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Beloved Austin garden reopens for socially distant strolls following COVID-19 closure

outside terrace and pond at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden is open again at limited capacity.

Photo courtesy of Umlauf Sculpture Garden

A beloved Austin space is ready to welcome guests once again. On Tuesday, August 18, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden reopens to the public with limited capacity and other coronavirus-related safety measures in place.

After first reopening in June, the Umlauf was among the city park facilities forced to close in July due to a spike in coronavirus cases. Following Austin Parks and Recreation Department's decision to reopen some park facilities in mid-August, the Umlauf will reopen with the same safety and social distancing protocols it instated earlier this summer.

To begin, the outdoor sculpture garden will be open to only 30 guests at a time. The garden has been marked with a one-way path for guests to follow, and signage has been added to reinforce social distancing. The indoor gallery remains closed for now.

The organization requests that visitors do not touch the sculptures and reminds that guests ages 6 and up are required to wear a mask at all times, per City of Austin guidelines.

The Umlauf is following CDC recommendations for its staff (including daily temperature checks, required face coverings, and regular hand sanitizing) and has instituted new cleaning protocols. Frequently touched surfaces will be regularly cleaned and disinfected, and restrooms will be open by request only and sanitized hourly.

"We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Museum and Garden as soon as you feel comfortable," the website says. "Thank you for your continued support of the Umlauf!"

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am-4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 11 am-4 pm. Due to limited capacity, guests are encouraged to purchase admission online in advance.

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New

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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