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The West of Weird Art Tour, a new event organized by the Dripping Springs Art League (DSAL), is happening on Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18. This driving tour will take guests to locations around the Dripping Springs area to see a variety of art studios.
“It’s a great opportunity for the community and visitors from Austin and surrounding communities to connect with many of the talented local artists showing a wide variety of magnificent art,” DSAL president Steve Friedman said.
Friedman said there are 36 participating artists, including three galleries that will act as hubs and will be hosting popup artists as well as gallery artists. Those galleries are Hand Made at Nutty Brown, Primal Gallery, and Dead End Studios.
“Additionally, we have about two dozen home studios open around Dripping so visitors can see where art is created, watch some cool demos, and hear about the inspiration and technique of the art pieces on display,” Friedman said.
Many of these home studios are not usually open to the public. The artists work in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, mixed media, oils, fabric, paper, metal, wood and more.
This free event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18. Guests can find a list of participating artists and a map at www.artindripping. com, and can drive to the different locations at their own pace and in whatever order they wish. Printed maps and stickers will be available at each stop.
Friedman said there are also many great breweries, wineries, coffee shops and restaurants in the area that guests can stop at along their route.
One participating artist is Nathan Miller of Miller’s Muddles. His speciality is recycled metal sculpture. He started down that path after finding out that a lot of recycling actually ends up in a landfill. While working on a project with his son, he learned how to make an inexpensive metal foundry and started experimenting.
“Turns out with 50 bucks you can steal your wife's hairdryer and build a foundry, and use charcoal to melt your beer cans and your barbecue trays,” Miller said. “So I had this molten aluminum and I started pouring it into things.”
Most of his first attempts did not go well, Miller said. So he started experimenting some more. He tried out sandcasting, Orbeez beads, and even foam to create interesting shapes and textures for his sculptures. Visitors to his home studio during the West of Weird Tour will get to see him demonstrate a few of these techniques.
“I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it's just been getting cooler and cooler and so I'm enjoying the process,” Miller said.
Tiffany Sierras of Sierras Root is another participant in the West of Weird Art Tour.
“At my home studio, I will be demonstrating making papiermâché sculptures and displaying my paintings and other artwork as well,” Sierras said. “I’ll have things that are inexpensive, things for kids, large pieces for collecting and I’m available for commissions as well.” Sierras’ home is a barndominium that she designed and worked directly with a contractor to create. It is handicap accessible.
“It’s a bit of a drive but I hope it will be worth visiting,” Sierras said. “I’m very close to Hawk’s Shadow Winery.”
Not too far from there is the Wild Persimmon Art Studio of Melissa Grace Young. Her studio is surrounded by Live Oaks and Texas Persimmon trees, and she said it is where she finds the serenity and inspiration for painting her vivid large scale Madonnas.
“I’ll have some special offerings for those interested in taking home some art, and I’ll be doing some art, maybe gel plate printing or painting for those who’d like to see me in my element,” Young said. “I’m also eager to answer any questions about my process.”
Another bonus of visiting Young’s studio is the chance to experience the surroundings, including the Longhorns on site. Young said there are cute baby calves right now.
“It’s a great place to sit a spell and enjoy the songbirds, including the painted buntings that are here this time of year,” Young said.
Morgan Xenos is another artist participating in the show. Xenos enjoys mixing a little bit of fine art with a little bit of street art and finding that sweet spot between the two. She hopes to do a live painting while the show is going on.
“My new found love is painting on garments,” Xenos said. “I just got done doing Austin Fashion Week and had my debut show with them, so you can see a lot of the pieces from the show at this show.”
Xenos said a show like this allows artists the opportunity to showcase their artwork within their hometown, and it is a wonderful way to bring cultures together in a really fun way.
“One of the things I look forward to in Austin are the East and West Austin Studio Tours,” Xenos said. “So I am very grateful and happy that Steve and Jennifer [Friedman] have brought that idea here to the Weird West.”
