A Brief Retrospective
Florescent Shrimp, March 6, 2020 opening reception at People’s Gallery.
+ + +
Main lobby crowd and Monster Baby. Sights at People’s Gallery.
Four years ago, the months leading into 2020 were proving ominous. Warnings filtered out of China about a virus fatal to humans. At Imagine Art, we were getting ready for the March 6th opening of the People’s Gallery in City Hall where my wife Chris had submitted a piece entitled Egret Landing.
Chris with kids Adrienne and Bobby.
On reception day, the city announced the cancellation of SXSW, striking a blow to the local economy. Words like CDC and Fauci surfaced for what seemed like the first time. The following week, with all the art locked inside, City Hall closed to the public until further notice.
To avoid infections, mask wearing became en vogue, as did stay-at-home orders issued by the city, state and CDC. But these restrictions did not stop the Black Lives Matter marching from Houston-Tilitson to the Texas Capitol to protest George Floyd’s murder and police brutality. It would be a year and a half before the public unmasked and gathered in numbers again.
Empty Farmers’ Market Bare Shelves at HEB Deserted 6th St.
During Covid, instructional sessions at Imagine Art became virtual. AmeriCorps members along with clients, took it upon themselves to lead hour-and-a-half art activities designed to engage clients. They were held two times a week, morning and afternoon. Clients and members became proficient at using Zoom technology and certain sessions were a don’t miss.
COVID-19 Updates
Imagine Art closed on March 18th, 2020, due to COVID-19. All programs and offices are operating remotely until further notice. We expect to offer in-person programming in the spring of 2021. We are exploring alternatives to offering in-person services to those who do not have access to virtual learning.
AmeriCorps members and clients scheduled online presentations: everything from art history and fine art, to different drawing techniques such as Keith Haring’s whimsical shapes. John Molina shared his circle people and taught his brand of abstract art. The Feedback Sandwich, a well-known method promoting constructive criticism, became a staple and was applied regularly.
After Covid had pretty much passed, for those clients still not comfortable with in person instruction, Member Nancy West designed a virtual course that anyone could attend online.
The Virtual Team
The virtual team has been teaching the elements and principles of design. We started with little 15-minute exercises and we’re now moving into 30 minute and 1-hour exercises. For many of the artists we are reinforcing concepts that have already been taught, but for some of our newer artists this may be the first time learning these concepts.
The first five weeks we studied lines, color theory, shapes, value, shading and texture and space & dimension. Then we covered proportion and contrast. Currently, we are exploring balance and we will wrap up our 11 week course with an emphasis on movement and rhythm. We will also look at and explore genres of art including portraits, landscapes, still-lifes, and abstracts. Nancy West
Rick Hernandez checking out the lay of the land at Cherrywood Coffeehouse in Spring 2023.
Back to Regular
As the Covid restrictions eased, IA began having exhibitions, again. Showings were staged at Halcyon, a café in Mueller, where the art was exhibited for an extended period until summer 2022. The Cherrywood Coffeehouse on 38½ came into play as a venue that resulted in two, month long showings in the Spring of ‘20 and ‘23.
Also, the City of Austin’s Dougherty Art Center hosted two exhibitions over the past three years, and The Firehouse Gallery in Del Rio, Texas began September 2022 with an IA exhibition. Since June of this year, the Jewish Community Center on Hart St. in West Austin has been displaying fifty pieces in their Tony Shor JGallery.
Besides these featured galleries, Imagine Art runs two studios that function as galleries to exhibit IA’s never-ending art/ceramics production. Various shows have included the Fall open house, holiday shows in December, Smoke and Sizzle Raku events in Spring, and monthly sales at Evergreen.
Elena Marcozzi measures/hangs another painting. Visitors attend Smoke and Sizzle.
As of this writing, the Evergreen studio is closing July 31, and the St. Luke studio will shut down at the end of August in anticipation of the move to the Tillery—Live Make, housing units and studios in September.
My AmeriCorps’ Experience
To steal a phrase from our fearless leader, AmeriCorps Director Rick Hernandez, my experience “has been tremendous!” From the people I’ve met and worked with and all the projects we accomplished together, to the challenges of deadlines, timesheets and other urgent tasks while working alongside clients and co-members. Not to mention the art blogs, which over my tenure was my way of articulating the IA experience.
I hesitate singling out members for their devoted commitments to AmeriCorps and Imagine Art. Regardless, I’ve always been amazed at the caliber of members that AmeriCorps attracts— likeable people who are artists, teachers, friends and organizers rolled into one. Each member I have come into contact with is selfless, ready to give of their time and talents to clients and the organization.
I can, however, point to one particular event that describes the impact that AmeriCorps/Imagine Art had upon the community. Touchstones and New Beginnings and the unveiling of the Peace Poles was a true community happening.
Three metal poles were adorned with around 80 community-built clay 3-D totems in the shapes of boxes, hearts, stars, cylinders, triangles and erected in front of St. Luke Methodist Church (where the three murals now stand. Its remnants are stacked in a colorful pile in front of the Saint Luke studio.) It was an all ages family event. The goal was to introduce Imagine Art to the Old West Austin and Clarksville communities. The event inspired artists and members alike. (Read about Former Members Justine and Jon and their collaborations with other artists during this time.)
What Does it All Mean?
I am proud that I was a part of the process getting Imagine Art to the Tillery— Live Make Studios. It was a migrant organization that found its way to a permanent home, where artists can thrive and truly live out Debbie Kizer’s goal of “job readiness” for all clients.
I live just around the corner from the Live Make Studios. As long as I reside in the Govalle neighborhood, I’ll be coming around to volunteer and share about my own artistic journey and discover what my artist friends are working on. I’m sure there will be lots of exhibition opportunities at Imagine Art’s new home.
AmeriCorps’ bylaws stipulate members cannot re-up for another term beyond 4 years. Therefore, my stint as an artist in residence at Imagine Art is ending July 26. Either, I must retire or find another way to fend for myself.
See y’all around. Peace out.
Vic Martinez
