Avers in Austin: Meeting (part 1 of 7)
Welcome to my 7-part series, about Randy Avers. Randy is one half of the fabulous duo, Les Frères Méduses, who are writing and performing the original, live film score for us that will be performed on June 22nd to open our summer series. Info here.
When the Alamo’s Tim League asked me about creating an original film score for one of his favorite silent films (“The Unknown,” 1927, Dir. Tod Browning), I knew that no other duo on the planet was more perfect for the task than Randy (who is based now in Norway) and his amazing French duo partner Benoît Albert. Randy and I went to college together and I wanted to share a few stories.
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Meeting (part 1 of 7)
Randy and I met in fall 1993. I was 17. He had transferred to Oberlin Conservatory as a sophomore and completely rocked my world.
Sometimes in concert, when I’m talking about one of my favorite pieces – a piece he introduced me to – I am fond of saying that up until the day we met, I was the best guitarist I had ever met! It’s not true, of course, but in my own little world – apart from my teachers – I had not ever seen truly transcendent playing by a young person. And that meant I was a very big fish in the little pond of my imagination.
Randy changed all that – and in the best way.
A year or two before, Randy – at 17 – had become the youngest-ever finalist in the world’s most prestigious international guitar competition – The Guitar Foundation of America. He took second that year. And when he arrived at Oberlin, it was like a whole new world of music and excellence came rushing into my world along with him.
That “piece” I mentioned above is the Elegy by Johann Kaspar Mertz. One of my all-time favorites. The first time I actually cried in a concert hall listening to music was the first time I heard Randy play it. I like to joke that I’m not sure if I was crying from how beautiful his playing was, or how freaked out Matt the 17-year-old guitarist was at seeing such fabulousness on the guitar!
Randy became one of my greatest friends and inspirations. He was a groomsman at my wedding, and I at his. He’s been, many times, to Austin over the years to the great delight of all who have heard him. And we remain incredibly close in spite of the Atlantic Ocean and vast expanses of land between us.
(read part 2 of this series...)
McCallum High gets national honor, benefit event May 18th
It’s hard for me to believe that more than ten years have passed since ACGS Educational Outreach began, in one class in one school with about 15 students. The program has grown dramatically, we’ve had the privilege of helping to build 25 school programs in the Austin area alone (and over 100 elsewhere!)– and served thousands of young people along the way.
Where did it all begin? McCallum Fine Arts Academy!
The McCallum Chamber Guitar Ensemble, stunningly six-time winners of the UT Brownsville National Guitar Ensemble Competition, have just been selected to be a showcase ensemble at this year’s Guitar Foundation of America Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.
McCallum is also presenting a benefit concert by Austin’s own award-winning, super creative Mother Falcon on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 8pm in the new McCallum Arts Center. Tickets are $20 and they are online here or available at the door.
This benefit concert is the first in the McCallum Arts Center Emerging Artist Series. Proceeds will help send McCallum classical guitar students to Charleston
McCallum’s guitar director Andrew Clark said, “Of the three age groups chosen, we are the only public school. We are honored to play at one of the largest and most prestigious international classical guitar festivals in the world.”
Mother Falcon is the natural choice for the opening of the MAC Emerging Artist Series. This innovative ensemble, which ranges from 10-20 musicians, features 10 McCallum Fine Arts Academy graduates, including Claire Puckett, a graduate of the McCallum Classical Guitar Ensemble. Claire said, “It is an honor for me to contribute in any way to the betterment of the McCallum Fine Arts Academy, whose Classical Guitar program cultivated a love of music in my heart that will last me the rest of my years. Mother Falcon is living proof of that love, and I am both excited and humbled to be able to share it with you. Congrats on going to the GFA convention!"
I’m so proud of McCallum – and I, and the education team here at ACGS, look forward to hearing them on May 18th when they open for Mother Falcon, and then again in Charleston!
