Upcoming Events  

A banner image made up of two images one by artist Meena Matai and one by artist Camille Lema

Artist Reception for "Children of Earth" by Camille Lema and "The Other Side" by Meena Matai
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
7-9pm

Join us at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery for the artist reception for "Children of Earth" by Camille Lema and "The Other Side" by Meena Matai.

"Children of Earth"by Camille Lema is about human connections and being grounded to the earth. Let your imagination run free with the colors and movement that each painting holds. Meet vibrant characters and see their stories play out as you follow them on their journey. 

Meena Matai's exhibition, "The Other Side", is a powerful exploration of the personal stories and emotions of her family and millions of others who were affected by the India-Pakistan partition of 1947. Through her paintings, she brings to life the experiences of the refugees who found themselves on the wrong side of the divide and the lasting impact this event has had on the lives of over ten million Indians and Pakistanis. As we mark 75 years since the partition, this exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of memories that are at risk of being forgotten and an important call to foster positive connections and build a supportive community. 

This event is free and open to the public.

A group of people dressed in red and black making eye contact with the viewer and the text '¡Escándalo! Presents' on the wall behind them.

¡Escándalo! The Improvised Telenovela
Saturday, March 25, 2023
8-9pm

Join the award-winning cast of ¡Escándalo! for an evening of improvised comedy and melodrama as they weave together a brand new, never-before-seen, passion-filled telenovela based on audience suggestions. No two shows are ever the same!

Star-crossed love, shocking secrets, nail-biting intrigue, and dastardly villains will leave you wanting more!

Shows may contain adult themes, adult language, and prop weapons. The primary language will be English with some Spanish peppered throughout.

Visit the Eventbrite for ticket information.

Escandalo! is part of the Artist Access Program, through the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, Division of Museums and Cultural Programs, and the Dougherty Arts Center.

An image of artist Sam Soper sitting next to a mural

Content Creation for Organic Growth 
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
6:30-8pm 

Learn the tips and strategies corporations use to build their brand presence and audience organically, without paying a dime to sponsor their content. Using tools you already have, we'll show you how to maximize your content production and build a following for your creative business and artwork cheaply and efficiently. 

Presented by Sam Soper. 

Sam Soper, owner of Fae Frog Studios LLC, is an Austin-based mural artist and illustrator, specializing in colorful, highly-detailed, pop-surrealist concept art and portraiture. Their works have been commissioned by Tito's Vodka, Almost Real Things, and Interfaces Zine and they have painted large-scale murals at Ani's Day & Night, Sunshine House Blanco, Sanctuary Gardens home for survivors, and more. As a UT Advertising alum, their 15-year background in UX design and development gives them a unique insight into marketing for creative businesses. They began freelancing full time five years ago, consulting small businesses to large corporations on improving their online presence and content strategy. In 2021, they founded the Creative Cuties community to share their knowledge with other locals interested in encouraging creative self-expression, connecting with others across various disciplines, and celebrating our achievements. 

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP at the Eventbrite.

The Red Shoes by Metamorphosis Dance

Metamorphosis Dance Presents: The Red Shoes  
Friday, March 31, 2023, at 7:30pm 
Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 2:30pm and 7:30pm 

Metamorphosis Dance, will premiere an original story ballet based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes at the Dougherty Arts Center. This story ballet has been choreographed by Metamorphosis Dance's all-woman artistic staff and features the company’s professional Resident Artists and Senior Company Members.

For Ticket Information, visit the Eventbrite.

Metamorphosis Dance is part of the Artist Access Program, through the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, Division of Museums and Cultural Programs, and the Dougherty Arts Center.

The Other Side Artist Talk and Guest Lecture: Friday, April 7, 6-8pm Artist Meena Matai Guest Lecturer Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla

“The Other Side” Artist Talk and Guest Lecture 
Friday, April 7, 2023
6-8pm 

Attend a guest lecture featuring Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla, the founder of The 1947 Partition Archive, and Artist Meena Matai. The lecture will shine light on the peoples’ plight during the India-Pakistan partition and launch the Partition Archive’s first book featuring personal stories and perspectives that explore the ways in which the history of the subcontinent continues to shape our lives today, both locally and globally. 

The 1947 Partition Archive is a non-profit organization committed to preserving and institutionalizing the people's history of the Partition. The Archive collects and preserves oral histories, providing a comprehensive understanding of not only the Partition but also the pre-Partition culture and post-Partition migrations and transformations. Since its founding in 2008, the Archive has amassed over 10,000 memories from 500+ cities across 15 countries. In 2023, the Archive will be publishing its first book featuring 400 curated stories, which will be brought to Austin for the public to purchase. 

