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for Fri., July 11
  • Opening Reception of "Tenfold" Exhibition

    McLennon Pen Co. Gallery is proud to announce its move to a new, expanded home at 1114 W 5th St in Clarksville. The inaugural exhibition titled Tenfold will debut the art gallery's first official artist roster including artists based in Austin, New York, Los Angeles, and Kansas City.
    Thurs. June 5, 6pm-9pm  
    McLennon Pen Co. Gallery
  • Junkyard Nights w/ Tele Novella, Theo Lawrence, and Cazayoux

    Junkyard Nights is their second annual Fundraising Event and this year features Tele Novella, Theo Lawrence, and Cazayoux. Come help them raise money for their JUNKPOD program, transformed city buses into FREE and accessible rehearsal and work spaces for Austin musicians and venue owners.
    Thurs. June 26, 5pm-Midnight  
    Hole in the Wall
Recommended
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    “Big Pour”

    Collaboration’s the name of the artistic game here, with the newest exhibition at MASS being a three-way split showcase of Erin Miller, Audrey Blood, and Alexandre Pépin. Their pieces find shared experiences in the process of paper-making and reflect their navigation of “vulnerability, trust, and transformation through making.” Displayed alongside their separate works will be community-made pulp paintings, which were created during a MASS-hosted community paper-making day. Opening reception’s this Saturday, so take a page from these entangled artistes and invite all your friends. – James Scott
    Through July 12
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    “Terra Forma”

    This group exhibition featuring 10 local artists reimagines cartography as a skill endemic to artists, not scientists. Before the 17th century, maps were painted according to bodies, the show argues. These bodies were a lived, agreed-upon experience of a place not bound by data-driven management, the purpose of which is solely “to help outsiders drive through a land in which they had no real interest – except for locating resources to be exploited.” That’s Co-lab quoting from the book that lent the exhibition its name, Terra Forma: A Book of Speculative Maps by Frédérique Aït-Touati, Alexandra Arénes, and Axelle Grégoire. In an age of at once increasingly policed borders and forced migration due to a changing Earth, the show argues that “humankind is no longer solely in control.” – Lina Fisher
    Through July 19
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    “The Floating World: Tokyo to Texas”

    Step into a colorful space filled with music, dance, and Daryl Howard’s exhibition of Japanese woodblock prints. The Central Texas artist will be displaying his ukiyo-e inspired collection of surreal landscapes and vibrant florals. There will be Japanese appetizers, drinks, and cocktails for viewers to enjoy. Make sure to enter the raffle to win a $150 gift card, good for all Uchi restaurants in Austin. Traditional taiko drummers are scheduled to perform for this celebration of Japanese and Japanese-American culture, free and open to the public. – Sammie Seamon
    Through September 7
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Captivating Colors: A Group Exhibition

    There are entire college courses and certification programs for color theory, aka color science, delving into how colors interact and affect our perceptions and emotions. Fascinating stuff, really – part of why so many restaurants use warm colors like red, yellow, and orange in their branding is due to their tendency to stimulate the appetite. For this group exhibition featuring over 40 Austin artists, Art for the People showcases pieces where “color is not just aesthetic but an active agent shaping meaning and mood.” Visit with artists at a noon-5pm opening celebration on Saturday, June 14, or catch the exhibit sometime this summer and experience color in a new light. – Kat McNevins
    Through August 15
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Michael Velliquette: “The Distance Within Us”

    Slow down, stroll the gardens, enjoy a specialty cocktail, and see sculptures nestled in the green gardens at Umlauf this summer. Velliquette’s solo exhibition shows off his largest presentation of sculptures made of paper and powder-coated metal. These works invite visitors to take a moment to breathe and focus on the present moment, with an awareness of the shared human experience. “It’s about reaching inward and outward at once, and the ways that symbolic forms can guide us toward greater awareness and connection,” Velliquette said. – Sammie Seamon
    Through August 22
All Events
  • 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

    “Dog Days”

    When the profound connection between dog and human has become fetishized and monetized for clicks, where’s a soulful dog person to go? Why not this group exhibition, which pays sweet tribute to our four-legged fam? Referencing the origins of “dog days” as a time of unrest in ancient times, DORF curators Sara Vanderbeek and Eric Manche are using the show to advance a different narrative: “that in a time of global uncertainty and rising temperatures, the steady, loving presence of a dog can be a grounding force – a source of comfort, stability, and meaning.” Friday’s pet-friendly opening reception will have on-site adoptions, live dog portrait painting by Ami Plasse, and a doggy dance party with DJ Dana Scully. – Kimberley Jones
    Opening night, May 23; runs through Sept. 6
  • Community