Hartt Stearns: One World Theatre & Flamenco
The first time I visited, I wondered how a place like One World Theatre could come into existence! I’ve had the pleasure recently of working with One World Theatre’s Founder and Executive Director Hartt Stearns in the run up to their May 2nd presentation of flamenco icon Paco de Lucia. I thought I’d ask him a bit about the magic behind the theatre and all that happens there.
I also wanted to mention that One World is offering fans of ACGS 10% off tickets to see Paco de Lucia. Paco is inarguably the most influential flamenco guitarist of our time! Even though it’s 5 short days after the amazing Yamandú Costa, you must go see this concert!!!
You can Purchase tickets here for Paco de Lucia and enter code “ACGS” to obtain your discount (good for all but premium-level seating). Or call One World at (512) 330-9500 and mention ACGS!
Matthew Hinsley: Hartt, One World Theatre seems like is a work of art in and of itself, how did the concept come about?
Hartt Stearns: We’re very proud of the fact that we have a green-built work of art in which to present world-class performers. We were doing green, even before it was all the rage. Our buildings on the property (built in 1998/99) are made from a combination of rastra (which is 85% recycled Styrofoam) and straw bale construction. Many straw bale constructed buildings are kind of funky looking, and it is unusual for them to have such an artistic flare.
The concept was to have artists (my wife, Nada and I are both musicians as well as are many of the staff), present artists, in a piece of art. The beauty is magnified inside by the amazing acoustics and sound, and outside with the Austin Hill Country as the backdrop to this wonderful architecture.
MH: Paco de Lucia is a legend - one of many you've presented - how do you get the amazing artists you bring here, what's your selection process?
HS: I do the booking myself, so it’s a combination of artists that I know and have admired throughout the years, along with ones that are suggested from agents that recommend talent.
MH: We love having our gala at One World - you also do all kinds of things for the community, I'd love to hear about your community programming.
HS: We sponsor a number of artists from different cultures to go into the schools to perform assemblies and give workshops. We also present theatrical productions (Story Books Brought to Life) at One World Theatre that are for kids and families, where half of the tickets are given away for free to underserved families and organizations. And we have a summer camp where we give free admission to children of deployed soldiers. The final performance of the summer camp is seen by the deployed parents/soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan through videoconferencing. We have screens at the theatre that allows our audience to see the soldiers watching their children perform. It’s a very moving experience.
MH: Wow Hartt, that’s amazing. What's next for One World Theatre?
HS: We have plans to expand the theatre but are waiting to get over some hurdles with the City of Austin. In the meantime, we’ve been doing shows at the Riverbend Centre, where we’re presenting Paco De Lucia, as well as Merle Haggard, Ravi Shankar and The Chieftains this season.
MH: All those shows sound amazing and we are, of course, especially excited about Paco de Lucia! Is there anything else you'd like to add?
HS: We’d love to do more in collaboration with the Austin Classical Guitar Society. We have presented a number of brilliant guitar players over the years, and although they have varied in genre, I do think any guitar player or aficionado would appreciate the talents of Larry Carlton, Tuck Andress (of Tuck & Patti), Bela Fleck (banjo), California Guitar Trio and Montreal Guitar Trio - who we’re presenting this season - and other amazing musicians like Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, The Assad Brothers as well as Badi Assad who we’ve presented over the years.
MH: We’d love that too, Hartt, and we look forward to making it happen. Those are all amazing artists indeed! Thank you for all you do for our community!
Isaac Bustos - Saturday Night!
I'm super excited to be presenting Isaac Bustos this Saturday evening at 8PM. Isaac is a fantastic performer. I've heard him many times, and he just keeps getting better and better.
It's a landmark moment in some ways too, because in my 15 years with ACGS, this is the first time we've ever presented a "local" player on our flagship international concert series. Isaac is, of course, originally from Nicaragua, but he did is graduate work right here in Austin. Amazing players, truly world class players, have come through the amazing UT guitar studio, but even so, Bustos is the first we've ever presented on the ICS. I hope that gives you a sense of just how much I admire this wonderful talent.
