ATX Art Beat • July / August 2021
Sitting beneath one of my favorite hidden oak trees, I can’t help but marvel at the sprawling canopy — a flourish of green reaching skyward, rising with such vigor and optimism. Back in February, these very same branches were strained and barren, weighed down with a deadly glaze of crystalline ice. As I watched my beloved rosemaries and agave rosettes go to rot, I worried that the rest of Austin’s bountiful biome — the whispering willows, cheery turtles, and fragrant cedars — may not fully recover after the devastating freeze.
Fast forward 5 months, and I could not be more delighted to be proven wrong. It seems I underestimated the land’s ability to bounce back, healing itself and coming back lush as ever. The greenbelt ferns are as tender as they’ve ever been.
In our modern mindset, we often forget that we are part of our environment, part of nature, and we too have this latent potential for resilience within us. As the world reopens around us, I am so invigorated by all the signs of renewal and rebirth.
This month, I’m highlighting a few happenings that exemplify our present-day renaissance:
Austin Film Society
Grand Reopening — July 15th
AFS Cinema | 6406 N IH-35 Suite 3100, Austin, TX 78752
After nearly 18 months of empty seats and dim screens, Austin Film Society is back in biz! Featuring a unique and varied selection of indie, film noir, classic cinema, and global films, AFS is one of my favorite spots in Austin for off-the-beaten-path entertainment — not to mention the popcorn, the best in town. In the months before the pandemic, this tight-knit film community helped raise relief funds for the Australian bushfires by hosting a short film showcase, and celebrated Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite winning Best Picture during the Oscars watch party.
Some great flicks to check out this summer: Questlove’s directorial debut, part documentary, part music film Summer of Soul; a story of fame and triumph through adversity in Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It; and the theatrical premier of Dear Mr. Brody, a psychedelic return to the 70s that speaks to the nature of inequality in America.
“Baton” at Northern — Southern
Northern — Southern | 1902 East 12th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
Gallery Hours: Saturdays 3–6pm or by appointment, through July 24th
Closing Reception: July 24th, 6–9pm
A relative new kid on the block, Northern — Southern has staged one of the most innovative art experiences of 2020. For those familiar with a relay race, with each pass of the baton comes renewed energy and spirit. Baton helped these artists endure the uncertainty of lockdown, each artist taking their turn in the space, adding a new layer to the installation, and often mimicking or interacting with the works of the artists who came before. It’s a welcome departure from the typical white cube experience, with curiosities around every corner and a neighborly atmosphere at the 12th Street location.
N — S will hold regular gallery hours on Saturday, July 17th, and a closing reception on July 24th, with some of the artists in attendance.
Featured artists: Brad Tucker, Adreon Henry, Dan Hurlbut, Ric Nelson, Emma Hadzi Antich, André Fuqua, Naomi Schlinke, Leon Alesi, Matt Steinke, Sev Coursen, Dawn Okoro, Vy Ngo, Transmountain, Tyeschea West, Jimmy Luu, James Turner, Stella Alesi, Emily Lee, Phillip Niemeyer, and Rachel Freeman.
Saul Jerome E. San Juan @ The LINE
The LINE Hotel | 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
Visiting Hours through July 25th: Thursday/Friday 4–6pm
Ever imagined spending an afternoon inside a Renoir or Seurat painting, a midsummer dream in a sparkling impressionist vision? Take it up with Saul Jerome San Juan, a realist portrait artist, plein air painter, and the current artist-in-residence at The LINE.
I’ve been loving the relaxed café and poolside scenes San Juan has been creating, freckled faces and brilliant jewel tones glistening under the Austin sun. I especially love how his watercolors each have a small palette of hues beneath each picture, a painterly leave-behind that hints as the mood and essence of each scene.
At first glance, Saul Jerome San Juan’s scenes have an otherworldly quality, but they’re captured right here in downtown Austin. We are living in the New Renaissance — with the potential to live each day like a work of art.
