TIME Taps Austin

Austin photographer snags biggest gig in photojournalism with TIME Person of the Year cover

Arguably the most discussed — and often controversial — media moment of the year, TIME's Person of the Year was revealed Wednesday. Here in Austin, it won't be who is on the cover (The Ebola Fighters) but who photographed the cover that may be most interesting.

When he received the assignment, Schutmaat had no idea it would be a part of the magazine's most important issue.

This year, TIME tapped local photographer Bryan Schutmaat to shoot Dr. Kent Brantley, a Ft. Worth physician and the first American diagnosed with Ebola. Part of a series of five images for the cover, Schutmaat traveled north to document the famous doctor. "I met [Brantley] at his church in Fort Worth. TIME’s photo editors and I felt that since he was a man of faith and since he was guided by that faith, it would be good to photograph him in there," Schutmaat said in an interview with TIME.

When he received the assignment, Schutmaat had no idea it would be a part of the magazine's most important issue. "I just thought I was doing a big story on Ebola that would end up somewhere inside the magazine,” Schutmaat told TIME. “I didn’t think it would be such a huge deal.”

Indeed, it is hard to imagine a moment in photojournalism as "huge" as landing the Person of the Year cover. Schutmaat and Dublin-based photographer Jackie Nickerson were commissioned to do more than 20 portraits in locations around the world.

As the photographers worked around the globe, they were unaware that they were creating photos for People of the Year story. It wasn't until TIME photo editors asked for the final high-resolution images that the photographers were filled in — and promptly sworn to secrecy.

But the secret is now out, and Schutmaat took to Facebook to tell friends and fans the good news. "I'm still reeling from the fact that I was given this assignment," the photographer said.

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Read a recent interview Schutmaat did with CultureMap here. To find out more about TIME's People of the Year issue, head here.

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Interactive art space Meow Wolf broadcasts Texas opening, radio theme

Photo by Tarick Foteh

Travel to another dimension at Meow Wolf.

Art-loving Texans will soon have a new venue to explore. Houston’s Meow Wolf has set its opening date and revealed the theme that governs its interactive installations.

Set to open on October 31, Houston’s Meow Wolf will be called Radio Tave — a riff on “radio wave.” Described in press materials as a radio station that’s been transported to another dimension, Meow Wolf visitors will be able to explore dozens of rooms filled with interactive elements such as hidden doors, paths, and portals.

For those unfamiliar, Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based art collective that’s opening its fifth installation in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Think of it as a choose your own adventure contemporary art museum loaded with sculptures, murals, video, and light and sound artworks that each contribute a small piece of the overall theme.

Towards that end, Radio Tave will be stocked with a mix of characters — some created for the venue and others that nod to Meow Wolf’s installations in four other U.S. cities, including the Dallas suburb of Grapevine. That includes a radio station with the call letters ETNL and its own slogan, “Big Sounds From Little Thicket.” As seen in the photos above, the radio station already has a website with a placeholder page.

“Houston is a powerhouse of creativity, and our artists and collaborators have been channeling that electric energy into this exhibition for years,” Meow Wolf CEO Jose Tolosa said in a statement. “They've taken it to the next level, capturing the city's vibrancy in every corner of the experience. We can't wait for you to step inside and explore it for yourself.”

As CultureMap has previously reported, a diverse ensemble of more than 50 contributing artists from Texas has collaborated with Meow Wolf’s in-house artist team to bring the facility to life. The list of local creative superstars included such well know artists as innovative theatrical set and puppet designer Afsaneh Aayani, art activist Kill Joy, and two longtime pillars of Houston’s installation and immersive art community in Dan Havel and Dean Ruck of Havel Ruck Projects.

"The visuals and soundscapes of Radio Tave are on another level,” senior creative producer Susie Cowan added. “Visitors will be immersed in a rich, multi-sensory experience that invites them to explore a world that feels both vast and deeply personal."

Meow Wolf Cowboix Hevvven jukebox Cowboix Hevvven's jukebox will feature 30 tracks recorded by Texas artists. Photo by Kate Russell

Meow Wolf will feature a venue space, a gift shop, and Cowboix Hevvven, a dive bar-inspired bar and restaurant that will offer “otherworldly Texan hospitality and comfort food.” Cole Bee Wilson, a fifth generation Texan and Meow Wolf’s lead artist, took the lead in creating Cowboix Hevvven. True to the venue’s theme, it will feature a jukebox with 30 songs created by Texas artists for Meow Wolf.

Annual season passes are currently on sale for $84. They include unlimited visits to the venue and perks such as a 10-percent discount at both the gift shop and Cowboix Hevvven.

Subscribers to Meow Wolf’s email list may purchase single-day passes beginning September 24. General tickets will go on sale October 1.

Photo by Tarick Foteh

Travel to another dimension at Meow Wolf.

meow wolf openings visual-art