    Events

    “Roots Unveiled: Exploring the Chinese Experience”

    Among the many anti-civil rights bills creeping their way through the Texas Legislature is Senate Bill 17, which would bar Chinese and many other Asian citizens from buying land here. Denounced by detractors as racist and reminiscent of 19th-century laws targeting Asian immigrants, its 2023 origins, along with growing anti-Asian sentiment after the pandemic, inspired Houston artist Jane Xu to found the multi-city Asian American Art & Culture Initiative and initiate this multidisciplinary exhibit. Curated by renowned international independent curator Sylvia XuHua Zhan, it brings in-depth research and archives along with work from a wide range of artists to offer a look at the rich history of Chinese Americans in Texas. Opening reception is Sunday, May 18, noon. – Kat McNevins
    Through August 31; opening reception, May 18
  • 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

    Theatre

    Bring It On: The Musical

    Pom-poms at the ready, everybody, because Zilker Theatre Productions is bringing the screen-to-stage adaptation of this cheerleading classic as their summer musical. Adapted with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda as well as an original story by Avenue Q’s Jeff Whitty, this high-flying story of betrayal, friendship, and ponytails hits the Hillside with local Austin artists Ella Harber and Yassie Kiara bringing to life the two leads. You’ll laugh; you’ll cry; you’ll be named captain of the cheer squad!
    July 11-Aug. 16
  • 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

    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

    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

    Jiab Prachakul: Sweet Solitude

    Whoever says Austin isn’t a fine art town can get the hell out of here. We continually break artistic ground with innovative and international taste. The Contemporary once again adds to that rep by hosting artist Jiab Prachakul’s first solo museum show. Born in Thailand, living in France, and with a solid film background behind her, Prachakul’s work has a bold style and clear point of view. Heavy graphic lines and soul-stirring colors fill her art. Each moment could be a film still, each stroke staking her claim on a far-too-Western art world. Widely accessible but intensely intimate, Prachakul’s scenes beg for close inspection. Join the Contemporary, and the artist herself, in examining her offerings during Friday’s opening night festivities or in conversation on Saturday, Feb. 1. – Cat McCarrey
    Through August 3
  • 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
  • Arts

    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

    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.
  • 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.
    11010 Domain #100
  • 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

    Comedy

    Snail Haven's Comedy Pregame

    This is a weekly stand-up comedy showcase to help you pregame your Friday night on the town. (Snail Haven also features music shows, film screenings, and general hangs. Best bet: Follow @SnailHavenShows on Instagram and DM them for event details.)
    Fridays, 8pm. Free.  
  • 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

    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

    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.
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Waitress

    Based on the hit movie, this Sara Bareilles-boosted musical tells the tale of a waitress skilled in pie-making and warming hearts as she navigates heartbreak in a small town. Good for ages 12 and up, so make this your preteen’s first musical experience!
    June 11-July 13
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Waitress

    Ever been to a musical and got a little peckish before intermission? Well, Waitress has a solution: Onstage seats in this ZACH360 production get served real slices of pie during the show. For everyone else, there’s still the heart-touching drama of this adaptation of the 2007 film of the same name, complete with the Tony- and Grammy-nominated score from Sara Bareilles. Leslie McDonel, who recently scored an Austin Theatre Critics Award nomination for breathing life into the story of Carole King in Zach’s 2024 production of Beautiful, steps into the role of Jenna, a waitress and baker in a town that may be too small for her big dreams. – Richard Whittaker
    Through July 13
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children’s Literature

    One of the pleasures of having a first-rate research center and archive in town is how the Harry Ransom Center will regularly comb through its own vast holdings and hand-pick gems to present in a new context. Hence the HRC’s latest exhibit, “Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children’s Literature,” which pulls from its manuscript, art, photography, film, and performing arts holdings to spotlight early 20th-century authors and illustrators catering to a young readership. The exhibit includes magic lantern slides from Aesop’s Fables, John Tenniel’s illustrations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Ernest H. Shepard’s indelible images from the Hundred Acre Wood, among other treats. Runs through August 17. – Kimberley Jones
    Through August 17
  • 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

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