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.