weekend links: EAST, EAST, EAST
This weekend, Austin kicks off its premier art event of the year, the East Austin Studio Tour. Now expanded to two weekends, EAST is a time to celebrate the city's many, many east side artists. Hundreds will open their studio doors and welcome the public to view the pieces they've been working on all year. It is truly the Thanksgiving of art, and each year we leave thoroughly gorged and satisfied.
Understanding where to go for EAST can be a difficult challenge, however, especially if you haven't picked yourself up a handy catalog, available for free at public libraries across the city. They go fast, though, and there may or may not be any left. Fortunately, you can find maps and information at the EAST website. Still, the sheer number of studios is overwhelming. This is where we come in.
We are happy to provide you with our recommendations for EAST this year, complete with studio stops that correlate with the EAST map, to help you find your way. This list is by no means comprehensive, so please don't take it as a be-all and end-all to your adventures. As always, the fun comes from exploring and discovering the unexpected, so treat your EAST guide like a treasure map and follow the stops to the riches of your delight.
Our picks:
Monkey Town 6 - This multimedia dining experience comes to Austin from New York, where it has entertained audiences for the past 10 years. Enjoy a five-course meal, absorb work from a variety of different video artists, and listen to music from local bands, including the always-impressive psych outfit Dallas Acid. All this while sitting in a giant 27-foot cube. This one will be running for a few months, with different musical acts performing each week, so find the one that best fits your palate and secure your tickets now, as they're sure to go quick.
Kevin McNamee-Tweed - Fresh off the release of two highly successful book launches, McNamee-Tweed is one of Austin's most cherished artists. As the curator of Big Medium, he is also an integral force behind EAST and the Austin art scene as a whole. His irreverent humor and playful deconstruction of our contemporary lexicon is both startling and irresistible. If you missed his show at pump project recently, you can check out his work at Bolm Studios, stop 73.
ATM Gallery - Some of our favorite artists will be displaying work at a group exhibit at ATM Gallery. "Come Thru It's Lit" features new artwork from fields favorite Jonny Negron alongside Clayton Westmeir, Berkeley Beauchot, Ben Aqua, and many others. Many of these artists were featured in the "Mi[ne]mesis Rose: Dea ex Machina" exhibit earlier in the year, which was a great success, and we are excited to see what they'll put together for this showcase. ATM Gallery is also located at Bolm Studios, stop 75.
Alyssa Taylor Wendt, still from HAINT (2014-2015) Image courtesy of the artist.
Alyssa Taylor Wendt - Wendt's dark, surreal imagery was a highlight of ARTBASH, and it will be on display at her studio. Her images for the HAINT series come from her experimental film of the same name, which will be playing on November 20 at 7 pm at 1500 E. 4th Street. Her work is available for viewing at Studio 727, stop 84.
Angelbert Metoyer - If you haven't seen Metoyer's latest exhibit, "Life Machine," at Co-Lab Projects' pop-up space, then this should be first on your list. Metoyer is one of Texas's most fascinating artists, and he has created another enigmatic collection in which he explores his creole ancestry, mythology, memory, and the human condition. Even if you have already seen this exhibit, you should still visit on Saturday, November 14, between noon and 6 pm, because our friends from the Free Beer podcast will be giving out free beer (natch) and providing humorous art-world banter out in front. The show takes place at Canopy, stop 339.
Little Pink Monster - We've been running a collaboration with our friends at LPM lately, and we would be remiss not to mention the awesome show that they have lined up for EAST. Featuring some of Austin's most beloved artists, including Briar Bonifacio (aka the man behind the Cheer Up Charlie's cats) and our most recent cover artist, Manik Raj Nakra, Little Pink Monster has a great show happening, complete with live music, slam poetry performances, short films, and more. This show is happening at the Santa Cruz Center for Culture, stop 402.
Alexis Kraus - This is not technically a part of EAST, as it's taking place about 3 blocks west of I-35, but fields is hosting an art show for the wonderful Alexis Kraus, who will be displaying her interactive, laser-cut posters and books. The event takes place Saturday, November 14, from 7-10 pm. The perfect nightcap to a day of EAST activity. We hope to see you there!
Other notable shows and stops:
Bill Kolb - 29 Flatbed Press - 32 Awst Press - 74 Soña Holman - 86 pump project - 93 (and be sure to check out the Conflict of Interest space, where copies of fields will be on sale alongside other wonderful local publications!) Caitlin McCollom - 100 Brian Maclaskey - 127 Jaelah Muehmichel - 135 Elizabeth McDonald - 143 Alex Diamond - 334 ICOSA - 335 Museum of Human Achievement - 345 Ana Villagomez - 385