An art adventure

Art Night Austin 2012 promises a starry night filled with art, food and musicfor a variety of tastes

Imagine a night venturing through the heart of Austin to view creative works by Austin’s up-and-coming artists, and at the same time, enjoying the flavors of some of Austin’s best restaurants. Well, dreams come true Saturday night, when Art Night Austin kicks off at 7 p.m. at Champion Gallery downtown.

But the adventure only begins there. Art Night Austin enhances your cultural experience with the showcase of eight different art spaces, which are each paired with a unique dish from aforementioned restaurants. The event compiles of an array of different works, from the seriously toned contemporary art of Champion to the vibrant photographs on display at the B. Hollyman Gallery.

Art Night Austin is organized by Art Alliance Austin, a local non-profit organization who passionately supports creative forces in Austin. Its goal is to create an interaction between local artists and the public, which it does by organizing events like Art Night Austin and E.A.S.T. and commissioning temporary public works.

The organization itself emerged from unusual beginnings. Art Alliance Austin first began as an art guild exclusively for women in 1956, and its local events quickly gained popularity and a large following right off the bat. The organization’s desire to reach larger audience and more community members prompted it to change its name to the Austin Fine Art Alliance in 2004. Since then, the Art Alliance has become a key player in the advancement of art awareness in the city.

Art Alliance Austin's mission statement states: "We exist to enrich and endow the Central Texas cultural landscape as well as to promote participation in visual art." Through various events, Art Alliance Austin has closed the gap between the public and the arts by creating an intimate relationship between local artists and their potential audiences.

If you are truly in want of an authentic Austin experience, join this time-tested, community-approved special night filled with art, food and music. The rich variety of work will definitely accommodate every art and food lover out there.

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Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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