Art in the Park 2023
With a magnificent green foliage behind her, this artist adds the finishing touches to a masterpiece at the Mary Lee Foundation stop.
Because of you know what, this event disappeared from the park for the last three years. It was abruptly cancelled in 2020; for the next two years Art in the Park went online. It was missed by lovers of art and masters of fun and creativity (mainly kids). The virtual events that took its place (though fascinating and educational) just weren’t the same as being outside on a beautiful Spring day, dancing and doing art in the park.
Well, the good times have returned! This past Thursday, April 13th, the nonprofit organizations were back at it, organizing fun art activities, cool entertainment, archery, music and dancing. There was so much music and dancing! For more than 25 years, Art in the Park has attracted children and adults from all over the Austin area for art related, hands-on activities.
The 2023 organizers (Art Spark, McBeth Recreation Center and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department) brought Art in the Park back to Fiesta Gardens. With support from the disabled community and many great organizations, this Joyful happening is back.
Austin Creative Reuse, Mary Lee Foundation, Healing Arts Here, Tandy Leather, Imagine Art, Alamo Recreation Center and others, setup booths to show a variety of ways to do art.
Imagine Art Does Temp Tats and Origami
Imagine Art’s tent was a hit with people wanting temporary tattoos and eager to learn the art of Origami. Hidden behind the bunch of curious people are AmeriCorps’ artists-in-residence Jenna Easthope, Anthony Robinson and Tiara Kinnebrew. Below, Tiara and Anthony apply tattoos while Jenna teaches how to fold the mystical origami. Anthony takes time to draw more transfers.
Seen below from left to right are Imagine Art’s Courtney Hinson, Chris Santana, Amy Utter, John Molina, and Natalie Sherwood. Like the poster says, they are recruiting new artists to be part of Imagine Art. AmeriCorps Director Rick Hernandez (sitting and pointing) is recruiting members as well. Anyone interested in becoming an AmeriCorps member should contact rick@imagineart.net.
Coloring on Butcher Paper, Dancing and Other Fun Stuff
Besides what Imagine Art offered, there was all kinds of stuff to do. Each activity was art focused. The booths lined-up along the hike and bike trail with the Pavilion in the middle. Songs like Pharrell Williams’ Happy and We are Family by Sister Sledge blasted from speakers as groups of people shifted around from booth to booth.
These are some of the other activities:
A solitary artist contributes her bit to the art banner. The crew of yellow shirt artists make themselves right at home.
Community Collaboration Painting by Healing Arts Here was a popular stop. Artists got an opportunity to paint on canvas. John was in his element.
The dancer troupe is called Wings. The central dancer in the second photo is founder, Michele Owens. The theme for their performance was Happy!
Austin Creative Reuse can be a valuable resource for mixed media artists. People selected from all kinds of odds and ends that would be perfect for their piece.
Participants tool leather bracelets with metal stamps and hammers.
The Park Rangers had a booth educating festival goers about bats. They helped people glue googly eyes on bat cut-outs.
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow. A youngster learns how to string an arrow on a bow. The next photo is of a more experienced young adult getting ready to let the arrow fly. The archery activity was sponsored by Alamo Recreation Center.
Two onlookers are impressed by the hula hoop dancer. Chris waits for his turn to order a flavored shaved ice.
Yadira
Yadira Uranga on ukulele and Deja provided song.
Yadira is the perfect name for a musician. It is very lyrical sounding, like a name right out of Greek mythology. She performed on stage at 10:30 AM. Her strong, melodious voice carried, and she knocked it out of the park when performing Bob Marley’s reggae tune, Three Little Birds.
The Sensory Tent—A Peace and Quiet Place
The Art in the Park experience could be over stimulating to some. They then needed to take a break from all the activities. Alamo Recreation Center sponsored a Sensory Tent so attendees could relax in a quiet place and give their nerves a break. It was a place where they might crawl under a weighted blanket, which is like a big hug, to help release their stress or anxiety.
This was an earth tattoo, created by spreading mulch. So until next Spring, when we hope to see Art in the Park back and better than ever.
