SXSW - the art of a free weekend

Yard Dog is one of my favorite art galleries. It happens to be here in Austin and on Friday it also happened to be serving free Shiner beer. On top of that, it had free music in the form of a showcase for Bloodshot records. We heard the Meat Purveyors and Justin Townes Earle. The sound was pretty crappy but as I mentioned, free. Jon Langford was in the audience. He was playing Saturday but it was his artwork I was there to see. I’ve got a couple of his pieces at the house but the one I was ogling in the gallery was this one of Johnny & June. It’s from a photo I have on my myspace page.

Saturday we hung out at Todd’s gallery and I worked on some new concepts that combine old school country with modern style. I’m still working it out but will share once I have something I’m happy with. Actually still trying to figure out the medium. Paint. Photo. Screen printing. All of the above? So I worked on that and a bunch of south by folks poured through the gallery. Early afternoon we went over to Jovita’s for Twangfest. The poster was the best part. It was screen printed with a Mount Rushmore image with the faces of Johnny Cash, James Brown, Dolly Parton & Bob Dylan. We also went over to G&S on a recommendation to check out The Dixons. So glad we did. It was a little like being in Nashville in 1973. Seedy dirty bar and some fantastic country music being played by guys in western suits, skinny ties and cowboy hats. Upright base, pedal steel. Sigh. It was a great night.

Today we went to the Flatstock poster show after the bluegrass brunch at Threadgills North. Flatstock was a little overwhelming. It simultaneously inspired me and made me think nothing I could create can come close to the talent. Posters for $20 that should be hanging as original art for 20 times that amount. Actually probably much more. I bought a poster by Amy Jo. Here's her addition to promote the show.

SXSW & Art Peace

It’s SXSW week here in Austin. That means all the good restaurants are full with beautiful people in expensive 2nd hand clothes. Excellent people watching. One of the best parts of the mix of people is it’s hard to tell the difference between the next John Mayer, a million dollar music exec and a homeless dude on 6th street. Except for the badge hanging from their necks, there is really little difference. Ok, maybe the shoes. You can tell by the shoes but the hair, the slightly crumpled shirt and faded jeans are all the same. The badge thing doesn’t even work since the real VIPs don’t seem to wear them.

My husband Todd & I don’t get badges so our SX music experience so far has been some pretty excellent coverage on our local radio stations KGSR & KUT/ NPR. Last night we went to an opening of a show called New Brow at the gallery previously known as Gallery Lombardi. There was a Shepard Fairey piece there I fell in love with. Of course it was already sold. But wait, it was 1 of 2. Maybe there is a second? Alas, that one is being held for a show in San Francisco and is also already sold. It really is a stunning piece. I called her Art Peace since she was holding paint brushes against the war. Kind of like Shepard himself. Also at the show were pieces by Ron English, Glenn Barr and a new one I didn’t know, Greg Gossell. Wow. Check him out if you like pop art.

This morning Todd had a photo shoot for Paste Magazine at his gallery for a band called the Avett Brothers. We didn’t know their music but my friend Lindsay squealed when we mentioned them. So I’m listening to their myspace now and agree. They will be known. I just pressed repeat on St. Joseph’s.