ART BLOCK PARTY | CANCELLED
Fri Nov 11, 2022
7PM-10PM
Join Women & Their Work and Big Red Sun for an art block party to kick off their East Austin Studio Tour participation! On Friday, November 11 from 7-10pm guests can enjoy exhibitions, music, drinks, and light snacks between the neighboring spaces, located at 1311 and 1312 E Cesar Chavez St.
At Women & Their Work view new work in the gallery by Jenelle Esparza in her solo exhibition, It Could Only Be Lived alongside a night market in the courtyard featuring By Akki, Urbs Studio, Tanya Zal Ceramics, Slow North Candles, That Tiny Artist, and more! Across the street at Big Red Sun peruse pieces in a group exhibition by artists Soledad Fernandez-Whitechurch, Wolf Garden, Haley Lebeuf, and Mercedez Rex.
This event is free and open to the public
About the Artists
Women & Their Work Gallery
Jenelle Esparza | It Could Only Be Lived
In It Could Only Be Lived, Esparza employs a variety of techniques and processes to give voice to the landscapes and landmarks of South Texas. Inspired by a grouping of family heirlooms and farming tools from her grandmother’s garage, she pairs cotton fiber with old cast iron tools and hardware that are repurposed into representations of cultivation and survival, of place, memory, and family. In the works are stories of struggle, strife, and tenderness, translated through the distinct language of the land that is a living witness to an overlooked history.
Courtyard Market
By Akki’s mission is to brighten your day through art and goods made with fun and love with hopes to bring some extra joy into your everyday life Each piece is designed and handmade by Akki Brathwaite in Austin, Texas.
Slow North intentionally crafts all-natural, botanical products made to complement whole living. A family business, Slow North emerged from the belief that all home goods, whether luxury or necessity, should be made with clean and safe ingredients.
Tanya Zal Ceramics
@heartofgoo
Tanya Zal’s work and play is driven by a curiosity of what makes us feel held, and the things that we hold close. Her ceramics are celebratory, surreal, and a colorful exploration of the creative process.
That Tiny Artist
@thattinyartist_
Valerie Mercedes is a 26-year-old self-taught artist and “Tejana” from Austin, Texas. She is an interdisciplinary artist, specializing in Pottery and Ceramics who draws inspiration from her heritage and family. For Valerie, art has always been an outlet. She says “Art is Healing; Art is Medicine… I truly believe that while I am creating or painting. I hope my story inspires others to tap into their inner artist!”
Alyson specializes in visual communication/ storytelling through design utilizing material, composition, form, typography and color expressed through printmaking. Her work manifests itself in books, textiles, and designed objects. Her body of work explores urban environments and the human experience within them; focusing on themes of community, built environments, and social interactions.
Big Red Sun
Soledad was born in Paraguay and grew up between there, Argentina, and the United States. Facing language and cultural barriers during childhood as a result of being an immigrant, she started experimenting with art as a way to communicate her sense of optimism and sunny outlook. Her work is an exploration of past, present, and possibility through the lens of Latin identity, and it is collected in the United States, Kuwait, Paraguay, Argentina, and Canada. She has worked with Big Red Sun, HSU Office of Architecture, Macy’s, and other retail and private clients. When she is not painting, she enjoys gardening, learning about Ancient Rome, and fostering kittens.
Wolf Garden creates art to “contemplate infinity”. Oil and inks are combined to create depth and texture, resulting in pieces that immerse the viewer into self-actualization journeys.
Established in 2011, Haley Lebeuf Jewelry focuses on crafting handmade sterling silver and 14k gold-fill jewelry in the Austin studio. The aesthetic is modern, feminine and concept driven. Marrying fashion, art and craft, we are able to offer outstanding American made jewelry that seamlessly blends into your life. Balanced use of metals come together in many designs to create elevated everyday jewelry. Thoughtfully crafted pieces are versatile with a focus on clean lines and comfort while joyfully celebrating the connection we have with our jewelry.
Mercedez Rex is an artist and creativity enthusiast who favors processes that allow for chance, unpredictability and play. Her sensitivity to discovering the “decisive moment” from formal training in film photography is reimagined in the mono-printing process of water marbling, where one captures a singular ephemeral expression of color in motion.