Once upon a time, in a gallery just up the road, 14 female artists gathered their works together to be viewed by all in the land.

There were paintings, and photographs, moving images and performances. There were Indian princesses, people with bunny rabbit faces, and clowns riding rocket ships.

Ok, enough cutesy talk, but you get our drift.

Fairytales, myths, legends, and fantasies are celebrated in the new exhibit, Femme Fantastique, at Volitant Gallery. The group show captures the colorful and sometimes downright disturbing visions of female artists who hail from New York, Austin, Argentina and Japan.

Through this concept of fantasy, explained Volitant Gallery's Xochi Solis, the artists examine issues of gender, heritage and environment. But the exhibit isn't so much a loud, feminist statement as it is a quieter, softer revolution in feminism — “It’s one more rooted in the past,” said Solis.

Daphane Park, a New York-based artist credited with organizing this exhibit, was found Thursday inside the gallery carefully gluing rooster feathers to her installation, titled guess who the fuck is coming to town. The piece interprets the myth of the Mayan god, Quetzalcoatl, feathered serpent.

“I don’t see this as a feminist show at all,” she said. “It’s more about women and their imaginations, and how we are connected with fantasy.”

In conjunction with Femme Fantastique, Volitant Gallery will be hosting weekly viewings of films inspired by the exhibit. The first two films, shown on Tuesday, Oct. 2nd, will include Experimental Films by American avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren, and a film by French New Wave director Agnès Varda.

Check the Volitant website for updates on film showings.

Femme Fantastique runs through Nov. 10

[Volitant Gallery exhibit site]

Femme Fantastique
Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress Ave. Ste. 100
Opening reception Friday, Sept. 28th
6 to 9 p.m.
Special performance by Amelia Winger-Bearskin at 7:30 p.m.

Femme Fantastique Film Festival
Oct. 2nd – Nov. 6th, every Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

Image, Drippy Flowers by Nancy Baker, courtesy of Volitant Gallery

Strapped for cash after blowing the budget on $6 beers and pedicab rides last weekend? Or maybe you're just ready for a little air-conditioned peace and quiet after rubbing sweat with 65,000 other music lovers.

Either way, on Sunday you can spend zero dollars and enjoy a break from live music by taking advantage of the 10th Annual Austin Museum Day. The event's 30 participating sites will incorporate a mix of art, history and outdoor activities, from the The Blanton Museum of Art to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. All are free.

The popular Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is featuring the exhibit In Citizen’s Garb: Southern Plains Native Americans, 1889–1891, which explores how dress and life changed for Native Americans as they adjusted to life on reservations, Over at the Mexic-Arte Museum, the feature exhibit and American premiere of From Revolution to Renaissance: Mexican Art From the Aaron Collection includes works made between the 1890s and 1950s—which spans the lifetime of Mexican cubist painter and muralist Diego Rivera.

For a complete listing of museums and locations, visit the Austin Museum Partnership.

[10th Annual Austin Museum Day]

Austin Museum Day
Sunday, Sept. 23rd
30 participating museums will offer free admission all day

Image from the Mexic-Arte Museum

You bring up the idea of “art”, and you’re definitely begging for some heated shit talking. Opinions are the first to fly, then potentially followed by epithets, then perhaps some brass knuckles. All metaphoric in form, of course. Why must these disagreements come to pass?

Notorious MSG comes to mind.

It could be said that this is exactly what art and artists, as functional cogs in the machines of social industry, are supposed to do. They put people on edge, and cause discomforting introspection. Elephant dung and pr0n-butt butterflies. As if there was any such thing as “comforting” introspection.

If you happen to be heading down to Houston this weekend, or are willing to visit there to experience something akin to the B-Scene parties at Blanton (but on a much more expanded scale) then you should head to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, for this season's last installment of Starbucks' Mixed Media art series. This Saturday night, Ceeplus (Bad Knives) will be curating the music to go with the current exhibition: RED HOT – Asian Art Today from the Chaney Family Collection. If that’s too vague for you, here are some details to help sort it all out.

Visual art on display for the eyes: RED HOT is a collection of Asian art pulled from the collection of the Chaney Family. Does that sound like a simple re-ordering of previous description of the art? That’s because it is! Any summary of this exhibition’s breadth and depth would prove unfair. So here are some actual, real details for the duly curious.

