Vivid downtown mural by noted Austin artist will evoke ancient India — but with a twist

Welcome to the Jungle

Photo courtesy of The Contemporary Austin

As part of a new collaboration between The Contemporary Austin and newly opened The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, a new mural will be commissioned from local Austin artist Manik Raj Nakra.

Nakra is a 2004 alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, originally hailing from Olympia, Washington. He previously participated in The Contemporary Austin's 2019 Crit Group program and exhibition.

A press release describes his work as a contemporary application of "Indian iconography, colonial anachronisms, artifacts from early civilizations," and more. Many of his compositions feature jungle animals, textiles, and bold, flat colors that update the ancient, blocky shapes.

"These themes, handled with striking graphics, patterns, and stark compositions," the release says, "illuminate the historically rooted, but contemporarily relevant narratives regarding beauty, paranoia, revelation, and man’s existential relationship to nature."

Nakra will be developing his next piece alongside The Contemporary's head curator Alex Klein. Their plan is to commence painting in the fall, with an expected completion date by early December.

Furthermore, Nakra will be working with The Loren to display his art throughout their newly opened cafe.

Loren Hotels founder and CEO Stephen King said in a press release he knew immediately that he wanted to support local artists in the Austin community when the hotel opened in 2022. The hotel's partnership with The Contemporary Austin and Nakra is the hotel's latest venture in bringing that vision to life.

"Part of Austin’s charm is exemplified by how local artists can transform a blank wall into a masterpiece that can be enjoyed by visitors and locals from all walks of life," King said. "We wanted to be a part of what makes this neighborhood so special and look forward to continuing to support The Contemporary in their ongoing efforts to back artists and their works."

More information about the mural and The Contemporary Austin can be found at thecontemporaryaustin.org.

From Your Site Articles

Photo courtesy of AO Tours

This one-of-a-kind architecture tour shows locals and tourists a new way to view Austin

360 degrees of atx

It's time for local architecture buffs to put their skills to the test. A new bus tour is showing locals and visitors a new view of Austin through the lens of the city's art and architecture.

The new excursion by tour experts AO Tours takes up to 14 people on a cruise through downtown and Central Austin to explore several different architectural styles in the city, such as Gothic, Greek Revival, and Moderne.

According to their website, AO Tours has been the leading tour company in Austin since 2003. They offer many sightseeing trips around Austin and the Hill Country.

"Our team is made up of the most knowledgeable Austin tour guides in the industry," their website says. "We know the area and our professional guides are both insightful and entertaining throughout the experience."

Guests on this new tour will get to see all of the city's unique art and architecture from the comfort of a convertible-top bus, with plenty of AC to go around in the brutal summer heat.

A few of the architectural and artistic gems that will be spotted on the two-and-a-half-hour tour include:

The State Capitol
Willie Nelson statue
Kempelen's Robotic Owls
The Austin Central Library
Neill-Cochran House
The Seaholm District
The Independent
Barbara Jordan Statue
Clock Knot Statue
Elizabet Ney Museum

The tour will also drive through some historic Austin neighborhoods to admire the Victorian-style homes.

More information about the new Art Studio and Architecture Tour can be found on aotoursaustin.com.

blantonmuseum.org

Blanton Museum debuts refreshed new grounds with grand opening celebration on May 13

MUSEUM NEWS

Austin’s favorite art museum has gotten a refresh, and is inviting the public to come take a look. Beginning Saturday, May 13, visitors can see the museum’s new grounds for themselves at their grand opening celebration.

The festivities will begin at 2 pm on the Moody Patio with Blanton Director Simone Wicha, Gina Chavez, and a "participatory art experience" by the Haas Brothers. The Petersen Brothers, DJ Ella Ella, and Adrian Quesada are scheduled to perform at varying times at the Moody Patio until 8 pm. Pop-up exhibitions, public tours, and live-readings by Texas authors will take place from 3-8 pm inside the museum.

