E.A.S.T. Secrets

Let an Austin photographer fill you in on the best secrets of E.A.S.T.

Ryan McKerley's ceramics are art you can utilize.

Editor's note: The East Austin Studio Tour is a wonderful chance to discover the artists — and the workspaces — that serve a critical role in our city's creative scene. This year, we asked local artists for their can't-miss picks for the 2013 E.A.S.T.

Austin-based photographer Paul Drown uses a Holga camera, known for its low fidelity, to create dreamy, nature-inspired photographs. To see his work and find out more information about Drown, please visit his website.

David Leonard
1804 Corona Avenue - E.A.S.T. #4

One of the best painters around — not just in Austin, anywhere. His cityscapes are dense with architectural life. Leonard is one of a handful of artists working in a home studio, and it's worth heading east just to see how he lives.

Aldo Valdes Bohm
4701 East Fifth Street - E.A.S.T. #155

Take a look at his woodworking, which spans from small conceptual pieces to larger functional items. His current rough but elegant furnishings are, simply, beautiful. Bonus: He is working in the hive known as Delta Millworks.

Jennifer Balkan
3109 Lafayette Avenue (little blue house in the back) - E.A.S.T. #24

Another outstanding brush master, Balkan paints in rich oils that portray emotion through color. She's got a lot of microart for sale, so you can buy a piece and say you knew her when.

Ryan McKerley
2710 East Cesar Chavez - E.A.S.T. #128

He's a master, and his ceramics are wonders to behold. They're also functional: you get to contemplate art while having breakfast. If you are lucky, you may see Edmo Martinez (who will be showing his ceramics there on the second weekend of the tour) when you're at the studio.

Jennifer Chenoweth
1200 E 2nd Street - E.A.S.T. #89

All hail this creator of community, explorer of the spirit and two-stepping queen. Jennifer turns her East Side bungalow into curatorial feast. Come for the art, stay for the pasole.

Sally Weber
1406 Smith Road, Unit D - E.A.S.T. #46

Specializing in holography (think holograms, 3D, lasers and all kinds of other fun stuff), Sally does groundbreaking work that's shown all over the world, but you can see it right here in Austin. Her Resonance Studio is hosting artists on the cutting edge of art and technology. Make sure to check out the artmaking robot!
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Catalogs and maps are available at any Austin Public Library or Big Medium's main office Tuesday – Saturday noon - 6 pm

For more information on E.A.S.T, please go here.

Jennifer Chenoweth turns her East Austin bungalow into livable art.

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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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