Prints, plants and pottery: Art show spotlights local work

By Arianna Flores

AUSTIN, Texas — Right on queue with the rest of the city’s vibrant arts scene, Austin Community College’s annual West Austin Studio Tour showcased a vast array of local artists’ work over two weekends this May. The show, which consisted of a variety of galleries, booths, and demonstrations, brought people of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate the cultural significance of art.

The show was held on ACC’s Highland campus in an open, multi-level atrium. The hallways on both floors were lined with tables set up by art students and professors. The center of the space held a variety of large pieces, with several galleries set up in adjacent hallways.

The event included a “self-guided tour” of their displays, and included demonstrations in mediums like jewelry-making and acrylic painting.

“The benefit [of the show] is meeting local artists… art enthusiasts, and just talking to people,” said ACC student Monica Urso, who sat behind a booth of her prints. “Just having conversations with people about art.”

Not only do visitors get to survey the projects on display, but the artists themselves mix and mingle during their time away from their booths. In this way, the show fosters a network of creative people.

Urso started embracing art as a career about a year ago, and has found much-needed support among the art community. She developed a passion for art as early as first grade. After years of convincing herself being an artist wasn’t a “real job,” Urso finally re-evaluated her position on careers and their purpose in life.

“Just this year I started to exhibit my work,” she said. “I’ve been working a lot on creating the last few years, and getting it ready for exhibitions.”

Bess Siritanapivat, an associate professor of fine arts at ACC, created several life-sized mini-golf holes from cardboard that she arranged around the main mall of the ACC campus. Her interactive piece fit into the nature of the event as a whole, she said.

“I do like that it is accessible to everybody and that it is a family event,” she said. Her exhibited art was inspired by a cardboard class her students took, and she described her project as sustainable and affordable.

The art show will be open again May 18–20.