The initiative to reimagine the 200,000 square foot museum campus has been underway since 2020 in partnership with international design firm Snøhetta. The most recognizable change is the construction of the Moody Patio, a space located between the two main museum buildings. 15 petal-shaped structures create a canopy that frames and shades parts of the campus, coming alive at night for unique viewing experience at the museum.

Landscaping improvements include the addition of over 25,000 mostly native Texas plants to the museum grounds. The area's heritage trees, such as their Southern live oaks, will be highlighted by the new landscape design, as well as the museum's garden areas and Faulkner Gateway.

University of Texas at Austin alumni Craig Dykers, John Newman, and Elaine Molinar were the lead architects on the revitalization plans. In a press release, Dykers explained how the new landscaping and building entrances elevate the museum's prominent location between the Texas Capitol Complex and UT campus.

“Snøhetta’s design expands the museum’s world-class art collection beyond the museum’s galleries and creates a highly visible public place of — and for — the arts and Austin," he said.

The Blanton also commissioned a new large public mural by Cuban-American artist Carmen Herrera to cover an interior wall of the Mari and James A. Michener Gallery Building. She said in the release that it was an honor to create her first commissioned mural for a museum she has admired for decades.

blantonmuseum.org

“As a museum that has long been at the forefront of collecting work by artists of Latin American descent, as well as the place where Ellsworth Kelly realized his last great work of art, entering the collection at this moment marks a high point in my long career," Herrera said.

Access to the Moody Patio and grounds is free for Blanton members and all visitors, and admission to the museum is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors aged 65 and up, and $8 for children and non-UT college ID holders.

More information about the grand opening celebration can be found on the Blanton's website.

Photo by Dan Winters

Award-winning photographer and beekeeper brings buzzy new art to Austin's Waterloo Park

BEE-AUTIFUL ART

If there’s one thing Austinites can agree on, it's our love for local art and honeybees. A local organization is combining both for a free, immersive experience at a cherished Austin park beginning April 23.

“Seeing Bees” is a new educational art installation at Waterloo Park that will display a series of anatomical, microscopic honey bee works by Dan Winters, a distinguished and award-winning photographer. Land conservation nonprofit Wild Spirit Wild Places (WSWP) is partnering with local honeymaker Round Rock Honey and Waterloo Greenway for the exhibit, with additional support from H-E-B and perfume designer Guerlain.

The installation will feature large format images of honey bees that were captured with a field emissions scanning electron microscope. Winters is best known for his celebrity portraits, so this latest project is entirely new territory for him. Luckily he is well-versed in the art of beekeeping; He started keeping his own bees at just nine-years-old.

Winters said in a press release that the images will provide attendees with a never-before-seen view of the insects.

“These images magnify bees to an unprecedented level with every hair in focus, allowing for a view into the complexity of the honeybee first hand,” said Winters.

“Seeing Bees” is free to the public, and there will be several free public programs and events in conjunction with the exhibit at Waterloo Park. Austinites of all ages will have the opportunity to get educated about the importance of conservation, biodiversity, and pollinators in our local communities.

WSWP and Round Rock Honey have joined forces before to raise awareness about native bees in Austin and Round Rock; In 2022 they helped pass resolutions to designate both cities as Bee City USA affiliates, joining the neighboring city of Bee Cave on the Central Texas roster.

WSWP CEO Dr. Karen Looby said in the release that her organization is proud to support the exhibit, calling it a “one-of-a-kind experience celebrating bees.”

“This exhibit provides an amazing look at the intricacies of our bees and provides insight on how they are uniquely equipped to support the health of our environment,” Dr. Looby said. “With the help of the community, we look forward to ensuring that our pollinators across Texas are supported for generations to come.”

Totally Cool Totally Art/Instagram

Totally cool downtown museum displays student art from Austin teens, with more classes to come

after school art

We all know someone who goes to museums and says, “I don’t get it; I could do that.” What if we started reframing that as, “I should do that”?

The Mexic-Arte Museum, one of Austin’s best-loved art museums, is bridging that gap for teens, showing their mentor-facilitated works in an exhibit called Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA), named for the City of Austin outreach program that has been connecting youth artists with professionals annually since 1996. The 2023 installment is open to the public until February 28.

