Design Challenge 1984

Women & Their Work and Austin Women in Architecture announced the exhibition of entries to DESIGN CHALLENGE 1984, a competition organized by these two groups for design of new winter holiday decorations for downtown Austin.

The entries were on view at One American Center, 6th and Congress, lower level, November 27 through January 1. The exhibition featured 13 artists’ proposals for innovative as well as traditional downtown decorations for the holiday season.

A 10-member jury, composed of representatives from Austin’s business and art community, chose five of the entries for recognition. Recognized artists were Barbara Attwell, for her “Doves of Peace;” Sarah Boykin and Anna Burchard, for “Sight, Sound, Movement,” Laura David and Raymond Yin, for “Winter Holiday Promenade,” Malou Flato, Carrie Shoemake, and Ed Shoemake, for “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and Janet Behrens Seibert, for her outdoor banners. Women & Their Work awarded each of these artists $200.

As a result of the Design Challenge competition, artist Janet Behrens Seibert was commissioned by the Downtown Austin Partners to create 40 banners in rainbow colors, to be hung along Congress up to the Capitol. Trees along Congress Avenue were hung with many tiny white lights. “Peace on Earth” was the theme of the downtown winter holiday festivities. In the following year, she added 14 new banners to the original batch.

In addition to the exhibition of Design Challenge Entries hosted by Women & Their WorKkand Austin Women in Architecture, the Downtown Austin Partners held an evening festival and lighting of their downtown Christmas tree. Austin artists also participated in the festivities by designing holiday windows for downtown retailers.