ATX Art Beat • Feb/March 2022
what if we embraced / our internal tug-of-war / took tension to heart?
I’ve always admired people who embrace their dichotomies, tapping into the different sides of themselves to embody their full power and potential. Quiet & Loud. Patient & Persuasive. Respectful & Rabble-Rousing.
To me, someone who lived this to the nth degree is the late John Lewis. Over his dynamic 60-year career as an activist and champion for civil rights, he lived by the mantra of “good trouble.” I continue to be inspired by his humble yet heroic activism, a true American freedom fighter who embraced his multitudes to change hearts and minds.
American History @ RichesArt
RichesArt | 2511 E 6th St, Unit A, Austin, TX 78702
Thru Feb 28, 2022 | Gallery hours: Mon 12–5pm, Tues-Fri 12–8pm, Sat 12–9pm
2.22.22 Event from 6–10pm | Get your tickets | Learn more and plan your visit
Lured in by silky smooth Badu tunes, you’ll enter into a multi-tiered space on East 6th Street, vibrant in every sense of the word. Welcome to RichesArt, a new-ish gallery on the Eastside which to me, embodies a special kind of dichotomous power. Inviting and unassuming, but speaking to greatness. Local and personal, but speaking to global and deeply human themes. Moments of realness, but plenty of joy too.
Richard Samuel, founder of RichesArt and himself a talented artist — has assembled a dynamic roster of 19 local artists to adorn his gallery walls with their latest inspiration — including Sadé Channell Lawson, Dre Morris, Chris Tobar, John ‘Clutchart’ Coleman, and Xavier Alvarado. The space is full of instantly recognizable faces, the likes of Dr. King, Maya Angelou, Basquiat, Michael Jordan, as well as new and imagined characters — present, past, and future. The more you explore, the more delights you’ll uncover. The back corner of the gallery is literally — and I mean literally — electric. There you’ll find work by several artists playing with fluorescent paints and materials, images that are at once ancient and futuristic. These figures are timeless in their power, or in the words of rising star BLK ODYSSY: “Black is the new gold. Black been the new gold.”
I definitely recommend a solo stroll through RichesArt, or if you’re looking for a more buzzy, immersive experience, check out the 2.22.22 Extra Extravaganza. Tailor-made for the numerologically curious, the event promises live music, burlesque and drag performances, photo ops, refreshments, and perhaps best of all — a great reason to go up on a 2’s-day.
Ataraxia by Kel Brown @ Austin Central Library
710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
Through April 16th | Hours: Mon/Tues 10am — 8pm; Weds-Sat 10am — 6pm
If you love sipping seltzers at Monks, night-owling at Elephant Room, or grooving to global sounds at Sahara Lounge, you’re gonna love Kel Brown. In my experience, the very best jazz seems to be about 90% listening. Really feeling the rhythms, absorbing the different layers, picking up on the licks and melodies and then finding just the right moment to chime in, riffing on whatever came before. We may not all be jazz musicians, but most of us are familiar with good conversation. The same rules apply: the most dynamic dialogues tend to happen when folks are fully present, open, and flowing together moment-to-moment.
Enter Ataraxia, the latest body of work from Houston native Kel Brown. You may have seen his murals out and about around town — his playful, freestyle designs can be found adorning a number of boutiques and storefronts, including Gelateria Gemelli, Eighty-Eight Yoga, Chi’lantro. The title for the show Ataraxia comes from ancient Greek, and essentially means “no worries” — a state of calm, serenity, and ease. I have to say, Kel Brown is spot on — I can’t think of a better moment for him to have created this tranquil oasis than in Year 3 of a global pandemic.
Back when I was living out East, I would spend 12 bucks to take the train from New Haven to New York. I found it so strange and wonderful that one of the most bustling and hectic places on earth could, at the same time, be a place where I found my greatest sense of calm. Amid a cacophony of sirens, a hodgepodge of halal carts, and a flurry of bespectacled execs hailing taxis, there were always places to get lost and found in the city. Whether it was a hole-in-the-wall jazz bar on the Upper Westside, a stop-and-go breakfast spot in Harlem, or an industrial chic gallery in Brooklyn — spaces like these invite us to step into the present.
We might not make it to the Big City, but through April, I hope you’ll accept the invitation to dip your toes into this serene, sonically-inspired exhibition by Kel Brown, right downtown at Austin’s own Central Library.
Austin on Paper @ West Chelsea Contemporary
1009 W 6th St #120, Austin, TX 78703
Hours: Mon-Weds & Sat 10am — 6pm; Thurs/Fri 10am — 8pm; Sun 12–6pm
Thru February 27th, 2022 | Learn more and plan your visit
How do you define success? This question may have come up for you in an interview, a journal prompt, or another self-reflective space. For me, at a high level success looks like leading by listening, living by our values, and expanding the opportunity whenever we get the chance. Since their grand rebrand in 2020, West Chelsea Contemporary has risen to the occasion to define a new kind of success in the Austin art scene by showing art from around the world right here in our backyard, and elevating local artists by curating them alongside certified legends.
The current exhibition, Austin on Paper, includes a stellar selection of artists working across a wide range of techniques and inspirations. The theme may sound basic at first, but for anyone who has yet to be convinced of paper’s versatility, this show is for you. You’ll have the opportunity to check out never-before-seen Dalí prints, precise papercuts by Ai Wei Wei, mixed media collage by Lavett Ballard, silkscreen prints by Swoon, and tongue-in-cheek screenprints by the Connor Brothers. The mastery on display for this show is truly staggering, so it means even more to see locals like Wiley Ross in the mix. Success begets success, so I’m excited to see how WCC keeps fine-tuning their formula to put ATX on the map for creators & collectors alike.
