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Austin Studio Tour Kick-off Party
She’s not coming in full ’til Nov. 9, but we can celebrate Austin Studio Tour early – as a treat. Big Medium tags this party as doing double duty: not just a farewell to founder/executive director Shea Little but a how-do-you-do to new managing director Dr. Latasha Carter. Between the cocktails, tunes, and handshaking, make sure to also preview this year’s group exhibition that features many studio tour artists. The gallery gives guidance on the night’s dress code, asking for “[creative] expressions of transformation,” which are “optional but encouraged.” I mean, if you were ever going to wear a butterfly fit… – James ScottSat., Nov. 2
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Arts
Visual Arts
"Native America: In Translation"
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 McCarreyAug. 4-Jan.5 -
Arts
Theatre
Luna
Who doesn’t like having friends? They’re great! So great, in fact, that Ramón Esquivel’s play for younger audiences is all about how to make friends. Luna follows Soledad, a daughter of migrant farm workers whose nomadic life makes stable friendships a difficult prospect. Though books, the stars, and her namesake – aka, the moon – keep her company, the play centers on Soledad’s meeting two peers who, much like her, are searching for connection. Bring the kids to this wonderful stage production directed by Mateo Hernandez, but be warned if you’ve got fidgeting young folks: This here play’s an hour without intermission. – James ScottThrough Nov. 16 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Art & Parks Tour
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. -
Arts
Visual Arts
Atelier Dojo: Remote Studios
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!"Tuesdays, 1:30-4:30pm; Fridays, 6:30-9:30pm; Saturdays, 9:30-12:30pm. $5. -
Arts
Visual Arts
“And the valley froze over”
When describing his six-film saga, director George Lucas described the multi-generational history of the Star Wars world as being “like poetry. They rhyme.” Much mocked, I actually find this a nice way to explain the repetition history tends to have – exemplified even better, TBH, in artist Enrique Figueredo’s woodcut pieces on view at Flatbed. These pieces utilize images of historical Spanish missions to convey timeless themes: economic struggles, religious turmoil, war. Figueredo also unveils three new altarpieces from his Federación Venezolana de Bobsleigh. series that takes inspiration from, as the show copy states, “the artist’s childhood fantasy of piloting a make-believe bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympics.” – James ScottThrough Nov. 30 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Don’t Talk to Me Until I’ve Had My Lasagna”
Known for their platforming of artists with physical and intellectual disabilities, Sage Studio brings to the front a creature beloved of the Sunday morning comic strip connoisseur. Yes, it’s really all about him: Garfield, the orange cat, and his friends, with their many facets showcased by Sage’s artists in traditional and non-traditional materials in this new exhibition. Want a chance to celebrate the big boy in a manner befitting his feline fortitude – and help the studio fundraise? Sage hosts Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me: An Evening with Garfield & Friends this Monday, Oct. 14, where a $100 ticket gets you pizza, lasagna, Garf cocktails, a photobooth, and much more. All this just might be enough to turn even the sourest puss around on Mondays ... – James ScottThrough Nov. 2 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Elevate”
Visual texture does more than garner interest – it ignites the brain, allowing for overwhelming emotional reactions. Artist Anya Molyviatis is a master at creating exactly that with her exploratory weavings. According to the exhibit statement, the work is designed to transform “material and color into expressions of weightlessness.” Indeed, the woven panels typically work in one hue, or a slightly related color story, the variations in thread tone precisely placed to make the panels feel like a portal. Where do they go? That’s up to the viewer. Float along a blue wave into depths of sky or ocean. Enter into an orange and pink sunscape. Sink into the woven world of Molyviatis. – Cat McCarreyThrough Nov. 23 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Heirlooms” by Sara Hirneisen
Reader, I must be honest: I am writing about this event 99% because the photo the gallery sent me is fascinating. In keeping with artist Sara Hirneisen’s sculpture use of casting, the object in question bears 10 plaster-cast fingers piked onto metal prongs and carries the title Finger Rake. I’m obsessed with Finger Rake, which makes sense given Hirneisen’s show is all about holding items in reverence. Playing with gendered objects, Hirneisen reimagines the contents of a hope chest as not so much jewelry and baubles but practical tools. Many of these objects include molds cast from herself and her own children. This process, she writes, stands in opposition to thoughts of marriage and motherhood: Rather, she is “making tools that set them [her children] up for independence and self-sufficiency.” – James ScottThrough Nov. 17 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Hiba Ali: Lullabies for the stars in our eyes”
