Armadillos and people first

Austin's Armadillo Christmas Bazaar shares 2026 lineup, resists AI art

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is known for its fine art selection and live music.

Photo courtesy of the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

One of Austin's longest-running art traditions is responding to the times but staying selective about how it modernizes. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, founded in 1976, has announced its 2026 artist lineup and adopted an official new policy that centers human-made art. The bazaar will be held December 12-21 at the Palmer Events Center.

According to the online artist application page, the new artificial intelligence policy is as follows: "The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is committed to showcasing human-created artwork and craft; work generated primarily through artificial intelligence platforms is not eligible."

The policy does not detail what level or type of AI design the bazaar deems acceptable — presumably it allows a small amount, since the policy uses the term "primarily."

The type of AI starting impassioned debates in the art world is usually generative AI, which is different from traditional AI; examples of the latter include more controlled, algorithmic feats like recommending a TV show or controlling how a video game character moves.

It would be very disruptive, for example, to disqualify hand-drawn pieces that were made scalable in Adobe Illustrator, prints that feature a visualization of data, or wood sculptures cut by a laser tool that calculates its path to avoid setting the piece on fire.

Art markets are increasingly scrutinized for the art they carry, as more "slop" (Merriam-Webster's word of 2025) breaks through. Generic 3D-printed knickknacks are also facing criticism.

Some artists lament that AI-generated or mass-produced art takes up booth space (and spams search results), reducing exposure for artists who use their hands and more precise digital tools; on the other side of the booth, many shoppers are just tired of seeing it, especially in places where they expect to see community engagement. Some artists feel that generative AI has great potential to redefine the artistic process, raising questions about how much an artist's idea and prompting prowess weigh in the final product.

A press release explains that the new AI policy "protects the integrity of the Bazaar for years to come." It explicitly places value on knowing the story behind a piece, which aligns with the bazaar's core identity as a place for local artists and shoppers to connect directly.

"As AI-generated imagery becomes more prevalent, Armadillo believes there is increasing value in knowing who made the work, how it was created, and the human story behind it," the statement says. "The Bazaar’s new AI policy reinforces its longstanding focus on artistic intention, individual expression and direct human creativity – giving visitors confidence that the art and gifts they discover at Armadillo begin with human ideas and intention."

Bazaar producer Anne Johnson echoes the sentiment.

“You can meet the person who created something, hear the story behind it, and discover a piece that means something to you or to someone you love," Johnson said in the release. "We want to protect and strengthen that experience while continuing to evolve the way people experience Armadillo and what a holiday tradition can look like.”

Now that shoppers know where bazaar curators stand on AI art, they can expect to see nearly 200 human creators selling the following items at the 2026 event:

sculptures
paintings
art prints
photographs
jewelry
fashion accessories
stained glass
soap
plants
notebooks
dishware

The full list of 2026 artists is available at armadillobazaar.com.

New this year, there will be longer hours on select days for a more relaxed experience, and VIPs will get to enter an hour early on opening day, December 12, to ensure they get the first picks from their favorite artists.

The bazaar is also famous for its live music. The musical lineup will be announced in mid-October, this release says. When the musical lineup is announced, tickets will also go on sale.

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Holding the Torch

Community space for Black women writers opens in North Austin

Photo by Larry Choyce

The Torch Center is open to anyone who wants to stop by.

Black women have a new creative hub in Austin. Torch Literary Arts, a nonprofit that supports Black women writers and amplifies their work, has opened the Torch Center at 6406 N. I-35 Frontage Rd., Suite 1807, part of The Linc shopping center.

The Torch Center serves several purposes, from selling books by diverse authors to offering space for visitors to practice their craft together.

First and foremost, the center allows Torch to continue hosting events, which it has for the past 20 years at various partner spaces around town and online. The press release that originally announced that the center explained that the new space would enable Torch to host more in-person events.

Another big part of the center is a retail store called the Torch Lit Shop. The majority of the authors whose works fill the shelves are Black women, but among them are also intersectional and queer writers. Children's books will be available for sale and somewhere down the line, the Torch Center will host monthly story time by writers from the community. Visitors will also be able to pick up games and Torch merch.

Guests don't need to buy something to enjoy some reading, as the center offers a free library for on-site use.

"It's how we are preserving works by the Black women writers that we feature in Torch Magazine and at our events, as well as books by our foremothers and the larger Black woman writing community across the diaspora," says Torch founder and executive director Amanda Johnston.

Finally, the center will be available for daily use by the community, including as a coworking space during regular hours, as well as rented event space. It is open to anyone who wants to visit.

Johnston said she created Torch simply because she needed something like it. The center extends that dream to more people; now, instead of having to wait for events, community members will be able to stop by during predictable times and through the retail store, they can even bring some of the experience with them when they leave.

Torch Literary Arts executive director Amanda Johnston Amanda Johnston created the space she needed.Photo by Cindy Elizabeth

"Having space that is created with intention and love for Black women and Black women writers, specifically, is rare to almost non-existent," says Johnston, "not just in Central Texas, but in our country and around the world. ... Access is important, and unfortunately, with all of the growth happening in Austin and Central Texas, there's actually a decline of accessible spaces for creatives in this area."

Although Austin is always growing overall, the city's Black population by percentage has fallen. In 2014, Austin was the only city experiencing double-digit population growth that experienced a net loss of Black residents. By 2024, the Black population dipped under 7 percent. Creatives across demographics are also being priced out of the city, a particular cause of concern for musicians and the people who see them as integral to the city's character.

Torch, which was founded in 2006, works against that trend. Johnston counts more than 300 writers featured so far, and thousands who attendeed events over the years. She says thanks to word-of-mouth, the community — whether it's writers or supporters — is "growing daily."

In addition to founding Torch, Johnston stands out as the 61st Texas Poet Laureate and the first Black woman to gain the title. Austin introduced its own poet laureate program in 2025, starting with Zell Miller III, whose term ends in 2027. Responding to a question about Austin's next poet laureate, Johnston says she'd like to see someone who is "a champion for poetry and poets."

Austin poet laureate Zell Miller III at the Torch Center's grand opening event.Photo by Larry Choyce

"They are making bridges for the work that the poets create," says Johnston. "... I think the poet laureate's job is to show [everyone] there's a place for them, and that they can receive and enjoy the work, and help amplify poetry across the region."

The Torch Center is open to walk-in visitors Tuesdays through Thursdays, from noon to 6 pm. Inquiries about renting the space can be made here.

Community members can find out about special events (like Black Bookstore Day on August 29) on Torch's online calendar. Torch will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Austin Central Library from September 25-27. The three-day, conference-style event is ticketed to support the organization, and registration ends Monday, August 31.

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