For more information visit: https://www.meenamatai.com/pages/the-other-side 

To RSVP visit the Eventbrite.

Art In Cahoots A Pop-Up Arts Experience for Caregiver & Child For Ages 2.5 to 5.

Art in Cahoots
A Pop-Up Arts Experience for Caregiver & Child
Friday, April 14, 2023
10-11am

Art in Cahoots is a free one-hour event designed for prekindergarten-age students with an accompanying adult caregiver. Each will include sensory, multi-disciplinary, process-based arts activities for children and caregivers to experience together. Children can build social-emotional skills, familiarize themselves with a classroom setting, and learn while still under the wing of a trusted caregiver.

Pop-ups are scheduled on set dates and times. Event dates, times, and capacity are determined by location. Spots are limited. Registration on Eventbrite is recommended in advance to reserve your space. Drop-ins may be accepted at time of the event if vacancies are available. Children must be 2½ years of age (30 months) to attend. Planned activities will change monthly.

Register online on Eventbrite!


Digital Programming 

The DAC is proud to offer free digital programming for the public.

Adult Art Lessons

Instructor-led lessons in various different mediums of ceramics, drawing & painting, and digital arts.

Ceramics: Ceramic Trays

Ceramics: Adding Form to Coil Vessel

Ceramics: Making a Bowl on the Potters Wheel

Ceramics: Adding Details to Sculptures with Jon Nelson Video 3

Ceramics: Trimming a Bowl

Ceramics: Rhyton Part 1 - Handbuilding the vessel

Ceramics: Rhyton Part 2 - Decorating the vessel

Ceramics: Hand Building a Dog Food Bowl

Ceramics: Hand Building a Cat Food Bowl

Ceramics: How to Make a Plate on the Wheel

Ceramics: How to Trim a Plate

Ceramics: Texture Glazing Ceramics - Video 4

Ceramics: Learn How to Make an Oil Bottle

Ceramics: How to Make A Vase on the Potters Wheel

Ceramics: Make a Cup on the Wheel

Ceramics: Make a Ring Holder on the Potters Wheel

Ceramics: Make a Coffee Pour Over

Ceramics: Make a Flower Brick part 1

Ceramics: Make a Flower Brick part 2

Ceramics: Make a Large Serving Dish

Ceramics: Trim a Large Baking Dish

Ceramics: Make a Teapot Part 1

Ceramics: Make a Bird House

Ceramics: Make a Teapot Part 2

Ceramics: Make a Bird Bath & Feeder

Ceramics: How to Reclaim Clay Scraps

Ceramics: Trimming With a Chuck

Ceramics: Make Screen Printed Decals

Ceramics: Make a Clay Pumpkin on the Potter's Wheel

Ceramics: Pinch Pot Clay Pumpkin

Ceramics: Basic Clay Wedging

Ceramics: How to Pull Cup Handles

Ceramics: Glazing a Mug: Two Ways

Ceramics: Spiral Clay Wedging

Ceramics: Make Mug Handles

Ceramics: Cut and Slam Wedging

Ceramics: Make a Lidded Jar

Ceramics: What Are Pyrometric Cones?

Ceramics: Firing Ceramics 101

Drawing: Portrait Drawing Hacks

Drawing:Urban Sketching in Your Yard

Drawing: The Five Aspects of Light

Drawing: Hatching & Cross-Hatching - Pen & Ink Shading Techniques, Part I

Drawing: Stippling & Scribbling - Pen & Ink Shading Techniques, Part II

Drawing: Drawing on Book Pages

Drawing: How To Start Drawing a Portrait

Drawing: Grid Drawing

Drawing: Drawing Drapery

Drawing: Ditch Your Eraser: Hand Lettering

Drawing: Additive and Subtractive Drawing

Drawing: Developing a Daily Drawing Practice

Drawing: Using Notan as a Composition Tool

Drawing: Ditch Your Eraser: Embracing Mistakes

Drawing: Tips & Tricks: Thumbnails

Drawing: Gesture Drawing: How and Why

Drawing: Drawing Hair In Portraits

Drawing: Using Perspective To Draw The Human Head

Drawing: Tips & Tricks: Urban Sketching Trees & Shrubs

Drawing: 2B or not 2B: The Pencil Code

Drawing: Tips & Tricks: Sharpening Art Pencils

Drawing: Tips & Tricks: Walnut Ink

Drawing: Squint: What’s a Value Study?