This new exhibit soothes the body and soul with interactive sculptural installations. Run your fingers through sand and gaze into metallic pools evoking the Swahili-Indian Ocean. Watch videos, sense sonic vibrations, and meditate in VR. Pakistani artist Hiba Ali uses the phrase “digital somatics” to describe how her works lead people on a body-processing journey using digital art. Now more than ever, it’s time to immerse yourself in Ali’s lullaby. – Eden ShamyThursdays-Sundays. Through Nov. 17 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Soft Opening”
Out of the garage and into much fancier digs, community-minded art gallery DORF celebrates its new home at South Lamar’s Zilker Point with the cheekily named group show “Soft Opening.” Amble in before January 11 to see what insights participating artists Eepi Chaad, Michael Anthony Garciá, Nitashia Johnson, Bárbara Miñarro, Natalia Nakazawa, Rebeca Proctor, Libby Rosen, James Viscardi bring to the concept of softness, or get in on the ground floor at Friday’s opening reception, featuring a performance by Garciá and music by DJ Apanda. – Kimberley JonesThrough Jan. 11 -
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Visual Arts
“We Shall Be Monsters” Art Show
Arise! You are summoned to Guzu’s latest gathering of the eerie and uncanny. It’s their biggest show to date, with new works highlighting ghastly ghouls and creepy creatures from 35 artists including Dan Brereton, Half-Human, Francisco Salinas, Holly Hansel, Robert Zavala, Mia Burwitz, and Cody Schibi. Terrors of all kinds will be available to adorn your walls, from classics like xenomorphs, Leatherface, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon to modern nightmares such as Longlegs and Art the Clown. Crawl your way to Friday’s opening night gala for nibbles from Chef Matt Zepeda, and a chance to pick up an exclusive cover edition of the new issue of Gore Noir. – Richard WhittakerThrough Nov. 25 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Zugzwang”
Developed by artist Ata Mojlish, who comes to Austin by way of Bangladesh, this show at the garage-based gallery centers on the German word “zugzwang.” Translation: an obligation to move regardless of unfortunate outcome. It is often used, as GLHF states in the show copy, to describe a chess player forced to “make a move that will worsen their position.” Such is the inspiration point for “Zugzwang,” whose pieces composed from “desynchronized text, images, audio and interactive motion elements” attempt to recreate the sensation of continuing onward despite assured misfortune. We’re all operating from that point a little these days, anyways. – James ScottFridays-Sundays. Through Nov. 2 -
Arts
Dance
Ballet Austin: Classes
Learn your way to physical grace with a dance class at Ballet Austin. There are so many varieties to choose among – ballet, barre, contemporary dance, hip-hop, tap, cardio dance fitness, Pilates, and more – and all taught by professional instructors. See website for details.$3-7 per class. -
Arts
Comedy
BIPOC Improv Celebration
Yeah, okay, there’s the big ol’ comedy compost pile Downtown that keeps certain not-so-funny guys on retainer, but there’s better places to get your laughs. Consider, instead, homegrown venue the Hideout – which also has pretty good coffee! November marks a full month of shows highlighting Austin’s bench of all-star BIPOC improvisers at the coffeehouse/comedy stage, along with a sprinkling of out-of-town talent. From long-running & awarded showcases like Y’all We Asian to Hispanic Heritage Month horror hit My Killer Quinceañera, there’s plenty to fill up your comedy schedule. But wait! There’s more: special guests John Gebretatose and Stephanie Rae, BIPOC jams seshs, photo booths, and karaoke. – James ScottThroughout November -
Arts
Comedy
Cap City Comedy Club
That's right: Cap City Comedy Club, the longtime cornerstone of Austin's comedy scene for nearly four decades is at a new venue in the Domain. And here's Valerie Lopez with a closer look at what's in store for the scene via the venue. Click for details! -
Arts
Visual Arts
Carl Cheng: “Nature Never Loses”
The California-based artist, known for combining visual art and industrial design, uses media including photography, sculpture, simple machines, and more to explore both the art world and corporate culture and other themes during this exhibition’s six-decade span. While tackling often serious subject matter, Cheng’s work retains a sense of playfulness on display at the Jones Center. Get a first look of the collection at the public opening reception Friday at 6pm. – James RenovitchSept. 6 - Dec. 8 -
Arts
Comedy
ColdTowne Theater
ColdTowne's new brick-and-mortar place is totally open, and who knows what they'll shake this city with next? But one truth remains: ColdTowne is a designated den of gold, baby, sweet comedy gold. -
Arts
Comedy
Come @ Me: Improv Comedy Inspired by Your Instagram