The City of Austin and Parks and Recreation Department have organized a long-form art program for students from 7th to 12th grade, who contribute paintings, sculptures, digital art, film, and more, to be shown at the museum. Social media records show that in addition to producing serious works that would look at home in any art gallery, the program also has a sense of humor, especially in its many forays into film.

Although a finished piece is one end goal, TCTA declares a mission to use mentorship to enrich teens beyond the art skills, emphasizing “new experiences … respect and trust,” and giving them something engaging to dedicate time to after school.
There’s plenty of other programming for kids at the Mexic-Arte, which offers a similar program, amArte, that sends artists to local schools for monthly workshops requiring less of a time commitment to engage students.

TCTA is in the middle of its 2022-2023 season, with more classes coming on March 2 and 6, and April 18. Past years have included a summer camp after the regular season, which has not been announced yet. Late registrations are welcome.

Classes are taught at the following locations:

Dittmar Recreation Center
AB Oswaldo Pan Am Recreation Center
Northwest Recreation Center
Rudolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center
Gus Garcia Recreation Center

Visit the exhibit at The Mexic-Arte Museum for inspiration until February 28, or find more information, including registration links, at austintexas.gov.

Courtesy Blanton Museum of Art

'Tis the season to get artsy with 7 exciting Austin exhibits for December

State of the Arts

Free up your mind, spirit, and some time this December to appreciate all the arts on offer in Austin, from new installations to pop-up shows and year-end group exhibitions. New lights dazzle at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden with family-friendly sculptural art works from the Design Shine juried competition; over 120 rescue dogs have earned the spotlight in art works created by local and national artists capturing the Tito’s distillery dogs rescued over the years; and the Blanton presents the work of modern artists created prints, drawings, paintings, illustrated books, sculptures, and decorative objects informed by the craftsmanship and compelling historical figures of the Middle Ages in Medieval X Modern. So many options to dazzle the senses this holiday season.

Long Center
“Impressions of Tito’s Distillery Dogs Over 25 Years” — Now through January 4, 2023

Inspired by the 120+ distillery dogs rescued over the years, Tito’s Vodka for Dog People has unveiled its newest project, a one-of-a-kind, 25-piece art collection featuring vibrant dog artwork created by local and national artists. Dogs are a huge part of the brand's story, and since the early days when strays found their way to the distillery, they were always well received and the employees would feed, nurture, and find them loving homes. Each portrait depicts a dog’s unique story and legacy of resilience, with featured work by local artists including Tom Jean Webb, Sam Soper, Saira Holland, Raine Lipscher, Lindsay Laser Smith, Judy Paul, John Walker, Joel Ganucheau, Jeff Skele, Hope Perkins, Erika Jane Amerika, Elissa Marie, and Amy Ringholz.

ATX Wonderspaces

“Micromonumental Mapping, the Essence of Creation by Limelight” — New Installation
The Essence of Creation by Limelight was originally created to be displayed on the Opéra de Lille in France for the Lille Video Mapping Festival that was set to take place in April 2020. Due to COVID 19, the festival had to be postponed so the artists decided to downscale and project it onto a 1:40 3D model of the building. Inspired by the national divinity of the Greeks, Apollo, who has been recognized as a god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light, poetry, war and death, the artwork conveys this complexity by using the symbolic and physical elements of the building.

Umlauf Sculpture Garden

“Design Shine” — December 1 through April 15, 2023
Presented by the Emerging Professionals Committee of AIA Austin and the UMLAUF, the Design Shine juried competition was created to promote emerging talent in the fields of architecture and design. This year’s competition showcases winning installations by three local design teams, Crux Celestia, Introspectacle and Prismascope. Each presents a unique interpretation of the 2023 theme, Designing for Discovery with the goal of enlivening and energizing the UMLAUF Garden in new and unexpected ways with captivating, family-friendly sculptural art works. All three installations include elements of light that can also be enjoyed during evening events or viewed from the street.