I'm simply thrilled for Saturday's show. We'll hear beauty, color, nuance, speed, clarity, the whole nine yards.
If you'd like to join us, you can buy tickets online now, or give us a call at 512-300-ACGS.
The concert begins at 8PM Saturday at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church (7050 Village Center Drive). Arrive early for a pre-concert performance presented by students in the Akins High School guitar program.
Isaac will also teach a master class to pre-selected students, also at Northwest Hills, Friday from 4-7 (free and open to the public).
The Kinney Company Sponsors Fall Austin Guitar Salon Series: An Interview
The idea of Austin Guitar Salon first occurred to me in the car as I was driving south on Speedway from 45th Street in Hyde Park. It was so simple! I was driving past a large, stately home with a plaque on the front designating it’s historical significance, and the whole vision just popped into my head: “wouldn’t it be great to present classical guitar concerts in historic homes with wine and cheese receptions?”!
Doing something in historic homes in Austin means The Heritage Society of Austin, and I have two particularly good friends, Lazan Pargaman and Lin Team who popped into my head as the perfect people to call to flesh out the idea. By the time we had sat down for lunch, I’d already met with John and Kendall Antonelli from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, and so Austin Guitar Salon was beginning to take shape.
Lazan and Lin went beyond helping me flesh out the idea, and they went beyond connecting me with the Heritage Society of Austin, they offered – through The Kinney Company – to sponsor our entire first series (spring 2011). And they are sponsoring our fall 2011 series as well.
I am incredibly grateful to Lazan and Lin and The Kinney Company for helping turn this daydream into a reality, and I thought it might be fun to learn a bit more about them.
Matthew Hinsley: Tell me about yourselves and the Kinney Company. How long have you been in Austin?
Lazan Pargaman & Lin Team: Founded in 1995, The Kinney Company is a small real estate agency with a special focus on homes in Central Austin. We pride ourselves in providing our clients with exceptional client service and hands-on attention to detail.
Currently, there are three of us, all with long histories in Austin and with combined experience in real estate totaling over 38 years.
MH: You are sponsoring a collaboration between ACGS and The Heritage Society of Austin. I believe you have long connections with both organizations, and I’d love to hear about them.
LP<: As realtors with a special interest in old homes, all of us at The Kinney Company have long supported the work of the Heritage Society of Austin. Company founder Teddy Kinney and Lin Team have served several terms on the board of the Heritage Society through the years. Lin is currently an active board member and has recently co-chaired its Preservation Committee.
When Lazan's daughters took up classical guitar six years ago, she got involved with the Classical Guitar Society and became not only a new audience member at the wonderful concerts but also a supporter of the Educational Outreach Program.
Coincidentally, a few years back, Lin helped a nice young couple buy a home here in Austin. The man was a doctoral student in guitar at UT. Through him, Lin became involved in the Austin Classical Guitar Society and has had the pleasure of watching him build it into the terrific organization that it is today. Lin thanks you, Matt!
MH: I remember that well, Lin! Glenda and I are incredibly thankful for the home you found us – and we’re still happily living in it! Why do you feel it’s important to give back to the community?
LT&LP: At The Kinney Company, we believe that supporting programs for those in need is a responsibility we all share and we feel blessed to be able to do so. But people need food for the spirit as well, and that’s a role that music, the arts and architecture can help play in our lives. We find a lot of satisfaction in supporting programs to which we have a special connection because of our personal interests and professional expertise.
Although none of us plays the guitar, we all enjoy the music. And, we all have a deep appreciation for old homes. This salon series has been great fun for us because it’s the marriage of these two interests!
MH: Are there other organizations or causes you like to support?
LT&LP: Lin’s background is in advocacy for progressive social causes. For many years she served as Director of Texas impact, a broadly ecumenical, faith-based advocacy organization working to change social policy at the state level. She still serves on the board of Texas Impact.
Lin has also been active in neighborhood planning and organizations, where she finds all politics to be truly local. “Democracy at its most immediate -- and tedious -- is played out in our neighborhoods, and I feel a deep obligation to work with these groups to bring people together to share visions and solve problems,” (Lin said).
