ArtWorks Festival picks up the brush for another year

Aug. 19—The 14th annual Austin ArtWorks Festival will be promoting the arts once again on Aug. 23-24 in downtown Austin.

With a similar footprint to festivals of year’s past, organizers say this festival is bulging with everything from music to books to a variety of art mediums on display.

“I’m so excited,” said Kelsey Ritchie, operations director for Austin Area Arts. “It’s our 14th year and this is my ninth festival and it just gets bigger and better every year.”

While much of the festival will seem familiar to past visitors, there are some things that will be standing out this year including Featured Artist Suyao Tian, a professional artist based out of the Twin Cities.

During the two-day run, Tian will be demonstrating her painting style in real time for visitors.

“We’ve had artists do projects in the past, but never just straight up demonstrating what they do,” Ritchie said. “We’re really excited about that.”

Ritchie also said there is a print making artist that will be at this year’s festival, who is bringing a pre-cut wood block and printing on tote bags that have been given out to those attending.

It’s another chance for visitors to see the process of creation at the event.

One of the clearer signs that the festival is growing is the amount of exhibiting artists there are this year.

Over 70 artists will be at this year’s festival, more than any previous year.

Taken all together, Ritchie said that this creates a one-of-a-kind atmosphere throughout the two days in downtown in downtown Austin.

“There’s a certain vibe that the festival brings. It’s fun, it’s family oriented,” Ritchie said. “You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money. You can come and be inspired, try something new, listen to a new band, find your new favorite. It’s a good festival. It’s a good time. It’s the best weekend of the year.”

There were a line-up of events leading up to the festival as well, including Wednesday night, from 5-7 p.m. in the ArtWorks Center’s 2nd Floor, where there will be a Gallery Show Artist Talk featuring John and Lois Durfey. Music follows the next two nights as the Highwater Music & Movie Series presents live music from Sarah Holdyn and Incognito and a family-friendly movie at Bandshell Park in Austin.

Manic Culture will be playing at 8 p.m. on Friday night for the Dusty’s Alley Party behind Dusty’s Bar & Lounge.

On the morning of the first day of the festival, the second annual Running with Ella 5K will be held starting at the Austin Municipal Swimming Pool parking and wrapping up just as the festival gets underway.

“It will probably end around the time the high school drumline will start,” Ritchie said. “It’s a great way to kick off the weekend.”

Wrapping up the entire week’s slate of events is the Blair Lawhead Celebration of Music Concert featuring violinist Alan Snow from 4-5:15 p.m. at Church of Christ Episcopal Church.