An ominous black piñata shaped like a B-2 bomber greets visitors walking through the doors at Arthouse in downtown Austin. Around the corner stands a John Deere tractor made entirely of clay; a string of Japanese fireworks dangle from the ceiling.

Five of the state’s most under-recognized artists are featured in the new Arthouse Texas Prize exhibit, which marries unexpected beauty with mind-bending artistic statements. The exhibit was designed to celebrate the broad spectrum of creative voices in the Texas contemporary art community, and to encourage artistic growth in the state.

“Texas is full of lively, powerful contemporary artists,” said Sue Graze, executive director of Arthouse. “We want it to stay here and grow here.”

The winner of the Texas Prize (and its accompanying $30,000 award) will be announced during a gala on November 2nd.

During a recent morning’s Talking Art event at Arthouse, about 100 folks gathered for quiche, coffee and the chance to get inside the heads of the 2007 Arthouse Texas Prize finalists—Dawolu Jabari Anderson, Justin Boyd, Margarita Cabrera, Bill Davenport and Katrina Moorhead.

The final five, none of whom are from Austin, discussed the works that they'd created specifically for this exhibit. The artists explained that the pieces explore issues such as romantic relationships, racial stereotypes, the war in Iraq, Mexican immigration, and Southern heritage. Among the pieces are a multimedia exhibit inspired by the Mississippi River, comic-book cover-style paintings featuring the adventures of "Mam E," and sculptures created from Japanese fireworks shells.

As for the giant piñata, Pinata Stealth Bomber, Davenport is a little less serious about the meaning of his work.

“It’s a low tech lump,” he said about the piece that took him two weeks to create by hand. “Don’t read too much into it. It won’t fit out of the building ... the idea is that it will get bashed [at the end of the show].”

Arthouse Texas Prize will be on view through Nov. 11th. The gallery is also a participant of tomorrow evening's Downtown Art Night.

[Arthouse exhibit link]
[Downtown Art Night site]

The 2007 Arthouse Texas Prize exhibition, featuring new works by Dawolu Jabari Anderson, Justin Boyd, Margarita Cabrera, Bill Davenport and Katrina Moorhead
Arthouse (7th and Congress)
Free

Downtown Art Night
Participating Galleries: Austin Museum of Art, Arthouse, Else Madsen, Mexic-Arte, Studio 107, 4 walls fine art and Voliant
Thursday, Sept. 20th
6-9pm

Free rides along Congress Avenue will be offered on the the Red or Gold Dillo and the Silver Dillo along East 5th Street.

Image from Arthouse