Lazan currently serves on the board of The Austin Project, a non-profit organization designed to improve the lives of children, youth and families, by strengthening families and promoting early literacy. She is also involved in the Fine Arts Academy at McCallum High School, promoting the arts and artists in fundamental ways in our public education system.
MH: Well, we’re so looking forward to this Saturday and the concert at Jane Sibley’s incredible home. Thank you so much for helping us to make it happen, and I look forward to seeing you both there! Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to share?
LP<: The ACGS outreach programs are a beautiful example of an ecosystem of good works that link together music, the arts, social welfare, education and healthy living -- all vital elements of a strong community spirit
Historic preservation plays a similar role by connecting people with art, architecture, social welfare, cultural history and environmental sustainability.
We enthusiastically support both the Heritage Society and the Classical Guitar Society as a way to participate in that interconnected vision.
Matt Talks with Classical Guitar Alive's Tony Morris - Upcoming CGA! fundraiser 10/29
Classical Guitar Alive! is a global classical guitar radio phenomenon produced right here in Austin by Tony Morris. The show airs in Austin on Fridays at 9PM and again on Sundays at 11am on KMFA, 89.5FM, and each week brings insight, interviews and great music with guests that range from composers and guitar intellectuals to up and coming virtuosi to the classical guitar world’s brightest stars.
Classical Guitar Alive! has a wonderful fundraiser coming up on Saturday, October 29th, one I attend almost every year, and I thought I’d try to snag Tony for a quick conversation about himself, his wife – and fabulous flute player – Renata Green, his show, the fundraiser, and more.
Matthew Hinsley: Tell me how you first got interested in producing Classical Guitar Alive?
Tony Morris: I started doing the Classical Guitar Alive radio program in 1993, shortly after graduation from UT with my Master’s in guitar with Adam Holzman. Like a lot of students nearing graduation, I worried about career options.
Fortunately, during my last semester at UT, Adam told me about a guitar teaching job opening at a college in Houston. I applied for it, and had a successful audition. I remember the dean who auditioned me said that he wanted me to keep in touch with him, because he had a feeling that I “was going places.”
I took that to mean that I was going to get the job, so I prepared for the move to Houston, and began brainstorming about how I could establish myself there. I came up with an idea to do a guitar radio program on one of the local public radio stations there. I was devastated when I learned that I didn’t get the job. They hired a local guitarist instead.
Anyway, I picked myself up and realized that the guitar radio program was still a good idea, and that maybe I could do it here in Austin - even though I had absolutely no Radio-TV-Film training… and in those days was painfully shy and hated public speaking. What was I thinking?!
Nevertheless, I started pestering both KMFA and KUT, and KMFA relented first. Scott Dawes, the program director then, agreed to do a guitar show on a trial basis, and the first CGA show aired on KMFA in October of 1993. The opening and closing theme music back then was a piece that I wrote and recorded. I chose the name “Classical Guitar Alive” because I had read an article in Guitar Player Magazine titled “Is Classical Guitar Dead?” The radio program was and is my rebuttal.
In the beginning, I would go to KMFA, record my commentary on their reel-to-reel tape machine, and then hand them a playlist and stack of CDs. The on-air announcer would play the tape, pause it, and then play a track from the CD according to the playlist. A few months later, I was offered a part-time weekend announcer position at KMFA, and I started doing CGA live. It was terrifying at first, but exciting, too.
MH: I didn’t arrive in town until 1996 – but already Austin was buzzing about the show. I remember one particularly colorful evening after we had presented Bill Kanengiser in concert, and Bill and I came by the KMFA studio so the two of you could do an interview. It was after midnight! The show has certainly grown, Tony, tell me about the growth, what has been most exciting?
