R E S T A U R A N T P O L L B A L L O T P . 4 6 - The Austin Chronicle

CALENDAR ( COMMUNITY SPORTS ARTS FILM MUSIC) L I STI N G STexas Society of SculptorsExhibitionLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center4801 La Crosse, 232-0100,www.wildflower.orgThrough June 27You know it’s a perfect time of the year to drive out to theLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: bluebonnets everywhere,blooming in blue profusion along the highway, accented byred-orange patches of Indian paintbrush.Floral beauty like that, native plants likethese: one of the reasons that Lady Bird(and actress Helen Hayes) started the centerin the first place.Coincidentally, the Texas Society of Sculptorscurrently has an exhibit of new works out therein the middle of architecturally enhanced andthoughtfully landscaped nature. And, happily,many of the sculptures on display are fullyworthy of a visit in their own right.First thing you’re going to see as you walkin, before you even get into the center, isJulio Sanchez de Alba’s sculpture of a dragonfly.You don’t have to look too closely tofind it: This dragonfly, in fiberglass, stainlesssteel, and bronze, displayed at the top of theentrance column, is like something from H.G.Wells’ The Food of the Gods, a painstakinglyrealistic creation about the size of a ToyotaPrius. A little farther along the path are twoants – “Harvest Ants,” the info sheet tellsus, although of course they mean harvesterants – also crafted by Sanchez de Alba, alsoblithely disregarding the restraints of thesquare-cube law, that are so precisely renderedas to induce formication in even themost insectophilic viewer.74 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E APRIL 9, 2010 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m| CONVERSATION BY MARY MORSEBut maybe giant bugs aren’t quite yourthing? It’s good, then, that some of theother works of the shapers’ art on displayare Mary Morse’s Conversation – a bronzeduo of human males, like two-thirds of thegentlemen of Barton Springs’ Philosophers’Rock shrunk down to doll size – and AnneWoods’ evocations of plants – lantana,cedar sage, inland sea oats – in steel andaluminum. Of course, this being Texas,there are a few pieces in limestone, too:Ricardo Puemape’s Sunflowers and GoingSwimming, Steve Morris’ Riverwind.And those are only a small percentageof what’s available for viewing. TheWildflower Center, normally adorned withsculptural elements, has, with this show,seen the population of human-fabricatedbeauty drastically increase. We reckonyou’d be glad to increase the visitor populationyourself – or, heck, take your wholefamily along for an aesthetically and spirituallyinvigorating afternoon. You’re gonnacharge up your camera and make thatyoung’un pose in a field of bluebonnetssometime soon, anyway, so you might aswell make a real outing of it.– Wayne Alan BrennerTHE SOUTH AUSTIN ARTIST CO-OP hosts an artshow of diverse media on the second weekend ofeach month. Sat.-Sun., April 9-10, 10am-6pm.6800 West Gate Blvd., 743-7351.THE AUSTIN FIGURATIVE SHOW The Austin VisualArts Association presents a juried exhibit featuringexplorations of the human figure. Through April 11.Austin Art Space, 7739 Northcross Dr. Ste. Q.www.austinartspace.com.REAL GALLERY: AUSTIN UNSEEN Rama Tiru, photographerand author of Austin: East of I-35 sharesher perspective on this city with a stunning display ofphotographs. Through April 10. Scarbrough BuildingLobby, 101 W. Sixth. www.realgalleryaustin.com.CREATIVE RESEARCH LABORATORY: MFA THESISEXHIBITION Representing all areas of study, includingprintmaking, painting, video, and sculpture.Through April 10. 