty wallet, Austinites can mull the strange world of contemporary womanhood in “Unbreakable: Feminist Visions from the Gilberto Cárdenas and Dolores Garcia Collection.” Or walk beneath the silver and mesh sculptures of Marie Watt’s “Sky Dances Light.” Or explore the past through its artistic pieces in “The Floating World: Masterpieces of Edo Japan.” Or enjoy any of the many, MANY other exhibitions available on this day: all for free. – James Scott

Use your smartphone to access self-guided tours of the outdoor public art sited by UT's award-winning Landmarks program any time you feel like it. BONUS: There's also a free, docent-led tour starting at Marc Quinn's "Spiral of the Galaxy" (1501 Red River) on Sun., Jan. 8, 11am.

Enter the fascinating world of illusions in this new venue that boasts a stunning array of intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experiences among new, unexplored optical wonderments.

This multimedia exhibition is a comprehensive exploration of the beauty of botanical forms, expressed realistically and in the abstract, featuring the work of local artist Francine Funke.

Yard Dog Gallery has long been a champion of outsider/folk art – and fine art with similar sensibilities – ever since its days on South Congress. Now at the Canopy Complex, it neighbors newer Austin galleries that are shaping our art scene just as Yard Dog has done for decades, like Ivester Contemporary, ICOSA Gallery, and SAGE Studios. Going for a visit is never a bad idea, especially to catch Yard Dog’s August show, featuring painters Rachel Paxton and Will Beger. Massachusetts-based Paxton creates “western-themed mid-century modern-inspired neon sign paintings… [that] are part documentary, part fiction.” Arizona-based Beger “paints modern Southwest artworks that feature a mix of mid-century and landscape elements with an emphasis on desert minimal design,” writes the gallery. Open hours are Thursday and Friday 12-3pm and Saturday 12-4pm, or by appointment. – Lina Fisher

Yowch! That’s what you’d be saying, you know, if you touched your tootsies to a lava-flooded floor. Thankfully, Austin is not located next to an active volcano … or is it? This scripted comedy sketch show is a fresh flow of bright burning comic talent sure to scorch expectations with “fun, loose, and experimental” material. Don’t believe me? Read this totally real quote from the comedy show’s Instagram bio: My ‘comedies’ are complete *poop emoji* compared to the greatest sketch group to ever sketch! –William Shakespeare. I can’t believe ol’ Willy really said that! But no one has ever lied on Instagram before, so best believe this show’s hot stuff. – James Scott