As you know, we’re beyond excited for the gallery’s 30th anniversary. A 30th birthday calls for a big-girl birthday celebration, and accordingly, we will be celebrating in high style, atop the Austin skyline, in the TOCQUIGNY space on the 17th floor of the Frost Bank building downtown.
Having trouble envisioning what the 17th floor of the Frost Building looks like? Well, it’s sleek, minimalist, and quite befitting of big-girl birthday time, and we are very excited and thankful to TOCQUIGNY for hosting us. The fifteen video art installations planned for the bash are going to have the perfect backdrop in this space. Just click on the picture below to take a virtual tour.
March 25, 2008
So in preparation for our upcoming 30th Anniversary Art Party, we’ve been sifting through all our old Women & Their Work slides. Yes, slides–you know, one of those pre-Flickr archival methods. Revisiting the past, we’ve unearthed treasure after treasure and we will be periodically posting these nuggets for you to enjoy as we approach our 30th. Of course, we unearthed some fantastic artwork and stories to share with you, but it also bears mention that there have been some awesome fashion moments in Women & Their Work’s history. Take a trip down memory lane with us and marvel at the sartorial spendidness! (Oh, and many of the subjects of these pictures are unknown to us, so if you recognize yourself or a friend, let us know.)
Though these two look like the latest Vice Magazine DO’s, they were in fact part of the crowd at a 1979 Women & Their Work opening. How tough is that red sock/white shoe combo?!
Even in a casual moment, our founding foremother Rita Starpattern communicated an ineffable style.
Sherry Smith works it in shades of Diane Keaton, while husband Bill Allison sports the requisite 70’s facial hair. (Sherry made this outfit herself!)
Elegant chamber music, deadly heels.
Rita Starpattern holds court amidst serious discussion and relaxed fashion circa ‘80.
Don’t you wish you were there? And if you were there, shoot us an e-mail! We’d love to share your memories of Women & Their Work from the past 30 years.
March 17, 2008
Did you know that Women & Their Work was the first organization in Texas to receive an NEA grant?
That’s right–before 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts didn’t fund anyone in Texas. Now that seems wrong! We were happy to make it right.
Working it out at Women & Their Work, circa 1982.
March 17, 2008
Here’s a little refresher for what life was like in 1978 when Women & Their Work was first formed.
President: Jimmy Carter
Median Household Income (current dollars): $15,064
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.13
Technology: Sony introduces the Walkman, the first portable stereo.
Academy Award, Best Picture: Annie Hall
Record of the Year: “Hotel California,” Eagles
Song of the Year: “Love Theme From A Star Is Born” (Evergreen), Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams, songwriters
Science: Recombinant DNA techniques are used to produce human insulin.
Babs in ‘78: Rawrr!
March 11, 2008
Wow, I can hardly believe we’ve come this far. Thirty years, that’s older than half of our staff!
No, I can believe it. With the support of the Austin community and strong leadership, Women & Their Work has thrived for the last thirty years and is going to thrive for the next thirty.
In the last thirty years we’ve supported thousands of women artists, 1794 of which exhibited in the gallery. We helped bring Laurie Anderson, Betye Saar, Adrian Piper, the Urban Bush Women, Liz Lehrman, Marion Winik, Adrienne Rich, Maxine Kumin, Bebe Miller, Marlies Yearby, Contraband Dance, Pauline Oliveras, Natasha Tsakos, Pat Graney, just to name a few, to Austin. Not to mention all of the Texas and former Texas artists that have shown in the gallery, there are way to many to mention here, but keep coming back to the blog. Throughout the year we’re going to post the highlights from the last thirty years. And there are a lot!
March 6, 2008
The Countdown has begun!
Only 6 weeks until our fabulous, our wonderful, our totally interactive awesome party on April 19 at TOCQUIGNY, an interactive marketing firm in a cutting-edge creative space downtown on the 17th floor of the Frost Tower. Video art will be displayed on 15 screens, and fun, interactive experiences will let partygoers act out their creative side. Fabulous food will flavor the night.
Get your tickets now! They are going fast!
More information coming soon!
March 6, 2008