Audio art on display for the ears: along with his own presence, Ceeplus has brought in local (Houston) talent Extraman, Houston Press (bottom of page) recognized Peekaboo Theory (who were here for SxSW 2007), and as previously noted: Notorious MSG. The last of which is best served by the copy straight from the press release:

The Notorious MSG hails from the streets of the Chinatown hood in New York City. This renegade trio of ex-restaurant workers is comprised of band members Hong Kong Fever, Down-lo Mein and The Hunan Bomb. Most recently seen making shock waves at the Vans Warped Tour, The Notorious MSG won’t stop its form of Chinese-influenced hip-hop/rock until it has achieved “world domination”. A crowd favorite, some of the group’s most popular hits include “Chinatown Hustler”, “Pimp It” and “Dim Sum Girl”. “Dim Sum Girl” was downloaded 7,500 times within 48 hours of introduction. This group of Chinese “madmen” has already established a strong presence both nationally and internationally with their quirky and highly energetic performances.

Chinatown restaurant workers? Down-lo Mein? That’s the balls right there.

Starbucks Presents: Mixed Media
Saturday, September 22nd
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
5601 Main St, Houston TX [ map ]
8pm - 12am
18+ only, free for MFAH members, $15 for non-members, $10 for students/seniors

Out of Nothing, the current exhibition at the 4 walls fine art gallery on East 5th Street, presents intriguing new works by six artists in a variety of different media, from acrylics and graphite to photography and neon. Curated by Daniel Heimbinder, the theme of the show centers on the idea of progress—“that we are moving toward some place better than the one we're in now." Just as the word progress can mean different things, so can the interpretation of it. The artists in Out of Nothing play with the theme in clever ways, some more personal or whimsical than others.

Among the works by the six artists (most of whom hail from New York) is a provocative multi-media installation attributed to "Kings of the F**king Sea," which, as it turns out, is the moniker for the collaborative effort of artist Jonathan Marshall and writer/poet Dan Boehl, both Austin based. The two friends are each talented in his own right; last year, they decided to combine forces for some cross-disciplinary creativity and see what would come of it. As a result, they were invited to be a part of their first group show in Out of Nothing.

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

Some of the city’s underexposed and underappreciated artists have come together for a special show opening Saturday at Gallery Lombardi.

The offbeat Surprise Me includes a mixed bag of contemporary drawings, photos, sounds, videos, mixed media paintings and fiber art. Local artist Josh Rios helped organize the show and called on a few of friends to join him — Ryan Lauderdale, Rachel Cook and Corkey Sinks.

Rios recently answered a few questions for Austinist about the importance of supporting local artists and why galleries aren’t the end-all-and-be-all for gaining recognition.

How did you get started in art?

I started as a studio person at Texas State University in San Marcos. I took two art classes then dropped out and moved to Austin to be a rock star. While in Austin I became a partner at Camp Fig, mainly because I showed up every opening and asked a ton of questions about the artists, and I went to high school with one of the guys that started it.

This led to meeting a bunch of art personalities who became my friends, and then eventually to opening Okay Mountain. I decided to be an artist again and started showing in everything. I never turned down anything. Now I do a lot less and sit around and think more and wait. I'm learning as I go. I recently moved back to San Marcos to attend Texas State again, this time for Art History.

How would you describe your art work?

Right now I think it has taken a very literary/conceptual turn. Each work has its own reason for being—I don't like to have an overarching theme or set of questions or concerns. I like to have a small poetic idea and let it churn, and not think too much about how it fits in with previous works. I'd rather do everything first and sort it out later, trusting myself to intuitively follow some trajectory.

I am starting to see certain things that are becoming more important, like the aesthetic and possibility of a photocopy or the Internet. I am starting to be [interested in] the idea of a show that is emailed to the gallery, or flyering as a way of both performing, disseminating information and getting away from gallery reliance. These are the tools I am starting to use, because I never wanted to be an artist [who] knows how to weld, make a lithograph, or cast a sculpture - that's why I quit being a studio person and started studying Art History. I try and use materials that I think make more of a connection to my everyday life.

This show features "underexposed" artists. How difficult is it to gain attention and recognition as an artist in Austin?

I wouldn't say "underexposed" as much as just busy elsewhere. It's not that hard to get attention - be daring like Errol Flynn swinging from a chandelier and don't give in to the puritanical work ethic. Learn the difference between being busy and accomplishing things. Make sure you use as much of your experience and as many of your thoughts as you can for your art practice.

That's the real key to me - make it all count, [because] you never know where the next idea is going to come from. Never have a dumb idea; just let them simmer and maybe one will gain momentum. Keep thinking about them. Let the insignificant rise up to the top on occasion. As far as getting recognition is concerned, I think it is a waste of time trying to figure this out. The main thing is to do your work. Be nice to people and be interested in what is going on - if you have to force these things then I think you'll have a much harder time at the art game. And always remember that there is not that much interesting competition around.

[Gallery Lombardi Exhibit Link]

Surprise Me will be on exhibit through Oct. 13.

