EAST: East Austin Studio Tour

It poured rain in Austin on Saturday, but that only made it the perfect day to spend inside, touring endless studios and admiring the work of some of Austin’s most talented artists during EAST – aka the East Austin Studio Tour. This city oozes creativity from every nook and cranny, and it was amazing to get an up close and personal look at some of the artists’ studio spaces, and in some cases, a glimpse into their creative process. With nearly 300 stops on the tour, it was impossible to see it all in one day, but I visited three locations where I was able to see multiple studios – Canopy, Artpost, and UP Collective. Here’s a little peek at what I saw!

Canopy was my first stop, and the home to Big Medium Gallery – Big Medium being the non-profit organization behind EAST. Canopy is a large space that houses multiple studios, and while the sounds of thunder and rain against windowpanes echoed in the background I lost myself in a maze of white-walled hallways, stopping to explore every open studio door that caught my eye.

Among my favorites were the delicate antique pistol drawings and unconventional framing by Emily Galusha.

Another favorite – the use of colors and blending techniques by Kiah Denson were mesmerizing.

I was also entranced by the largely white and gray canvases with splashes of rainbow hues by Diana Presley Greenberg.

The depth and richness of the colors in these paintings by Rebecca Bennett caught my eye – I could not stop staring.

A really interesting piece by Troy Allen, who creates his own “drawing contraptions” to paint and draw with.

Gina Pina is a modern longarm quilter, which refers to the machine she uses to quilt. I loved that she also incorporated an interactive element, inviting anyone who visited her space to write down the name of the city they were born in to be added to a quilt that she was working on.

The quilt from the weekend prior, for which she asked visitors to write the name of the street they live on.

Shibori by fiber artist Lynne Brotman.

Plays on shadow and light and projection at the Big Medium Gallery.

My second stop was Artpost Austin, a “Center for Creative Expression” located on East Cesar Chavez. Blink and you’ll miss this unassuming space, which at first glance looks like a small house but is actually more like a compound of unique studio spaces.

I adore these quirky drawings by Carolina Villarreal and the phrases that accompany them – you should definitely check out her Tumblr to see more.

I love the minimal palette and texture of Paul Meyer’s work.

My final stop of the day was UP Collective, and of the three locations I visited this space was my favorite. It felt like someone’s home, and each room had something completely unique and unexpected to explore.

I love how artist Ricardo Santiago Jaen combines visual and aural elements into his work.

The photos hardly do it justice, but this piece by Emily Coleman constructed with leaves completely blew me away. It took her about a year and a half to make this masterpiece.