Wally Workman

“America Martin: Solo Show” — December 3 through 30
America Martin is a Colombian-American fine artist based in Los Angeles and has been called a rising star in the contemporary art world with a national following. Martin describes herself as a painting anthropologist, working primarily with paint on canvas and paper to explore the human experience and the human form. Taking inspiration from Mid-Century Modernist masters, her distinctive style is underscored by the use of boldly brushed lines and punctuated bursts of color to imply tone and mood. She treats her subjects with an obvious reverence, and in a manner that captures their individuality and their dignity.

Ivester Contemporary

“Late Bloomer” — December 3 through January 14, 2023
Late Bloomer is a solo exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by Honduran-American artist Jasmine Zelaya. Zelaya has used portraiture to explore themes of identity throughout her career, specifically from the perspective of a first generation, Latinx artist. This newest body of work is heavily informed by memory, the awkwardness of youth, and the experience of assimilation. Graphic floral masks, a subtle head tilt, teary eyes, and explosive gradients of color all coalesce to capture the strong, mixed emotions of introspective teen years. Zelaya’s work explores themes of identity, assimilation and the brown body through a familial narrative rich with symbolism.

Flatbed

“31 BY 12” — December 10 through January 7, 2023
This annual group exhibition includes work by twelve artists: Adrian Armstrong, Miguel A. Aragon, Connie Arismendi, Jennifer Anderson, Pepe Coronado, Laura Berman, David Everett, Mike Hart, Peter Nickel, Heather Parrish, Maricela Sanchez, and James Sullivan. Thirty-one refers to the number of projects published during 2022. Each project might include over fifty unique monoprints while some projects are editioned etchings or lithographs.

Blanton Museum

Courtesy Blanton Museum of Art

Carlos Alonso, Que corrían mordiéndose [Those Who Run Biting Each Other], on display at the Blanton.

“Medieval X Modern” — December 10 through July 9, 2023
Many artists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries were fascinated by the styles and subjects of medieval art. Soaring cathedrals and ornate illuminated manuscripts impressed artists living in an era of increasing mechanization, while reverent visions of saints and heroes offered inspirational models in the midst of war and political violence. Along with representative medieval objects, Medieval X Modern presents the work of modern artists from Europe and the Americas who created prints, drawings, paintings, illustrated books, sculptures, and decorative objects informed by the spectacular craftsmanship and compelling historical figures of the Middle Ages. Drawing primarily from the Blanton’s permanent collection, Medieval X Modern offers a wide array of artistic responses to the European Middle Ages, including one of the museum’s most iconic works — Ellsworth Kelly’s "Austin."

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10 restaurant and bar openings — including a pop-up — top Austin's tastiest food news

News You Can Eat

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings and closings

ICYMI: Buckle in for tons of openings this week. During our busy week we covered the opening date for Radio/East, which is the highly anticipated expansion of Radio Coffee & Beer; the arrival of Tarbox & Brown, a San Marcos restaurant with lots of cultural influences, led by a chef with South African and Chinese roots; and the debut of Bacalar, a Mexican restaurant that marks the return of a former Top Chef winner to the Austin food scene. We also heard about a secretive new speakeasy, Trona, from an entrepreneur with a very cool track record. But there's more we haven't told you about yet.

First-year Texas Longhorn player Deandre Moore just got a check for his "name, image, and likeness," and used that money to open the Jive Turkeyfood truck (1637 E. Riverside Dr.). And even cooler — he hired his mom. Taleea Moore is cooking up lots of turkey dishes, inspired by the family's athletic at-home eating that has long subbed out poultry for beef. There are only three regular menu items so far: a turkey burger (of course), a Thanksgiving-inspired cornbread comfort bowl, and a deep-fried turkey taco. The rest are seasonal treats.