2830 E. MLK, 477-9328.uts.cc.utexas.edu/~crlab.L. NOWLIN GALLERY: DAVID JOHNDROW Exquisite,ethereal photography (silver gelatin prints, some ofthese) of the natural world in perfect monochrome.Through April 10. 1202-A W. Sixth, 626-9301.www.lnowlingallery.com.FAB GALLERY: 21ST CENTURY PRINTS Printmakingportfolios by current UT studio art students. Closingreception: Fri., April 9, 6-8pm. Doty Fine Arts Building,23rd & Trinity.ONGOINGDIBONA STUDIO Oil paintings and “sculptural tattoos”by Joyce DiBona. 404 W. Milton, 851-2646.www.joycedibona.com.BIRDHOUSE GALLERY: PORNSAINTS Paintings,drawings, mixed-media photography, and film byNaomi Arton, Ida Belogi, Francesco D’isa, JeffFaerber, Katelan Foisy, Michael Forbes, and others,based on the idea that porn stars may be “sanctified”by their performances. Through April 17.1304 E. Cesar Chavez. www.birdhousegallery.com.GAY FAY KELLY: SATCH GRIMLEY This groovy masterprinter shows new mixed-media work. ThroughApril 16. 1811 W. Eighth, 478-7676.www.gayfaykellyart.com.360 GALLERY: LILY XU Chinese ink-and-color paintings.Through April 30. 6720 Capital of TX Hwy. N.,346-6789. www.360galleryofaustin.org.CHAN CHAN: PHOTOS AND PAINTINGS OF CUBAThe photography of Piercarlo Abate and the paintingsof Luis Abreux show a side of Cuba that’s seldomseen. 81 San Marcos St. www.piercarloabate.com.SACRED ILLUMINATIONS Art inspired by SouthSlavic manuscripts. Through April 30. 300 W. Sixth.478-9676. www.sacredilluminations.webs.com.VSA ARTS OF TEXAS: ARTISM Works by Elana Connorand Jo Slaight, two artists with autism, in celebrationof Autism Awareness Month. Through April 30. AccessGallery, 3701 Guadalupe #103. 323-6626. www.vsatx.org.DUMONT GALLERY Linda Dumont: cityscapes,abstracts, and portraits. Call for appointment.906 E. Fifth. 698-1890. www.lindadumont.com.CORONADO STUDIOS The Serie Project, a nonprofitLatino arts organization hosted by Coronado Studios,produces, promotes, and exhibits serigraph printscreated by diverse artists. 6601 Felix, 385-3591.www.serieproject.org.AUSTIN ART GARAGE: GRAHAM FRANCIOSEThe “spirit of innocence and wonder” is captured inthe artist’s new Fables show. Through April 25.2200 S. Lamar. www.austinartgarage.com.ART IN A NUTSHELL This is the gallery of IsmaelCavazos, creator of “The Old Man in the Peanut,” featuringhis creations involving scribbles, drip paintings,rocks, inkblots, and clouds. 2209 S. First, 436-6551.www.ismaelcavazos.com.EYE CONTACT ART showcases the work of JoshuaGarcia and others. 12400 Amherst #102, 825-8577.www.eyecontactart.com.ART ON 5TH: THE ART OF GRACE SLICK Newpaintings and drawings by the rock icon. Live videoconference with the artist: Fri., April 16, 6:30pm.Exhibition: April 1-May 1. 1501 W. Fifth, 481-1111.www.arton5th.com.ARTAMICI FINE ART GALLERY Artists fromArgentina, Mexico, Chile, and Peru; paintings byAugustina Rodriguez, Oscar Riquelme, and PabloTaboada; drawings by Gilberto Ramirez; and metalsculpture by Augusto Brocca. 