Kid’s Block at Art City Austin (April 2+3, 2011)

March 30, 2011 by Julia
Filed under Austin (downtown), Community

Art City Austin continues its tradition of engaging children through art by partnering with local organizations to create a Kid’s Block where young artists can create their own masterpieces. Partners and activities include:

Abrakadoodle: Art Makes Austin postcard installation
Armstrong Community School of Austin Lyric Opera: Spin art on recycled CDs and DVDs
The ARC of Capital Area: Rock art
ZACH Theatre Summer Camps: Decorative masks
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center: Original printmaking
Austin Creative Alliance: Flowers made from recycled fabrics
Dougherty Arts Center: Art trading cards
Paper Bird: Photo opps with a hand decorated storyboard
YNN and Time Warner Cable: Build the Austin skyline with recycled materials
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum: Decorate your own Art City Austin Kid’s Block commemorative bag
Austin Museum of Art: Butterflies made from recycled materials
Future Craft Collective: Felt pins made from recycled blankets

Art activities are $1 each; commemorative bags are $5.

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Art City Austin Activates Art in the Urban Core April 2-3, 2011

Austin’s Downtown Art Festival Features 190 Juried Artists, Local Food and Musicand Art Experiences for All Ages

Austin, Texas – March 21, 2011 – Art Alliance Austin announces the lineup for Art City Austin,taking place Saturday and Sunday April 2-3, 2011.

Reflecting our city’s vibrant creative energy, downtown Austin’s art festival is set against thestreets, plazas and green spaces of the neighborhood surrounding Austin City Hall. Art City Austinwelcomes people of all ages, inviting them to enjoy a variety of art for sale, sounds and smellsfrom local musicians and chefs, engaging activities for kiddos, and opportunities for attendees totry their hand at making art.

Juried Art Fair

190 artists from across the city, state and nation show art for sale. This juried art fair includes prizes for Best in Show in 2D and 3D as well as Best in Medium for eight categories. One of thelongest-standing art fairs in Central Texas, Art City Austin began as Texas Fine Art Association’s Spring Juried Art Fair in 1951 and renamed Fiesta in 1957 when it moved to Laguna Gloria. Fiestamoved to Republic Square Park in 2000, and was then relocated to its current location and named Art City Austin in 2008.

Local participating artists available for interview include Monique Capanelli, Jay Long and MichaelO’Brien (2010 Best in Show winner).
This year Art City Austin is partnering with Austin Yellow Cab to offer free rides from the fair toattendees’ cars located in the Central Business District to make it easy to get purchased art to their vehicle.

Entertainment

The following Austin musicians will perform on the City Hall Stage:

Saturday, April 2

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monarchs
12:30-1:30 p.m. Butcher Bear and Charlie
2-3 p.m.Henry and the Invisibles

Sunday, April 3

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. McCallum Knights of Steel
1-2 p.m. BBoy City
3-4 p.m. The Biscuit Brothers
4:30-5:30 p.m. The Copa Kings

Good Eats

The Art City Austin Bistro and Café by Edible Austin will feature local food partners including Amy’sIce Cream, County Fair Lemonade, Crepe Crazy, Fired Up Kitchen, Snowie Shaved Ice, Tiff’s TreatsCookie Delivery, The Best Wurst, The Zubik House, Torchy’s Tacos and Zhi Tea.

Kid’s Block

Art City Austin continues its tradition of engaging children through art by partnering with local organizations to create a Kid’s Block where young artists can create their own masterpieces.

Partners and activities include:

Abrakadoodle: Art Makes Austin postcard installation
Armstrong Community School of Austin Lyric Opera: Spin art on recycled CDs and DVDs
The ARC of Capital Area: Rock artZACH Theatre Summer Camps: Decorative masks
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center: Original printmaking
Austin Creative Alliance: Flowers made from recycled fabrics
Dougherty Arts Center: Art trading cardsPaper Bird: Photo opps with a hand decorated storyboard
YNN and Time Warner Cable: Build the Austin skyline with recycled materials
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum: Decorate your own Art City Austin Kid’s Block commemorative bag
Austin Museum of Art: Butterflies made from recycled materials
Future Craft Collective: Felt pins made from recycled blankets

Art activities are $1 each; commemorative bags are $5.

Commissioned Installation

Art City Austin will be the opening weekend of “Play Me, I’m Yours,” a month-long, city-wideinteractive art installation that invites Austinites to explore and enhance the city’s soundscape.Beginning during Art City Austin and continuing through the month of April, pianos will appearin public places throughout Austin with the simple invitation to “Play Me, I’m Yours.” People willbe able to upload and share their films, photos and stories of their experiences with the pianosat www.playmeaustin.com, where a map of pianos will be available once the project has been installed.

Part of an international project by artist Luke Jerram and curated by Austin artist JohnnyWalker, “Play Me, I’m Yours” will allow people to engage with, activate and take ownership of theirenvironment via sound and, for those inclined, song.

Attending Art City Austin

An $8 contribution grants entry to Art City Austin; a two day art pass is $15. Children 12 and underand volunteers get in free. Ride and park your bike at the Mellow Johnny’s bike valet on the S.1st St. Bridge and get in free too! Paid parking is available in the AMLI garages in the 2ND StreetDistrict and 101 Colorado ($5).

Collector Badges are $195 and include VIP access to Art Week Austin and Art City Austin, includingthe Collector’s Lounge, designated parking and other exclusive invitations. Collectors Loungeevents include artist and musician meet and greets, Sunday Brunch and complimentary food and drinks throughout the weekend.

For those who love art, food and wine, Art Alliance Austin has partnered with the Texas Hill Country Food & Wine Festival to offer a Weekend Art & Foodie pass for $90, which grants ArtCity Austin VIP Collector’s Lounge access (either Saturday or Sunday) and entry to the Texas HillCountry Food & Wine Festival’s Sunday Fair (1-5 p.m.) at the Mexican American Cultural Center.

Volunteer During Art City AustinTo pull off an event of this scale, Art Alliance Austin needs your help! There are over 800 volunteer opportunities for Art City Austin and surrounding events. To sign up now, visit http://artallianceaustin.volunteerhub.com.

SponsorsArt City Austin is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural ArtsDivision, 93.3 KGSR, CSI & Capital Spectrum, Time Warner Cable, Tribeza, lookthinkmake, GiantMedia, Time Warner Cable and Your News Now, Twin Liquors, Downtown Austin Alliance, 2ND Street District and TEXAS MONTHLY.

About Art Alliance AustinArt Alliance Austin (est. 1956) engages people with great art by supporting Austin’s most promisingvisual artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant, informed community. The non-profit,member-powered organization promotes and funds visual art by commissioning temporary publicart and producing experiences that bring artists, collectors and the community together whilegenerating economic benefit for the entire city. Art Alliance Austin 2011 events include Art NightAustin, Art City Austin, Art Week Austin, co-production of Pecha Kucha Night Austin, and Art NightAustin EAST. For more information, visit www.artallianceaustin.org.