Austin could always use more cool cocktail spots — they book up fast on the weekend — so people are excited to welcome Daydreamer, a "cocktail and champagne bar." (That's not to be confused with Daydreamer Coffee, which opened last year.) There's lots to dream about, but most appealing is that this venture comes from the minds of a whole bunch of industry vets from very cool spots all around Austin. Follow your dreams to 1708 E. 6th St.

Longtime Austin establishmentJuliet Italian Kitchen, also known for dreamy vibes thanks to pretty interior design and a great location in the Zilker area, is expanding into Georgetown. The stylish vibes will continue at 701 S. Main St., in Georgetown's Old Masonic Lodge Building, which was built in 1900. This will be the restaurant's third location, and will include an upstairs bar and dining area, plus a patio, seating 188 guests in total.

The team behind Drinks Lounge just launched Drinks Backyard, bringing even more casual vibes to South Austin — where they'll really be appreciated. Located at a former liquor store (6328 S. Hwy. 183), this bar takes advantage of the two acres around it with a stage, covered lounge seating, and a 14-foot TV for sports and movies. The bar and patio are open now, but the backyard is still getting ready. Eventually, it will welcome guests under 21 and pets. Smokin' Brew-B-Q is the first food truck onsite, with more coming soon.

We focused on other things last week, but two casual chains shared news we don't want to gloss over. Graze Craze, a charcuterie shop, has opened its first location in the Austin area, in Lakeway (2127 Lohman’s Crossing Rd., Ste. 304). The company takes its meat-cheese-and-other-snacks curating very seriously, and these gargantuan charcuteries are sure to impress large parties.

Similarly, Seattle-based Eastern European pie-maker Piroshky Piroshky is making its Texas debut — but in this case, they're not sticking around. Catch the pop-up in Austin on October 6 to see why this bakery is popular enough to pull off a national tour. The team is posting locations as they go on Instagram.

Radio Coffee brings the brews to new East Austin shop and music venue in October

going live in the fall

When it comes to expanding the influence of coffee connoisseurs in Austin, there's room for everyone on the East Side.

One East Austin coffee shop just changed hands for a fancy rebrand, and another recently expanded out of the area into Buda. Cosmic Coffee, a South Austin staple, blew everyone out of the water with a gorgeous, sprawling industrial complex on East 4th Street, and now another neighboring coffee and beer combo is following suit.

Radio/East, a second location spun off from the original music-loving Radio Coffee & Beer, will open its doors at 3504 Montopolis Dr. in East Austin on Wednesday, October 18.

The new family- and dog-friendly space sprawls across two acres, which is divvied up among a 1,200-square-foot indoor coffee shop, indoor and outdoor live music stages, and a food truck park. Guests will be able to order their favorite drinks from the indoor counter, or they can choose to order from either of the two outdoor windows that open to the grand shaded backyard. And we can't forget one of the more rare features: plenty of parking for customers.

Radio's founding father-son duo Jack and Greg Wilson brought on two new partners — Trey Hudson and Nine Mile Records owner Rick Pierik — in the hopes of developing and maintaining this new spot as a community-focused space, much like the beloved original.

“With the new space, we’ve been able to create a through line to the existing concept of Radio,” said Hudson in a release. “With Radio/East we tried to listen to what the Montopolis community needed and we hope that we can be as central to this neighborhood as we have been to the area around Menchaca.”

Pierik will be the driving force behind Radio/East's musical events. Local musicians and touring bands will all get their chance to take the stage with four nights of performances planned indoors and outdoors beginning on Thursdays.

With Austin's wide-ranging music taste, Pierik will seek to reflect the city's musical diversity with every show.

"Jack Wilson and I are looking to bring together diverse programing from every corner of the music industry, booking up-and-coming national and international acts alongside all of the amazing Austin talent we've known and admired for years," said Pierik. "We're especially committed to helping local artists develop their fanbases through quality concert experiences and eclectic bills."

