Without Walls — Imagine Art

Without Walls is part of Imagine Art’s ISS (Individualized Services and Supports) program. Without Walls is designed to take Imagine Art artists out into the community; engaging them with other artists, galleries, studios, and artistic events to help inspire and grow them as artists.

CHECK OUT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN!

Without Walls has gifted admission for practically all field trips—meaning it’s all free. We have visited a variety of places: from the Blanton Museum of Art, the Contemporary Austin, Mexi-Arte, Laguna Gloria Sculpture Garden; to the smaller galleries like Neill-Cochran House Museum, Ellsworth Kelly’s Chapel, Wally Workman Gallery, Women and their Work to name just a few.

We keeps our eye on exhibitions for when they rotate. Exhibitions usually stay on about three months, then something new will start. At that time, the venue is put back on the list until it cycles through again.

The Blind Potter, Natalie S., at the Cathedral of Junk. (photo Amy Utter)

In the art world, tactile (perceptible by touch) opportunities are important. Coupled with audio description, folks with visual impairments can then experience and enjoy art. It’s how Without Walls makes these field trips interesting for everybody. The Cathedral of Junk offers visually impaired artists the chance to really interact with their art installations

Discovering the world of audio books on field trips to the library adds another dimension to the clients’ experience. One client with a visual impairment discovered Stephen King’s audio-books on a trip to the main library.

The Trifectas: Three Galleries at a Time From The Imagine Art Studio on West 14th Street, the group can walk over to Nau’s Drug and see one of three Daniel Johnston murals in the city. There is art all along West Lynn towards 6th Street. It's an opportunity to play I Spy and point out every visible art piece as it is noticed. Eventually, the group makes its way along 6th Street to the Wally Workman Gallery, Maw Gallery and Artworks—the first trifecta. By all accounts, that trip is a favorite.

Another trifecta is along Springdale Road, in East Austin. It features the Canopy (a complex where Big Medium and dozens of artist studios are located), Dimensions Park (another tactile experience with outdoor installations where lunch can be enjoyed), and Ghost Pepper Glassblowing (an opportunity to sit down and rest while the glassblowing process is explained).

The third trifecta (that IA clients also seem to love) is the West Chelsea Contemporary, Stephen F. Clark Gallery, and Waterloo Records near Lamar Blvd. and 6th. As a bonus, clients like going to Whole Foods where they can eat their sack lunches or buy a slice of pizza and enjoy a cold drink in relative comfort.

Amy Utter leads the artists up the accessible path, just escaping the neon Bengal tigers. April 28, 2022.(photo Madison Raye)

Field Trip to Zilker Botanical Gardens for a Special Event

In April 2022, Amy led a field trip to a one-of-a-kind experience—the Surreal Garden Exhibition at the Zilker Botanical Gardens. The exhibits featured the most amazing collection of neon art imaginable in a really fun and historic setting. Because there were three wheelchairs to accommodate, the tour followed the accessible path.

Inspiring Peer Support

Organic *Neon*! The artists appear captivated by the coy pond at the Zilker Botanical Gardens. April 28, 2022 (photo Madison Raye)

Most of the clients look forward to the field trips because, as artists, they have a blast! They get to see great art, experience each other in new and different surroundings, and speculate on what it takes to be a successful artist. They can bring journals to write in or sketch their ideas. Amy brings watercolors and watercolor paper for anybody so moved. Hopefully, they will be inspired by what they see and by what other artists are doing.

The field trips are also open to artists who don't come into the Imagine Art Studio on a regular basis.

Clients know from the pre-trip meeting that everyone is there to support each other. Due to all the peer support built into each field trip, everybody contributes and all are key to its ultimate success. When the bus finally gets back to the studio, everybody sits around the picnic table again and recaps the trip. What went well and what could stand a little improvement?