New Neighborhood, New Dorf

Art gallery moves into Zilker building with rooftop garden, $1 yearly rent

Dorf, a community-driven art gallery known for its scrappy DIY persistence and social conscience, is moving to a new location this fall. Even better, it’s basically free: A partnership with the City of Austin means Dorf can move into Zilker Point, a new office building development neighboring the Zach Theatre, for $1 a year for up to 10 years. Plus, a city ordinance tailored to the building will keep the space free for more arts organizations to come. In celebration of the new space, DORF is hosting an opening reception on October 25.

Founded by Sarah Vanderbeek and Eric Manche out of their garage in 2018, Dorf has been a champion of both emerging and established creators, often with a bent towards social advocacy. In its new home, Dorf will keep pursuing diverse programming from exhibitions and workshops, to community events and artist residencies.

Along with the gallery itself, the new location offers a rooftop garden, an outdoor plaza featuring a stage for performances, and a permanent sculpture by Dallas-based artist Jessica Bell, whose works often include bright colors and surrealist concepts. Negotiations for Dorf's move to 218 Zilker Point included a $100,000 “Tenant Improvement budget,” according to a press release, representing a significant victory for Austin's creative community.

"This collaboration shows what is possible when cities recognize the value of art and invest in its sustainability,” said Dorf’s executive director Sara Vanderbeek and creative director Eric Manche in the release. We hope this model inspires future collaborations between city officials and Austin’s many essential arts nonprofits. We can’t wait to open the doors to our new home, welcome guests, and continue to amplify the many vital voices of Austin’s creative community.”

The inaugural exhibition, aptly titled Soft Opening, runs from opening night through January 11. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of local talent, alongside artists from New York and Los Angeles. The artwork has been specifically curated to complement the open, unfinished nature of the space as construction continues around it. This minimalist approach is further enhanced by the high ceilings, creating an airy and immersive experience.

The opening reception will be an evening of art, music, and community. Attendees can enjoy complimentary drinks and indulge in soft serve ice cream from Connor's Creamery while checking out the art. Adding to the atmosphere will be performances by Michael Anthony Garcia and DJ Apanda.

The celebration doesn't end on opening night. As part of the Austin Studio Tour, Dorf is partnering with East Side Pot Shop (ESPS) for a unique ceramic workshop on November 10, from 2-4 pm. Led by ESPS owner and Soft Opening artist Rebeca Proctor, this workshop offers a hands-on creative experience within the new gallery space.

More information about Dorf is available at dorfworld.org. Zilker Point is located at 218 S. Lamar Blvd.

Rendering by Runa Workshop

The new space features a gallery, rooftop garden, and a plaza.

galleries zilker neighborhood visual art openings

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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