In New Light

Sneak a peek at the 6 immersive, nocturnal artworks lighting up Austin's 2023 Creek Show

Update: Since this article was published, the Creek Show added two more installations, totaling eight for the 2023 show.

With captivating new artwork and lively programming, this year's Creek Show will allow Austinites to experience the city in a whole new light. The banks of Waller Creek will soon be aglow with illuminated art installations as part of Waterloo Greenway's annual event, featuring six new light-based art pieces created by local artists and designers.

Rendering courtesy of Waterloo Greenway

The Creek Show brings large-scale immersive art outside every year to highlight Austin's natural splendor. (Pictured: Creek Keeper)

From November 10-18, the free nightly showcase will extend from 9th Street to Waterloo Park, inviting the community to experience eye-catching artwork created specifically for the creekside setting. And a new round of mockups preview the abstract, immersive concepts.

The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring Waller Creek, commissions new pieces each year through a collaboration with AIA Austin. According to AIA Austin Executive Director Ingrid Spencer, this year's installations will provide "an exciting artistic representation of Waller Creek ecology, history, and culture." This year's installations blend imaginative artistry with the splendor of the natural world.

One installation called Crescendo, created by Alex Martin and Max Hoffman, comprises an arrangement of repurposed sheet music stands with color-changing lights representing the pulse of Austin's vibrant music scene. The choreographed light display at Symphony Square pays tribute to the Red River District, the heart of the city's live music community, which the creek runs through.

Glowing brightly against the night sky, the another installation, Into the Wild, spotlights the enduring wildlife found in Austin's creeks and green spaces. Created by artists Nolan Stone and Ryan Blair, the illuminated artwork casts shimmering reflections onto the water after dark. This evokes images of Austin's natural heritage and dreams of restoring the land's ecology.

Topher Sipes and Jasna Boudard's video installation Melting Mirrors features digitally manipulated slow-motion footage of Waller Creek. The multi-layered screens create a 3D effect, allowing viewers to see above and below the water's surface.

Other installations include a large, fishy tent lounge; an abstract walk through images of protest and activism; and some glowing new cave-dwellers under the bridge that are larger than life.

Since 2014, Creek Show has established itself as a local tradition. Each year, Waterloo Greenway commissions new site-specific installations by Austin-based artists, architects, and designers. The artists' installations illuminate diverse aspects of Waller Creek, from the creek's natural environment and heritage to its role in Austin's cultural fabric and everyday community life.

In addition to the light art, Creek Show offers free programming at Waterloo Park each evening. There will be live music performances, food and beverages, and family-friendly activities nightly during the event.

With imaginative light-art and lively programming, this year's Creek Show promises to be an illuminating experience for all. Visitors are invited to see Waller Creek in a new light for free, and without reservations or tickets. More information can be found at waterloogreenway.org.

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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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