Take the Survey

Leslie Fest 2012 and a tribute statue? Take the survey as Leslie Cochran'slegacy gets appropriately weird

As if it could get any weirder (in a good way, of course), Leslie Cochran's friends and supporters are actively continuing his legacy and gearing up for a celebration of his life: "Leslie Fest" is coming to Austin on June 24.

And that's not all: funds are being raised for a statue in his honor; there is currently a 10-foot tall close up of Leslie positioned at the front of Lipstick24 on East Seventh Street; and artist Mitch Brookman is working to procure a location for a large mosaic of Leslie.

"Gatherings and online conversations continue about how to sustainably honor Leslie's memory," said close friend Debbie Russell. "Working on homeless issues like fighting for a woman's shelter and no-red-tape transitional housing for those with substance abuse issues or simply committing everyday acts of kindness, much like our sorely-missed Leslie — his passing has opened the door to many dialogues, including how we view and treat the homeless in Austin."

Neither Leslie Fest nor the statue have any significant traction yet beyond the burning desire of his friends, but the ideas are worthwhile for the purpose of keeping alive a conversation about homelessness in Austin.

On June 24, Leslie's sister will return to Austin in order to place a headstone on his grave (at a currently undisclosed location). That date seemed perfect to Russell for creating a community-wide event honoring a man so many connected with.

Russell also says negotiations are underway regarding where to place a Leslie statue. Just today the group sent out a survey in order to solicit opinions about a Leslie statue and where to put it. They even ask for ideas about sculptors. Take the survey (it's four questions) by clicking here.

Funds being raised at BookPeople through donations and the sale of Leslie magnets, combined with in-kind donations, have already brought in enough money to cover Leslie's medical expenses and help his family with housing during his illness. Now, just for the rest of this week, a silent auction of a Leslie painting and the sale of posters and additional magnets will go toward building the statue.

How it is that a cross-dressing homeless guy manages to engender this kind of amazing outpouring is simply a reflection of the deep connection he made to those who live here.

A statue? Really? Well, why not. And where else other than Austin.

New

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

Elisabet Ney Museum Austin

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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