TM: The show is now on over 250 radio stations across the US and internationally, which sounds like a lot, but there is still a lot of room to grow. The most exciting thing recently has been that CGA is now finally broadcast in New York City, thanks to the expansion of the WWFM network in New Jersey. I have been trying to get CGA on in NYC for years. We also recently added stations in Philadelphia and Atlanta, both major markets.
MH: Let’s talk about this event coming up for you later this month. I’ve been many times and love it… what is it, and can folks still get tickets?
TM: Yes! Classical Guitar Alive is having its 6th annual fundraiser event on Saturday, Oct. 29th from 3:00pm-7:00pm at the beautiful Wimberley home of Charlie & Taako Parker, at 300 Loma Vista in Wimberley. Charlie and Taako Parker are great supporters of both Classical Guitar Alive and the Austin Classical Guitar Society. We’re very excited to have Susan McDonald back by popular demand as our special musical guest. Proceeds benefit the Classical Guitar Alive nonprofit organization’s internationally-broadcast radio program, and its community outreach program. For reservations, folks can call us at (512) 657-1400 or send an email to [email protected]. You can also purchase tickets online here.
MH: I'd love to hear a bit about Tony Morris the guitarist, and CGA's performance outreach.
TM: Thanks! Flutist Renata Green, my wife, directs CGA’s Community Outreach program. Most arts nonprofits do community outreach, like ACGS’s wonderful educational outreach, but CGA’s outreach program is unique in that we are the only one that sends our musicians to perform in hospitals, children’s shelters, hospices and more.
I’ll never forget, over a year ago, Renata, oboist Jennifer Bernard, and I performed in the lobby of the Dell Children’s Hospital. There was a little boy about 8 years old with severe burns walking with his grandmother. Despite his injuries, he started marching around in time to the music and got very excited, asked us about the instruments. His grandmother was very happy to see him so enthused, and I was so proud of Renata and Jennifer for their professionalism and for how engaging they were with him.
My first performance in Austin was Christmas Eve, 1990. I had just moved here, didn’t know anyone, and didn’t have family or friends here yet, so I was feeling a little lonesome and sorry for myself. I made myself snap out of it and called a local hospice and asked if I could play (pro bono) for their patients. I played at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House for an audience of two people: a bed-ridden patient in the final stages of full-blown AIDS and his nurse. The patient said, “Oh, a classical guitarist. Know any Albeniz?” I started doing volunteer outreach when I was an undergrad student for the performance experience, and just kept doing it.
MH: You and Renata are animal lovers. Tell me about your pets?
TM: We have two dogs, Lucy, Jiggly-Puff, and a 3-legged cat with the unfortunate name of Gimpy (we didn’t name her that). We don’t have kids yet, but if you total our pets’ weight, they’re roughly equivalent to one child, albeit a very smelly and poorly-mannered one!
MH: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me today, Tony. It’s tremendous to get an update on your amazing work, and to learn a bit more about your journey here. Is there anything else you'd like to share?
TM: Come on out to CGA’s event in Wimberley on Oct. 29th!
And, there are two big projects in the works, a PBS TV program called American Classical that CGA is developing in conjunction with KLRN, which did the pilot for The Antiques Roadshow. The format is part home tour, part house concert with classical guests and stars from other kinds of music. I told my co-producer that that I was concerned that I had a face made for radio, but he reassured me by saying, “Tony, no one is too ugly for PBS.” Whew! What a relief! He did tell me to drop some weight for the cameras, which I’ve done.
I can’t say more about the second project, other than it is very exciting. I recently had to choose between expanding CGA’s work, doing these two new big projects or continuing my adjunct guitar professor job at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. I did the unthinkable in the guitar world, which is to voluntarily leave a college teaching job (and on very good terms, I should mention!). CGA’s mission is to promote the love of classical music with the guitar to the widest possible audience in innovative ways which have the deepest impact. The second project is not a CGA project, but it sure does fit its mission.
Tony Morris and Renata Green (with doggie)
Saturday Night: Media, Parking, and more…
Here's the latest on Austin Pictures! Love to see that media pick up.
I particularly like the video piece KUT did with the young artists - it opens with them not being able to remember Mussorgsky's name! Funny!
