Second Saturdays are for Families: Creating Together
We love to collaborate here at the museum!
Whether it is with artists to bring art-making to the museum, or with community partners connecting us to other awesome things happening in Austin- collaboration is one of our favorite things! This month we are collaborating with 2 amazing artists and educators to make art for Austin and beyond!
While with us, be part of the 1000 Hands Project! 1000 Hands is a community-powered project resulting in a colossal fabric artwork. The 40-foot, collectively-crafted tapestry intends to spark rumination on our shared climate future while also inviting involvement in its craft and outcome. Art Island and Wevolve Labs are excited to share the artwork's creation with Austin over the course of 10+ workshops and open work sessions this summer, including pop ups with Creative Action, Laguna Gloria, and at Lloyd The Warehouse. The piece is a Burning Man Honorarium Grant recipient and will be exhibited in The Black Rock Desert in late summer.
Also check out Austin Public Library's Art Smart program brought to us by Ambray Gonzalez. Join us for a shadow puppet and story book presentation followed by art making both solo and collaborative. We explore hands-on art making and our connections with community with the big questions of "WHAT IF..."
Join us for two performances at 11:15A AND 1:15P of shadow puppets, storytelling, and movement.
Program Timeline:
- Shadow puppets, storytelling and movement
- Hand kite building and flying
- Collaborative mural building
Last but not least, we will also be hosting the Austin Public Library's BOOKMOBILE! With over 1000 pieces of materials onboard, there is sure to be a book or two for you to take home. Don’t forget your library card (or your ID to sign up for one)!
Share your experience! #SecondSaturdaysAreForFamilies
Be sure to stop by Spread & Co. for lunch and snacks!
About Art Smart
Ambray Gonzales has a 55-year art history of learning, creating, teaching, and performing. She was selected from nationwide Hispanic artists, to be featured in ‘Chican@Contemporary Art: Color and Culture for a New America’ 2010, UT Press, author George Vargas. She completed art commissions and projects under both COA Public Art, and Cultural Arts Contracts; has taught youth art for AISD (Art After School); Laguna Gloria (20 yrs); and taken art outreach to numerous community organizations and events.
Ambray has worked the past 20 years for the Austin Public library as a Youth Program Specialist. For the past 12 years she has focused on the creation and performance of APL-ArtSmart Cultural Programs- combining folktale storytelling, shadow puppetry, dance, singing, poetry, drumming and art activities. These programs include: Oct- Dia de los Muertos, Nov-Native American Celebration, Dec-Season’s Special, Feb-Echoes of Africa, April-Dia de los Ninos, May-Celebrating Asian Dragons. They currently travel to about 30 schools per year, and are performed to approx.. 10,000 students and teachers; and can be seen in branch libraries. To schedule for your organization or school contact: [email protected]
About Gabriel Ransenberg
Gabriel Ransenberg has been a Librarian at Austin Public Library for the past 11 years. His first 10 years were as the Youth Librarian at the Windsor Park Branch hosting Storytimes and programming for all the community kids. He also is the puppeteer for the library’s interview show, The Van Show, where his puppet talks to artists about how they became artists.
Last year Gabriel was hired as the Outreach/Bookmobile Librarian for Austin Public Library and now spends his time bringing library resources outside the walls of the buildings and directly into our communities.
About Art Island
Art Island is a ladies-led art collective & creative agency crafting community-powered events, exhibits & experiences.
It began as a love story... a bespoke arts gathering on the banks of the Colorado. Today, Art Island has evolved into a community-powered platform for showcasing, celebrating, and commissioning the arts. Our 200+ collaborators create spaces with sound, light, upcycled materials, deliver custom builds & commissioned art installations. We've published EPs of original music on Spotify, built boats, created custom brand activations, all while holding space for our passionate and trendsetting Austin community.We are here to bring femininity, mindfulness, and fresh air to the Austin arts, music, and events scene with offerings in the realms of Tea, Tunes, Tech, Fire, Food and Fun... all the while supporting our local community and keeping Austin, well... ATX!
About 1000Hands
1000 Hands is a community-powered project resulting in a colossal fabric artwork. The 40-foot, collectively-crafted tapestry intends to spark rumination on our shared climate future while also inviting involvement in its craft and outcome. Art Island and Wevolve Labs are excited to share the artwork's creation with Austin over the course of 10+ workshops and open work sessions this summer, including pop ups with Creative Action, The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria, and at Lloyd The Warehouse. The piece is a Burning Man Honorarium Grant recipient and will be exhibited in The Black Rock Desert in late summer.