Among the wildflowers

Dazzling Wildflower Center exhibit extends its Austin stay through May 2023

Field of Light at Austin's Wildflower Center

Field of Lights will illuminate Austin through May 2023.

Photo by Daniel Cavazos

Mesmerizing Austinites ever since its highly anticipated September opening, the Field of Light has extended its stay through May 2023. The immersive outdoor experience, originally slated through December 2022, is a collaboration between C3 Presents, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which hosts the exhibit.

Designed by artist Bruce Munro, the exhibition opened on September 9 with a glowing response from the community. A stunning display of 28,000 subtly lit, solar-powered spheres, Field of Light illuminates 16 acres of the Wildflower Center's Texas Arboretum and showcases the intersection of art, technology, and nature.

Tickets are now available through February 2023. Entry times are in 30-minute increments and guests may stay as long as they like to enjoy the self-guided experience at their own pace — or make a night of it with food and drinks from local vendors.

In addition to the extended dates, the exhibit will also continue offering special programs and packages:

Date Night Package
This curated experience will be offered every weekend and includes two entry tickets, a charcuterie board from The Austin Epicure, two drink tickets, and two Field of Light postcards or stickers.

Silent Disco Nights
Returning to Field of Light every Friday, guests are welcome to enjoy curated playlists while they walk through the display of ever-changing light at the Wildflower Center. Field of Light will have 100 complimentary headsets available at the entrance for guests to pick up on a first-come first serve basis.

Student and Teacher Nights
On Sundays, students and teachers, with valid school IDs, will be able to purchase a $30 Field of Light ticket.

Regular ticket prices start at $41, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Wildflower Center. The installation is open Friday through Sunday from 5:30 pm to 8 pm, although entry times vary depending on sunset. In January and February, new ticket benefits include access to onsite parking, as available, and an elevated viewing deck with sweeping views of the installation.

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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