Media: Austin Pictures will be featured live on YNN today at 11am. A full-hour radio story will air at 7PM tonight on Classical Austin on KMFA, 89.5 FM. Friday morning at 8:50am Jorge Caballero will perform live on the Fox 7 Morning News program. A funny and inspiring video story on the artists just came out online on KUT’s Storyboard (whole story here)! And a great event overview article is here at CultureMap.
Also yesterday this great TV Story came out about the students in Brownsville who are busily preparing to come here to be part of the show! It’s a great companion piece to the article in the Oklahoman a few weeks back about the high school students in Oklahoma City who are also preparing like crazy.
Tickets: Are available at (877) 435-9849 or online. Save 15-20% by purchasing ACGS Season Tickets online or at 512-300-2247 (includes Austin Pictures). ACGS Season tickets will be sold only through 5PM tomorrow (Thursday). ACGS Season Tickets will be unavailable Friday or at the door Saturday, though single tickets for Austin Pictures will be available as long as supplies last.
Parking: The best guide for parking at ACL Live is online here. You’ll see 7 nearby options on a map with details below it!
Austin Pictures Insight Videos: Alamo Drafthouse’s Tim League, ASO’s Maestro Peter Bay, Composer Joseph Williams, Miró String Quartet.
Most popular AP blog posts: Artwork has arrived, The Program for Saturday Night, Austin Pictures Top 10, Jorge Caballero.
Austin Pictures Spotlight: Carolyn and Marc Seriff
Carolyn and Marc Seriff have been tremendous supporters of the Austin Classical Guitar Society. They are Presenting Sponsors of Austin Pictures. We first met surrounding our multi-award-winning 2010 presentation of the GFA International Convention we called “Austin Goes Classical”, which they also sponsored.
Events in the arts like that simply do not happen without generous sponsors like Carolyn and Marc, and so I asked Marc a few questions recently to learn a bit more about these wonderful civic-minded arts patrons.
Matthew Hinsley: Tell me about you and Carolyn?
Marc Seriff: Carolyn grew up on an Indiana farm while I was actually born and raised in Austin. We met when we both worked for a company called Telenet - one of the pioneers of commercial data communications. Carolyn remained at Telenet until her retirement, while I went on to do several DC-area startups ending up as the founding CTO of AOL. We were married in 1989 and retired to Texas in 1996. We've got two sons - Dan and Jason - both of whom now live in Austin. Jason is married to Elizabeth and has a beautiful 3 year-old daughter. We spend most of our time at our home in Horseshoe Bay, although we now spend 2 or 3 days a week at our condo in downtown Austin. We spend a lot of time attending the performing arts and I'm a huge Longhorn sports fan - especially basketball.
MH: Why do you feel it's important to give back to our community?
MS: We've been incredibly lucky in our lives and do have some belief that giving back is important. In a few instances, that's the driving force behind our giving but, frankly, in most of the cases, we give because we're passionate about the causes and organizations that we give too. There's an amazing feeling when you're able to help solve a problem or create some new solution or work of art. Neither of us is particularly artistic or creative ourselves so this becomes a way we can be part of the process.
MH: You have been tremendous supporters of ACGS. We first met when you generously sponsored “Austin Goes Classical”. Why are you supporting Austin Pictures?
MS: Multiple answers to this one. The obvious answer is to provide support to some beautiful music. Beyond that, frankly, we're really supporting ACGS, rather than just Austin Pictures and there are three great reasons for that. First, collaboration between non-profit organizations is one of our hot-buttons and, first with last year's conference and now with Austin Pictures, nobody is doing a better job of that in Austin than ACGS. Second, we're both big believers in the importance of the arts as part of the educational experience. It's pretty stunning the success that ACGS has had locally with AISD and internationally with the curriculum project. Finally, we both love Austin and ACGS has, in its field, made Austin an international focal point for classical guitar.
MH: What other arts organizations or causes are you passionate about?