Why are there so many different social media apps you have to be on? And where are my slippers? Are you my grandson? I’m joking about being old, which is something they might make fun of me for when they do the improv comedy inspired by my Instagram. If you can’t laugh at yourself, you won’t make it far in this world! So come be the butt of the joke at this weekly show created by Isaac Garza, Amy Knop, and Kyle Irion, and starring Natalie O’Sullivan Hamilton, Juese Cutler, Sunny Huang, Xander Noland, Lisa Jackson, Colton Matocha, Jenn Rosario, Kevin Anderson, Jamie Meeks, and special guests, who will all endeavor to finally use social media for something good. – Kat McNevinsSaturdays -
Arts
Visual Arts
Creekside Studio
Creekside Studio is a women-owned printmaking studio and gallery, located in Canopy on the Eastside, specializing in fine art prints pulled by hand using archival materials and matrices: engravings, photogravure etchings, monotypes, woodcuts, copperplate etchings, and linocut.Saturdays, noon-1pm916 Springdale, Bldg 2 #103B -
Arts
Comedy
East Austin Comedy Club
Founded by comedians Raza Jafri and Andre Ricks, this club that operates out of Tiger Den on the Eastside is the city's only BIPOC-owned comedy venue. -
Arts
Comedy
Fallout Comedy
This hotbed of local performance is carrying on even more than usual, with an eclectic mix of live, mind-rocking comedy from some of Austin's best, all week long. Hey! The place is our cover story, as reported by Valerie Lopez! And, srsly, who would ever disagree with the sentiment of Monday night's Fuck This Week show? Check the website for details. -
Arts
Visual Arts
First Saturdays at Canopy
The first Saturday of every month from 1-4pm, the 72 artists housed at the Canopy complex on Springdale Road open their studios to the public, allowing an intimate look into Austin’s visual art scene. Ivester Contemporary and ICOSA Gallery are also open, giving people a chance to see work in progress and fully realized gallery shows, as well as buy or commission new artwork. Sa-Ten, which recently expanded its hours from 7am-9pm every day, provides tasty Japanese libations worth their own trip, so grab a yuzu lemonade to sip and wander. – Lina FisherFirst Saturdays, 1-4pm -
Arts
Comedy
Hysteria!
Previously under the moniker “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” this comedy variety show skewers the Lone Star State’s backwards movement on reproductive rights. Carolyn Kelleher and Caroline Penca play hosts/producers/directors to a cast of comedic talent that includes such luminaries as Becca Andrews, Ricky Corragio, Rainny Daze, Kim Egner, Sandra Fountain, Judy Lee, Chelsee Lopez, Shannon Mullery, Martha Neil, and Kat Williams. Be there this Saturday, or be an aborted little cell clump! – James ScottSaturdays -
Arts
Visual Arts
Laguna Gloria
This local treasure of a venue, run by those Contemporary Austin folks who also bring us the Jones Center shows Downtown, is all about the outdoors – which is perfect for these trickily navigated times of ours, n'est-ce pas? Recommended: Stop by and breathe in the air, enjoy the lawns and gardens and the many examples of world-class sculpture arrayed across the property, and (as Frankie used to say) r-e-l-a-x.Thu.-Fri., 9am-noon; Sat.-Sun., 9am-3pm -
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Visual Arts
Landmarks: Self-Guided Walking Tour
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. -
Arts
Visual Arts
Long Live Surrealism! 1924-Today
Ceci n’est pas une exposition d’art: 100 years since its inception, and Surrealism is still getting under our skin with its dream illogic and witty non sequiturs. Featured artists include Hans Bellmer, Leonora Carrington, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Wifredo Lam, Man Ray, and Dorothea Tanning.Sept. 7-Jan. 12 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Martha's Contemporary: Hokey Pokey + What You See Is What You Get
Here's a two-person exhibition that features painting, installation, videography, and sculpture by Moll Brau and Wes Thompson. It's a deep dive into a pool of loneliness, triumph, and rebirth. It's a forest of mazes where fireflies provide the light. It's a show of creations from a pair of terrific, hardworking local artists and you don't want to miss it. -
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Visual Arts
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Arts
Visual Arts
Museum of Illusions
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.$20-24.11010 Domain #100 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Nicole Awai’s “In the thick of it”
Trinidad-born artist Nicole Awai’s work centers around “the ooze.” What is the ooze, you ask? Both material and metaphorical, it encompasses the viscous media Awai uses, like synthetic polymers, and evokes the blurred boundaries of cultural, historical, and personal identity that she references in her work. “Awai’s practice ‘overflows’ traditional boundaries as it often interweaves elements from her Caribbean heritage with broader themes of globalization and diaspora,” writes Phillip A. Townsend, curator of UT’s Art Galleries at Black Studies. Awai’s work has referenced history ranging from Civil War monuments at UT-Austin and Grand Army Plaza in New York to Trinidadian folklore about the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, all while “foregrounding the transformative potential of the ooze,” writes Townsend. – Lina FisherThrough Dec. 7Art Galleries at Black Studies, 201 East 21st St., Jester A232 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Old Bakery Gallery: Fantastical Flora
