You … don't know what this is? For real? Oh my. Welcome to Austin, new citizen! Pull up a chair while Ol' Uncle Brenner spiels you out the basics. This is the opening, preview party for the East Austin Studio Tour. And that East Austin Studio Tour is the biggest annual visual-arts thing this city does: A free and intimate look into private creative studios and workshops and production labs and galleries all across the sunrise side of the ATX. Fomented by Big Medium – they used to be "just" a trio of visual artists called Sodalitas, back in the day, but now they're one of the bigger engines driving this city's culture in general – and abetted by an army of volunteers and sponsors, the yearly EAST unfolds its diverse wonderments over two tour-it-yourself weekends that will introduce you to more displays of painting, sculpting, drawing, printing, glassblowing, metalsmithing, woodworking, et cetera ad glorium, than you might've suspected existed in this rapidly gentrifying urban hub. And this night's Due EAST shindig is the fundraising prelude to all that creative spectacle – and a great way to prepare yourself for the delights ahead. Get your copy of the EAST catalog and map before the tour begins and check out nearly 400 artists in the 2019 EAST Group Exhibition. Enjoy music by Joaqu.n, Easy Compadre, and NJUNE while experiencing immersive installations by Essentials Creative and nomming complimentary bites from some of our favorite food trucks and beverage purveyors. Note: Creative cocktail attire encouraged.
Thu., Nov. 14, 7-10pm. $45.