Surprise Me Opening Reception
DJ set by DJ Lobstertail
Saturday, Sept. 15th,
Gallery Lombardi (602 W. 7th St. Ste. A)
7-10pm

One man’s hapless journey through life is documented in the new exhibit, Mike’s World, a performance and video installation at the Blanton Museum of Art.

Tonight's edition of the monthly B Scene at the Blanton Museum of Art will offer a sneak peek at Mike’s World, which won't officially open until September 11.

Short video performances shown on flat screens throughout the exhibit space will give viewers a focused look in to the life of Everyman character, Mike. His humorous search for a piece of the American Dream brings him face to face with everyday challenges, and he struggles to overcome his fear of failure in a fast-paced world.

The unique exhibit was designed by Michael Smith, a University of Texas professor and renowned performance/video/installation artist, and Joshua White, a New York-based director and artist.

"Smith's work speaks to issues that touch all our lives-depersonalization, isolation, failure, fear of failure, and the rapid pace of change," said Blanton Director Jessie Otto Hite. "Michael Smith, Joshua White, and the other collaborators of Mike's World illuminate timely challenges with poignancy and humor."

Tonight's B Scene will include Reagan-era classics being spun by DJ Brandon Gonzalez and the zany New Wave-inspired tunes of Manager’s Choice. Guests will have a chance to nosh on complimentary hors d’œuvres, and "be like Mike" by creating their own buttons to advertise a crazy idea or imaginary business venture.

Mike's World runs from Sept. 11th through Dec. 30th.

[Blanton Museum Exhibit Page for Mike’s World]

Blanton B Scene
Music by DJ Brandon Gonzalez and Manager’s Choice
Friday, September 7th
The Blanton Museum of Art (MLK at Congress)
6-11pm, $5/$10 Members/Non-members

Image from the Blanton Art Museum

Brillo pads, travel toothbrushes, and stainless steel dog bowls may seem more appropriately placed in your junk drawer than at an art museum.

But the beauty of ordinary household items is exactly what's celebrated in the new exhibit, Extra-Ordinary: The Everyday Object in American Art, now on display at the Austin Museum of Modern Art.

In addition to the main exhibit, which features Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Can and a giant fabric sculpture of a BLT sandwich, there's also a small collection of objects created by Austin-based designers.

Many of the objects on display blend functionality with eye-popping design, and evoke the debatable question, "Is this art?" Only the most pampered of pooches are deserving of the futuristic stainless steel dog bowl on loan from Austin's WetNoz, a design firm that creates high-end pet accessories. A sleek water cooler that can become the conversation piece instead of just the office conversation area is one of several items created by the Austin-based DesignEdge. The firm also is represented by a lime green broom/mop combo and an ingenious travel toothbrush called the OHSO, which has self-dispensing toothpaste.

During a special lecture on Thursday at 7 p.m., Julie Heard of Mixer* Group will interview a few of the designers behind these cutting-edge products and ask where they draw inspiration. Guest speakers will include designers from Austin-based Design Edge and M3 Design.

[AMoA Exhibit Link]

Extra-Ordinary: The Everyday Object in American Art runs through November 4th.

Conversation: Designing for the Everyday
Thursday, September 6th
Austin Museum of Modern Art (9th St and Congress Ave)
7pm

There’s a way to fundraise, that is. Established painter, photographer, and filmmaker William Wegman has a series of short works that will screen this Thursday, September 6th at The Design Center of Austin to benefit EmanciPET. It’s a collaboration made in doggy heaven, given that Wegman’s subjects are most often his own Weimaraners – a German breed of dogs known for their beautiful coats and haunting, gray eyes.

On the subject of his medium-crossing work and his reoccurring models, Wegman says, “They’re never just dogs. They’re furniture. They're landscapes. They're people. They’re kind of ghost-like and that’s why I think that I’ve been able to adapt so many guises for them.” Wegman goes on to say that he was first inspired to document the dogs after discovering how they reflect light in such a “unique” way. His paintings and photographs have been featured around the world and have even made their way into a series of children’s books. Wegman’s film and video work has previously appeared on Saturday Night Live, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street.

Tickets can be purchased for $50 at the event site. If you’re gasping at the price, just concentrate on the canine cause. EmanciPET’s mission is to provide "very-low-cost spay and neuter services to prevent animal homelessness and euthanasia.”

Be warned, Wegman doesn’t lie about the enchanting way that light reflects off the dogs. You may find yourself making a quick stop to pick up your own Weimaraner on your way home.

Short Film Works by William Wegman
Thursday, September 6th
The Design Center of Austin at Penn Field – 3601 S. Congress, Building C
7-10pm
[Tickets/More Info]

Photo from EmanciPET’s Event Site