A list of events following Radio/East's grand opening is as follows:

October 19 – Sunrosa with Guma and Feeling Small
October 20 – Redbud with Mockjaw, Tearjerk, and Creekbed Carter Hogan
October 21 – Peachfuzz 10th Anniversary Party featuring The Texas Gentleman, Brown Burlesque, Lady Dan, and a to-be-announced special guest
October 28 – First Annual Radio/East Chili Cook Off and the Austin Flea, featuring Mother Neff, The Push & Shove, and Sour Bridges
October 31 – A Rocky Horror Halloween featuring A Giant Dog with Trouble in the Streets
November 11 – A Free Lunch Benefit featuring Caroline Rose and BRUCE
November 17 – Money Chicha with The Tiarras

Tickets for the upcoming shows can be purchased online beginning Friday, September 29.

In addition to keeping Radio/East music-focused, visitors can expect to see some classic beverages on the menu, with a few new twists to keep customers coming back. The new location will have two tap towers with eight craft beer taps, four rotating specialty draft cocktails, and plenty of wine to go around.

Radio/East Get a local favorite beer on draft, or try a new specialty draft cocktail.Photo by Renee Dominguez

Bar Manager Jacob Biggie has been hard at work to develop new creative cocktails for the new location, including Phantom Mood (Still Austin Gin, hibiscus, lime, and cucumber with soda) and Sensitive Artist (Senza Maeso hybrid spirit, Aperol, St. Germain, lime juice). Guests can also try the new seasonal non-alcoholic highball, dubbed the Chai-ball.

The lineup of food vendors at the new East Austin digs include Veracruz All Natural with its binge-worthy tacos; organic pizza slices from Side Eye Slice (a sister concept to Side Eye Pie); and Radio's own food truck – Shortwave Diner – offering classic American diner fare and comfort food such as smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken and waffles, and more.

Following the grand opening at 7 am on October 18, Radio/East's operating hours will be 7 am to 1 am Monday through Saturday, and 7 am to 10 pm on Sundays.

Austin is No. 12 in the U.S. with the highest number of 'unretirees'

Office News

Many Austin seniors are still punching the clock well past retirement age. According to "Cities with the Most Working Seniors," a new employment study by business website ChamberofCommerce.org, more than a quarter of Austin seniors aged 65 and up are still employed, making it the No. 12 city in the U.S. with the most working seniors.

More than 25,400 Austin seniors aged 65 and up are employed out of a total 93,861, or 27.1 percent of the city's senior population.

The No. 1 city in the U.S. with hard-working oldsters is Alexandria, Virginia, located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, where 36.8 percent of its seniors still employed. Coming in second was Tallahassee, Florida, with 30.9 percent. In third place was Dallas, with 30.3 percent of the senior population clocking in for work around the city.

To determine their ranking, the site examined the percentage of seniors aged 65 and over who were actively employed within the last 12 months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their analysis included data from 170 of the nation’s most populous cities.

The report says the median household income of a senior citizen in Austin is $58,546, and hints at the rising cost of living coupled with personal extenuating circumstances leading to a new trend of "unretiring" seniors within the local workforce.

"Deciding when to retire is one of the most important financial and personal decisions that workers can make," the report's author said. "Before making the leap, make sure you have factored in your savings, social security benefits, spending habits, economic volatility, and how your social life will change after retirement."

Also in Central Texas, San Antonio ranked No. 82 overall with 22.1 percent of the senior population currently in the workforce. Although that seems like a smaller number of people, it's actually much larger than Austin, with 41,918 seniors toiling away out of a total 189,544.

San Antonio's relatively high percentage of working seniors might come as a surprise, considering the city was named one of the best cities for retirees earlier in 2023.

The top 10 U.S. cities with the most working seniors are:

No. 1 – Alexandria, Virginia
No. 2 – Tallahassee, Florida
No. 3 – Dallas, Texas
No. 4 – Irvine, California
No. 5 – Washington, D.C.
No. 6 – Plano, Texas
No. 7 – Anchorage, Alaska
No. 8 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
No. 9 – Overland Park, Kansas
No. 10 – Madison, Wisconsin

ChamberofCommerce.org is a digital site for small business owners and entrepreneurs. The full report and its methodology can be found on chamberofcommerce.org.

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