As decreed by Mayor Steve Adler, November is now officially "Austin Art Month." Noting that the creative class is "absolutely vital to who we are as a city and what we can offer the world," Adler made the proclamation as a way to support local artists and art organizations.
In response, Austin will play host to events across the city in celebration of our dynamic and diverse arts scene. From conversations with world-famous photographers to local fundraisers, the opportunity to embrace our city's creative community has never been so easy — or more important.
Austin Design Week
When: November 6-10
Location: Various
Austin Design Week returns with the best in innovation and design. Billed as an "opportunity to bring together the Austin design community like never before," ADW showcases the city's best in visual, interactive, product, industrial, architectural, and civic design. Throughout the week, attendees can participate in more than 50 events including workshops, talks, and studio tours, while participating in conversations centered around this year's theme, "Finding Place."
Events are free with registration and a full schedule of events can be found here.
Art in Public Places: TEMPO 2017
When: Through November 19
Location: Edward Rendon, Sr. Festival Beach
On display at the recently-renamed Edward Rendon, Sr. Festival Beach (2101 Jesse E Segovia St.), the City of Austin's Art in Public Places presents TEMPO 2017. Now in its fifth year, TEMPO features work from nine Austin-area artists using a variety of materials and reflecting varying styles. Though the show is self-guided, the city will host three events during the closing weekends beginning with a Saturday Strut on November 11 at 11 am; Toddler Trot on November 17 at 11 am; and Sunday Stroll on November 19 at 4 pm.
Free and open to the public.
POP AUSTIN
When: November 9-12
Location: Fair Market
Now in its fourth year, POP Austin features more than 40 multimedia artists from across the world, specializing in fine art, digital and light-based mediums, sculpture, and photography. Read our full preview here.
Single day tickets are $20 and three-day general admission tickets are available for $50. VIP tickets are $150. Tickets can be purchased here.
ARTBASH
When: Friday, November 10, 9 pm-12 am
Location: Native Hostel
Part Art Alliance Austin benefit, part EAST kick off party, ARTBASH is back for an evening of fun and fundraising. Art Alliance Austin commissioned eight local artists to create original works inspired by the idea of "immersion and mobility." Guests who wander through the hip hostel will meet artists (and other art lovers) while experiencing artist activations, installations, and live performances. DJ Zetroc aka Cortez will also perform.
ARTBASH tickets are $45 and VIP reception tickets are $100. Tickets can be purchased here.
Waller Creek Conservancy's Creek Show
When: November 10-18, beginning each evening at sundown
Location: Waller Creek between Fifth and Eighth streets
Over the past four years, this immersive, illuminating experience has turned into one of our favorite events. This year's Creek Show features six different light installations which will be open every night after dark. In addition to the show, Waller Creek Conservancy will host special events throughout the week. Read our full preview here.
Free and open to the public.
Camp Contemporary
When: November 11-12
Location: Laguna Gloria
Arguably one of the most glamorous ways to celebrate the local art scene, The Contemporary hosts the second annual Camp Contemporary, which replaced La Dolce Vita as the museum's annual fundraiser. Enjoy an intimate songwriter's circle and workshops with local artists throughout the weekend while taking part in adult versions of classic camp games (boating, stargazing, etc.). On Saturday night, McGuire Moorman Hospitality will host a camp-wide paella dinner before guests retire to their lux Shelter Co. tents.
Tickets for two are $3,500 and available here.
East Austin Studio Tour (EAST)
When: November 11-12 and 18-19
Location: Various
Grab your bike, grab a map and head due east for a day (or days) of studio open houses and art exhibitions. Held over two back-to-back weekends, this year's EAST is bigger than ever with more than 500 participants spread out across East Austin. Hosted by Big Medium, EAST offers Austinites the chance at an insider's look at our burgeoning —and too often overlooked — artists' community.
EAST is a free event. Map and catalogue information can be found here.
A Conversation with Annie Leibovitz
When: Monday, November 13, 7:30pm
Location: The Long Center for the Performing Arts
World-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz comes to the Long Center for an evening of conversation. Leibovitz, whose iconic photos have appeared in everything from Vogue to Vanity Fair to Rolling Stone, will be sharing work from her recently-published collection, Annie Leibovitz: Portraits. Austin is one of of only five stops on the photographer's tour, perhaps underscoring the important role our city plays in the world of art.
Tickets begin at $39 and can be purchased here.
Hops for HOPE
When: November 18-19, 3 pm-9 pm
Where: Fair Market
Hops for HOPE, the annual fundraiser for the HOPE, returns to Fair Market for a two-day art extravaganza. Peruse the work of HOPE artists while sipping beers from 20 breweries and enoying live music. All proceeds from the event go directly to HOPE projects including the relocation of the HOPE Outdoor Gallery and the HOPE Farmers' Market.
Tickets begin at $15 and can be purchased here.
The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip
When: November 25 through January 7, 2018
Where: Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton's newest exhibition, The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip opens on November 25 in the museum's ground floor Butler Gallery. Including photography from legends like Walker Evans and Edward Weston, this show examines the American road trip, an idea so deeply engrained in our collective ethos it appears everywhere from Beat novels to crappy '90s comedies. Though the public tour doesn't happen until December 3, a few days after Austin Art Month officially ends, we don't care. We will continue celebrating Austin Art Month all year long, and you should, too.
Annie Leibovitz appears at the Long Center on November 13. Austin is one of only five cities the famous photog will visit this year.
Odds Bar & Bistro will serve very upscale "bar food."
Photo courtesy of Odds Bar & Bistro