MS: When we first got back to Texas, we were both extremely active in non-profits in the Marble Falls area. Carolyn chaired the board of the Family Crisis Center and we both served as board members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes. For about a decade, we ran a small foundation in Marble Falls that assisted area non-profits and created some new organizations like the Family Services Center, the Highland Lakes Health Partnership and the Legacy Fund.
Now, we're both active in the arts. Carolyn, next month, will join the board of Zach Scott Theatre. I serve on the Long Center board and executive committee and the advisory board for UT's Department of Theater and Dance. We also both believe in creating sustainability for non-profits and, for that reason, I serve on the board of Austin Community Foundation and Carolyn, on the Legacy Fund board, a hill-country branch of ACF.
MH: We cannot thank you both enough, Marc. Community-based project like Austin Pictures simply wouldn’t be possible with folks like you in the community. See you there!
Austin Pictures Spotlight: The Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton Museum of Art is a cultural treasure of Austin. On the UT campus, the gorgeous Blanton Space hosts some of the most interesting and spectacular exhibits and events in Austin’s art world and beyond.
We were just thrilled when they offered to be our visual art partner for Austin Pictures!
“Why a visual art partner?” you say? Because, in addition to presenting some incredible music on October 1st with Jorge Caballero, the Miró Quartet and Maestro Peter Bay, Austin Pictures has a strong visual art component!
Jorge Caballero will do the impossible on the guitar on October 1st. He will play a piece best-known as a symphonic work on a solo classical guitar. The piece? Modest Mussorgsky’s beloved Pictures at an Exhibition.
Mussorgsky’s masterwork has 11 musical themes. The first, and most famous, is the Promenade, which illustrates gallery goers moving through an exhibit of ten paintings – the remaining ten musical themes! We thought this would be a perfect opportunity to get visual artists involved. We commissioned 11 distinguished high school visual artists to each paint their own versions one of the 11 musical themes (meet them here)! The paintings will all be on display at Austin Pictures, and will also be the subject (along with the young artists) of a short film shown that evening.
We sat down with our friends at the Blanton to learn a bit more about this marvelous institution.
Matthew Hinsley: I cannot thank you enough for partnering with us for Austin Pictures!
The Blanton Museum of Art: The Blanton Museum of Art is proud to be a part of Austin Pictures. Not only does the event promise to provide some of the season’s most outstanding performances, but we are particularly pleased to join forces with the Austin Classical Guitar Society because their educational initiatives so closely resemble our own.
MH: We truly believe the core of our programming is about education. What kinds of programming do you have for young people?
BMOA: Like the ACGS, The Blanton is committed to providing exceptional cultural experiences for K-12 students, particularly those from underserved communities. Through our Art Central program, Story Time Tours, Holiday Family Days and other programming, we hope to impact and inspire the next generation of leaders in this community.
MH: The Blanton is always offering world-class exhibits and programs. What’s coming up?
BMOA: This fall, we are pleased to present two exhibitions that will engage young minds, as well as those from the University and greater Austin communities: We will serve as the only Southwest venue for El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, a career-retrospective of the celebrated Nigeria-based artist hailed by the New York Times as an “international art star.” Also on view this fall is Storied Past: Four Centuries of French Drawings from the Blanton Museum of Art, a wonderfully rich selection that highlights the social and material history of drawing in France.
MH: Wow. Those both sound not only gorgeous, but thought-provoking, educational and richly culturally significant! Is there anything else you’d like to share?
BMOA: We congratulate the ACGS on Austin Pictures, and invite everyone to come and experience pictures “live and in person” in our galleries this fall.
MH: Thank you so much Blanton Museum of Art! And I’d like to encourage everyone to check out the Blanton’s website where you can learn more about their exhibits, their programming for young people, and so much more.
Matt Talks with Peter Bay about Austin Pictures!
I had a wonderful time sitting down to talk about Austin Pictures with Peter Bay recently. We were in the Long Center's Kodosky Lounge looking north at downtown Austin. Beautiful!