Our experiences (in words and pictures)...
We thoroughly enjoyed the annual East Austin Studio Tour. Join us next November for more East Austin art!
Print-making demonstration at Flatbed Press.
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The finished product.
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Jan Garven with her work at Flatbed O2 Gallery.
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Laura Jennings with her work at Flatbed O2 Gallery.
Rick Van Dyke
An artist needs to find an outlet for their art. Family and friends are willing to take only so much of it. Closets eventually get full. Galleries only seem to work for a limited number of artists and only for a limited amount of time. So the East Austin Studio Tour is an awesome way to make connections between artists and art-lovers and art-buyers by bringing them together in the artist's own studio! East Side Studio Tour is excellently run even though it has turned into an overwhelming enormous beast. I got so overwhelmed by the number of choices that I just gave up going the last few years.
Sarah Hawthorne made it easy for us at Hope Chapel this year. She sorted through the vast number of choices, narrowed them down to a few, organized us together with times and places and leaders and groups. She came along and led the leaders. We began visiting artists connected to hopearts: Kathy Brimberry, Jan Garven, and Laura Jennings at Flatbed Press. We were mesmerized watching a print being made. Audrey Lopata at her studio was selling more work than anyone else that I witnessed on the whole tour! I ended the day with other artist friends in their studios.
I was blessed by the number of Hope Chapelites who came out and look forward to doing it again.
An artist needs to find an outlet for their art. Family and friends are willing to take only so much of it. Closets eventually get full. Galleries only seem to work for a limited number of artists and only for a limited amount of time. So the East Austin Studio Tour is an awesome way to make connections between artists and art-lovers and art-buyers by bringing them together in the artist's own studio! East Side Studio Tour is excellently run even though it has turned into an overwhelming enormous beast. I got so overwhelmed by the number of choices that I just gave up going the last few years.
Sarah Hawthorne made it easy for us at Hope Chapel this year. She sorted through the vast number of choices, narrowed them down to a few, organized us together with times and places and leaders and groups. She came along and led the leaders. We began visiting artists connected to hopearts: Kathy Brimberry, Jan Garven, and Laura Jennings at Flatbed Press. We were mesmerized watching a print being made. Audrey Lopata at her studio was selling more work than anyone else that I witnessed on the whole tour! I ended the day with other artist friends in their studios.
I was blessed by the number of Hope Chapelites who came out and look forward to doing it again.
Ryan Greene
I joined a HopeArts group on the second Saturday of EAST. One of the things I like about EAST is that, as its unabbreviated name suggests, it sends non-artists like me into the places where art is made, where it actually happens. Normally I see art in its destination or waystation, like a museum, or a coffee house, or a home. But during EAST I find out that art is being made all over the neighborhood, sometimes in larger warehouses with really impressive machinery, and sometimes in rather unremarkable rooms. And I get to opportunity to hear from the artists in their own place. My two highlights of the day were getting to watch a demonstration at Flatbed Press, and (while sipping a delicious Flat Track Coffee latte) briefly stargazing Robert Plant at the Pump Project Art Complex. Even rock gods crave Austin art! |
Lesley Bell It was definitely a blessing to be involved in HopeArt's EAST Austin Studio Tour group. During the day, we saw works of art by hundreds of talented artists, and were able to meet many of them. Art is inherently freeing and spiritual, and for many it is an act of worship. I really appreciated the experience of viewing and discussing the art of the EAST Austin studio tour with others from Hope. 
Michael, Joelene, Ryan and Emily at Imagine Art.
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Audrey Lopata (Hope Chapel's artist-in-residence) showing her work at Pump Project.
A piece of Audrey's work.
Laura Porter I had no idea what I was getting into when I went on the East Austin Studio Tour, but it was fabulous. It's definitely my new favorite Austin festival. Seriously, you don't have to wait in lines, fight traffic, or stand in the dirt/mud bowl that is Auditorium Shores. The art was engaging and moving. My only regret is that EAST is only once a year. 
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Kevin Daniel This was my first experience of the East Austin Studio Tours. The art was truly above par everywhere we went, and very skillfully executed. I was really quite taken by so many pieces, and found myself wishing the event lasted for months, more than just mere days (just so I could have soaked in the experience at my leisure). Even more wonderful was the artist community - they were welcoming and inviting. I met a sweet spirited lady who was overjoyed just to have someone talk to her about her art. I made connections and was exposed to work which I felt touched upon issues really trenchant to my life. It felt less like a consumerist experience and more like a community fair. I left feeling invigorated, stirred, and as if I had moved through rich, emotional depth all day long. 
Melanie Fetty As a child I relished music and color. I loved creativity and art. Then life happened. The desire for art and beauty never died, but got pushed aside. When I went on the art studio tour it was like rain from heaven for me. The beauty of the art was nourishing and I started to think about color, design, and shape again. 
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Pottery demonstration.
Susan Harris Several people joined those from Hope Chapel for the East Austin art tour. Did you know there are over 100 galleries in East Austin? We spent the day and stopped at about seven places as we walked around, and then shared a meal with new and old friends. The arts were displayed in ministry at the Austin House of Prayer. We were lucky enough to catch a pottery and printmaking demonstration. Many of the artists were available to talk. Our tour had tasty snacks and heard different music. The event was like feasting on the creative energy of Austin. This is a definite activity to revisit next year! 
Lesley, Carolyn and Laura.
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Carolyn, Laura, Sarah.
home-made tamales!
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Join us next year! Details on the great tour options that were available this year:
1. Collectives & Sculpture
2. Collectives & Printmaking
3. Collectives & Ceramics
1. Collectives & Sculpture
2. Collectives & Printmaking
3. Collectives & Ceramics
Photo credits: Mengwen Cao