78 San Marcos,457-0171. www.pablotaboadastudio.com.AUSTIN ART GLASS This glassblowing studio andgallery offers functional and decorative glass art,classes, and more. 1608 S. Congress, 916-4527.www.austinartglass.com.AMOA: THE ART OF THE HATCH SHOW PRINT/LUKE SAVISKY The Austin Museum of Art presentsa riveting retrospective of posters from Nashville’sacclaimed graphics powerhouse and a mesmerizingvideo installation by one of Austin’s finest multimediaartists. Here’s a double shot of awesome, smack dabin the middle of Downtown. Through May 6.823 Congress, 495-9224. www.amoa.org.CREATIVE ARTS SOCIETY SHOW Through April 30.5601 Brodie, 892-3493. www.creativeartssociety.org.BLANTON MUSEUM: DESIRE The Blanton strips thecovers from its latest public offering: an exhibition,incorporating many media, of human desire in itsmyriad forms. We reckon this diverse show of workscurated by Annette Carlozzi could make a womanor a man … stir. Through April 25. MLK & Congress,471-7324. www.blantonmuseum.org.BLUE MOON GLASSWORKS Unique handmadeglass art and jewelry. 108 W. 43rd, 380-0770.www.austinbluemoon.com.BIG MEDIUM: ALDO VALDÉS BÖHM Tabletop sculpturesand wall assemblages in machined and handworkedwood. Through April 17. 5305 Bolm.www.bigmedium.org.DAVIS GALLERY: MCCALLUM HIGH SCHOOLSHOW Through April 17. 837 W. 12th, 477-4929.www.davisgalleryaustin.com.DOMY BOOKS: LADY MONSTERS Fantastical charactersrooted in traditional ideas of femininity: Thisis what Houston-born artist Katy Horan brings insubconscious imagery with external references thatinclude archetypes from folklore and history, storybookillustration, Renaissance portraiture, and decorativeelements of historical dress. Recommended.Through April 22. 913 E. Cesar Chavez, 476-3669.www.domystore.com/austin.LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER:TEXAS SOCIETY OF SCULPTORS Sculptures madefrom wood, bronze, clay, found objects, and othermaterials, in a diversity of styles. See review, left.Through June 26. 4801 La Crosse, 232-0100.www.wildflower.org.LORA REYNOLDS GALLERY: ROY MCMAKIN “In andOn” is a solo exhibition of new sculptures and photographyby the Seattle-based artist. Through May 15.300 West Ave. #1318, 215-4965. www.lorareynolds.com.MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM: IMAGINING MEXICO:EXPRESSION IN POPULAR CULTURE This newexhibition illustrates the vibrant and multifacetednation of Mexico. Through April 18. 419 Congress,480-9373. www.mexic-artemuseum.org.MITCHIE’S FINE BLACK ART presents an eclecticselection of African and African-American artwork.7801 N. Lamar Ste. B-148, 323-6901. www.mitchie.com.OKAY MOUNTAIN: JEREMY FISH The indefatigableartist’s newest show, “The Road Less Traveled,”comes to the mountain. Through April 17.1312-B E. Cesar Chavez. www.okaymountain.com.REVERSE GALLERY Michael Bacon paints abstractson the back of clear vinyl, and his works are viewedthrough the untouched side. 612 Brazos #100,592-0219. www.michaelabacon.com.SOUTH AUSTIN MUSEUM OF POPULAR CULTURE:GILBERT SHELTON No, seriously, it’s a retrospectiveof the man who gave the world the Fabulous FurryFreak Brothers (and, of course, Fat Freddy’s Cat) andthe rugose and porcine magnificence of Wonder Wart-Hog! Prints and original art will be on display and forsale here. We are very happy about this. ThroughMay 8. 1516-B S. Lamar, 440-8318. www.samopc.org.WALLY WORKMAN GALLERY: JAN HEATON The artist’stranscendent watercolors of oceanic life bring alittle seaside to this elegant venue. Through April 28.1202 W. Sixth, 472-7428. www.wallyworkmangallery.com.SPACESERIKA JANE ART SHOW Friday, April 9. free.erikapaintsthangs.blogspot.com.FARM TO MARKET: LANCE BRADLEY Paintings andprints. 1718 S. Congress, 462-7220.www.thelancebradley.com.DECOLA & EUSEBI GALLERY Stained and leadedglass and mosaics. 701 Tillery Ste. A-11, 389-2266.www.decola-eusebi.com.