Art in Public Places (AIPP), a program of the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department Cultural Arts Division, and Texas Society of Architects present Visionary Voices, a new speaker series featuring celebrated public artists from across the country. The series aims to encourage thoughtful consideration of the role of public art and its relationship to public spaces, examining the often blurred line between art and architecture. The lectures will also highlight the participating artists’ bodies of work and will offer a sneak peek of commissions they are executing for the City.

New American Public Artist of Somerville, MA will launch the series with a discussion of Kempelen’s Owls, their upcoming sculpture for Austin’s Green Water Treatment Plant Re-Development site within the Seaholm Eco-district. The group will also discuss their experience working in the interactive art field with an open source philosophy for creating.  Subsequent speakers will include local artist Beili Liu—whose work has been exhibited from Munich to Shanghai, and whose 2013 installation Thirst for Ladybird Lake in Austin was widely celebrated; Thoughtbarn, an Austin-based collective, whose projects have been awarded by the American Institute of Architects and Public Art Network, among other national organizations; and Massachusetts-based artist Janet Echelman, a recipient of the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award in Visual Arts, honoring “the greatest innovators in America today,” and whose works, sited around the globe, combine ancient craft and modern technology.

 “Austin’s public art collection reflects the ingenuity, dynamism and multidisciplinary spirit of our unique City,” said Meghan Wells, Manager of the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. “We are delighted to partner with Texas Society of Architects to bring this talented group of AIPP-commissioned artists to Austin and to foster a greater understanding of how public art shapes our everyday experience of our surroundings.”

2018 SCHEDULE

All lectures are at 6PM at Texas Society of Architects

New American Public Art (Somerville, MA)                             

January 30          

Beili Liu (Austin, TX)

April 10

Thoughtbarn (Austin, TX)             

August 14                                                              

Janet Echelman (Brookline, MA)

October 9

All lectures will be held at 6PM at the Texas Society of Architects building at 500 Chicon Street, Austin, and are free and open to the public. Parking is available onsite. Visit www.austincreates.com for additional details.          

###

The City of Austin Cultural Art Division

The Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department provides leadership and management for the City’s cultural arts programs and for the development of arts and cultural industries. The Cultural Arts Division is responsible for the Cultural Arts Funding Programs, Art in Public Places Program, community-based arts development, and programs to assist the development of film and creative industries in Austin.

Art in Public Places

The Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) acquires and maintains works of art for City facilities and parks through commissions, donations, and loans for the cultural enrichment of Austin’s community. The goal of the City’s Art in Public Places program is to commission art projects of redeeming quality that advance the public’s understanding of visual art and enhance the aesthetic quality of public places. For additional information on the Cultural Arts Division, visit www.austincreates.com.

About Texas Society of Architects

The Texas Society of Architects/AIA is the voice for Texas architecture, supporting the creation of safe, beautiful, sustainable environments. Headquartered in Austin, the TSA is a state component of the American Institute of Architecture. Founded in 1939, they are one of the nation’s largest organizations for the architectural profession, with 15 regional chapters and 7,000 members.