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.Opening reception: Sat., Jan. 20, 1-4pm. Free. -
Arts
Theatre
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Just in time for Election Day, Jarrott Productions shares a potent political reminder: Politicians are people, and people are stupid. In the world of POTUS, an unnamed male president has made a public gaffe, and it’s up to seven women on the White House staff to avert potential world war. It’s been compared to Veep or the best biting bits of Saturday Night Live, as the increasing stakes can’t help but be met with hard-headed hilarity. Listen, we’re all in need of levity in this trying time. And while the truth of our political situation is definitely stranger than fiction, join POTUS and remember that wise women can probably carry us through. – Cat McCarreyThrough Nov. 3 -
Arts
Theatre
Rude Mechs Presents: Our Town
Austin has a pretty cool alternative theatre scene, one which benefits greatly from the very cool Rude Mechs art collective calling this city home. But in their newest venture – a production of Thornton Wilder’s drama Our Town – they promise am “honest-to-god attempt to deliver a straightforward (and mind-blowing) version of this iconic American classic.” At the helm is Rude Mech artistic co-director Shawn Sides and at the heart of the project is inspiration: Through re-creating this play on stage, the Rude Mechs plan to glean insights and lessons that’ll be thrown into the pot for their next original piece. “Who knows what we’ll add to the soup,” they say, “but by producing it and sharing it, you can join us for the whole journey as we think about what makes Our Town Our Town.” – James ScottThrough Nov. 24 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Soundscapes: Amos Cochran
Local gallery ICOSA pulls an Emmy nominated composer for the next edition of their sound work series – played on the stereo system aimed at the Canopy Complex’s open-air breezeway. Amos Cochran, whose work hits at convergence of organic and in-organic instrumentation, brings two pieces for this installation. One, “Color Field Outside/In,” was inspired by the artist’s research into the Color Field movement – which held that color was as important to an art’s emotional resonance as figures. His second piece, “N.I. (Natural Intelligence),” developed as a result of Cochran’s musings on overconsumption. “I see this work as an abstraction of my overall relationship with technology,” the artist relays in his statement, “and how its consumption plays a crucial role in our societal psyche.” – James ScottOct. 28 - Nov. 22 -
Arts
Comedy
South Austin Comedy Club
South Austin’s first dedicated comedy venue is spearheaded by local comics Martin Henn, Andre Ricks, and Raza Jafri, and brings top-notch acts to South Austin every Wednesday through Saturday. Note: The upcoming comics – including nationally touring acts, local sweethearts, and everyone in between – will be listed on Instagram each night.Wed.-Sat., 7:30pm -
Arts
Visual Arts
Stephen L. Clark Gallery: Kate Breakey
This exhibition of new work by Kate Breakey showcases hand-colored photography of the natural world, particularly of Texan and Australian landscapes, animals, and insects. -
Arts
Books
Story Circle Network
Nonprofit organization for women, offering monthly reading and writing circles and more, in North, Central, and South Austin. -
Arts
Comedy
The Creek and the Cave
This snazzy spot for local and national stand-up acts has shows almost every night of the week. -
Arts
Comedy
The Hideout
The diverse lineup of hilarious, always surprising improv shows continues, with Pgraph and Maestro and the Big Bash and more, for the most unexpected delights of in-person entertainment.$10 and up. -
Arts
Theatre
The Living Room: Storytime for Grown-ups
Every first Saturday of the month, six true-to-life stories for mature audiences are told on a specific theme about love, sex, death, and spiritual transformation.Sat., Feb. 3, 7pm. $10. -
Arts
Comedy
Velveeta Room
The legend of Ronnie Velveeta lives on at this storied 'stablishment of a stand-up stage, where some of the country's hottest comics come to make the floorboards quake with laughter every weekend on Dirty Sixth. Brandie Posey: Sat., May 20, 8 & 10pm. Jake Flores: Sat., May 27, 8 & 10pm.$10. -
Arts
Visual Arts
Visualizing the Environment: Ansel Adams and His Legacy
Time to upgrade from your Ansel Adams wall calendar and instead appreciate the legendary landscape photographer’s black & white pictures of the American West where they belong – on a gallery wall.Aug. 31-Feb. 2 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Wyld Gallery
This is Ray Donley's gallery of art by Native Americans, located in that company of artistic glory called Canopy and resplendent with creations from the original people of our struggling country.Call for appointment -
Arts
Visual Arts
Yard Dog: Paul Rodriguez
Yard Dog presents the vibrant works of Paul Rodriguez, a printmaker from San Miguel de Allende. "And some very cool new paintings by Harry Underwood."Opening reception: Fri., Jan. 19, 7-9pm