Drawing: Face It: Using Value Shapes To Draw The Human Face

Drawing: Hands Up- Drawing Hands

Drawing: Why Perspective Is Hard To Get Right Part 1

Drawing: Sketching Clouds in Pen & Ink

Drawing: Why Perspective is Hard to Get Right? Part 2

Drawing: Blind Contour Drawing

Painting: Indigo Hills Watercolor

Painting: Basics - The Painter's Sketchbook

Painting: A Guide to Abstract Painting

Painting: Riverbank Scene in Watercolor

Painting: Pink Water Lily Watercolor

Painting: Creating a Watercolor Study

Painting: Blending & Dry Brushing

Painting: Seascape in Watercolor

Painting: Highlights and Edges

Painting: Tips for Beginning Acrylic Painters

Painting Basics: Color Theory

Painting: Discover Watercolor Crayons

Painting: Color Theory

Painting Basics: The Self-Critique

Painting: Exploring Color in Neutral Tones

Painting: Watercolor Crayon Still Life

Painting Basics: Oil or Acrylic?

Painting: Beginning Watercolor: Abstract with India Ink

Painting Basics: Setting Up a Still Life

Painting: Abstract Art: What’s Going On Here?

Painting: Beginning Watercolor: Stormy Sky

Painting: Tips & Tricks: Composition

Painting: Watercolor: Using Expressive Color

Painting: Tips & Tricks: DIY Painting Set Up

Painting: Beginning Watercolor: Mixed Media Collage

Painting: Watercolor - Oil Pastels with Watercolor

Painting: Beginning Watercolor: Painting Trees

Painting: Beginning Watercolor: How to Paint Clouds

Painting: Painting a Starry Sky With Ink

Painting: Beginning Watercolor: Brush Basics

Painting: Painting Clouds With Gouache

Beginning Watercolor: Falling Leaves

Watercolor: Bounced Color

Watercolor: The 10 Minute Field Sketch

Watercolor Sketchbook: Simplifying a Complex Subject

Paint a Purple Iris

Digital: Photoshop - Clone Stamp

Digital: Photoshop - Blending Modes

Digital: Introduction to Illustrator

Craft: Paper Quilling

Craft: Papier-Mâché Cactus Sculpture

Craft: Trellis Ladder for your Garden

Craft: Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Squirrel Feeder

Craft: Cross Stitch Earring Holder

Craft: Hypertufa Planters

Craft: Make a Peephole Diorama

Craft: Make a Tunnel Book

Craft: Make Paper Flowers

Craft: Upcycled Wine Cork Board

Craft: Tips & Tricks: Cutting Collage Elements

Crafts: Upcycled Lawn Chair

Crafts: Bat Macrame Wall Hanging

Crafting: Folded Book Art

Crafting: Upcycled Toy Frame

Crafting: Upcycled Tinsel Tree

Crafting: DIY Stamped Wrapping Paper

Crafting: Upcycled Sweater Mittens

Crafting: DIY Pajaki

Mixed Media: A Template for Working With Mixed Media

Mixed Media: Blackout Poetry on Book Pages

Mixed Media: Reviving an Abandoned Drawing

Mixed Media: Curating Collage Elements

Photography: DIY Camera Obscura

Photography: Make a Paraxinoscope

Photography: Smartphone Photography: How to Tune Your Image

Photography: Natural Light Photography

Photography: Smart Phone Photography: How to Remove Unwanted Content

Smartphone Photography: How to Rotate and Crop an Image

Smartphone Photography: Adding Shallow Depth of Field

Smartphone Photography: Creating a Black and White Image with the Subject in Color

Studio Tour with Robin Gary

Studio Tour with Jennifer Hill

Studio Tour with Andrea Patin

Studio Tour with Adrienne Hodge

Artist Professional Development

The Artist Resource Center is pleased to host free monthly professional development workshops for artists. Covering a different topic each month, our workshops give artists the tools to develop and advance their careers in the arts.

Artist Resource Center Professional Development Workshop

Paper Pandemonium

Paper Pandemonium Webpage

 


Dougherty Arts Center Replacement text image header and link to website

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is taking the next steps toward moving the Dougherty Arts Center out of the beloved naval center and into a newly envisioned building to be constructed on Butler Shores Park.

DAC Replacement Project Webpage