Art Spark Texas

Community Conversations with Art Spark Dance & Civic Arts
2021-12-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
This month’s virtual Community Conversation topic is our creation of a national gathering focused on dance and disability education in the U.S. – Refocusing Dance Education: Deafness and Disability – in Spring 2023, to bring together those who are invested in inclusive dance practice and pedagogy at multiple levels. The planning team will present our process to date from a series of in-depth interviews and our exploration of the Austin dance and performing arts scene. Our work is a continuation of what is currently taking place in our local and national communities. ASL interpretation and Closed Captioning for this conversation will be provided. Questions can be directed to outreach@artsparktx.org
Community Conversation with Art Spark Texas & Civic Arts
Wed, Dec 8, 2021 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (CST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86253225288?pwd=[REDACTED]

Holiday Art & Gift Pop-up Market
2021-12-11 12:00 - 17:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
We’ll be Tossing the Tinsel and Slinging the Sparkle at our upcoming Holiday Art and Gift Pop-Up Market and you are invited! Get ready to shop for unique and artful gifts created by Art Spark Texas artists. This is an in-person event.
Selected vendors will be offering original paintings, fine crafts, handmade cards, wearables, jewelry, glass art, homemade cranberry salsa, and more. Pre-made Curated Art Boxes will also be available. Tasty treats and libations along with live music by Jean Caffeine and Ramon Topete will round out a festive way to spend your Saturday afternoon.

Call for Art Community Gallery
2022-01-14 | Austin Lighthouse for the Blind, 4512 S Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX, 78744, United States
Art Spark Texas is seeking visual artists to display their work at our community gallery space at the Austin Lighthouse for the Blind Lobby and hallway in Austin. The artwork is changed out every two months. Group and solo opportunities are available.
If you are interested, please contact April at april@artsparktx.org.

Whirlpooling Thoughts
2022-01-18
This is a collaborative video project that explores the topic of anxiety and how it manifests in the body.
We are looking for a 1-3 minute video that has a movement element. You can submit your video here: https://tinyurl.com/whirlpoolingthoughts. Submission deadline February 2nd 2022.
Movement Prompt- contemplate what anxiety feels like in your body. Please use some keywords to influence your movement. This can be as structured or as freeform as you would like.
From the project choreographer Emily Heath, who is our intern from Bennington College:
“For example, when I am anxious my palms sweat, and my heart beats quickly and as a result, I sometimes feel short of breath. I used the image of palms sweating to create the action of rubbing my hands on my legs. This movement made its way into my dance practice. I play with repeating the movement and the speed that I do this move. I am also thinking about how I get in and out of this movement and transitions. These may be some elements that you consider as you are moving.”

Valentine Card-Making & Painting Party
2022-01-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
For January, our Makers Hour converts to a card-making event and painting party in our new space. Join us to make some cards for yourself, and some for us to sell in support of Art Spark Texas this season. We’re even planning a few (optional) creative card challenges.
It’s free to participate, plus we’ll have lots of materials available, but you are welcome to bring items to share.
If you don’t feel comfortable joining us in person, join us virtually!

Call for Art: Valentine Art and Gift Pop Up
2022-01-24 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Apply for a booth space at our Valentine Art and Gift Pop-Up!
We are hosting our second in-person Pop-Up event at our new space. Apply for a space by filling out the google form. If accepted, booth fee is due Feb 1. All details are in the form. If you have questions, contact April at april@artsparktx.org for details.

Free to apply. Booth fee upon acceptance is $20 artists with disabilities/ $25 artists without disabilities

Deadline for applications is Monday, January 24th.

Apply Here: https://forms.gle/CCCnN9QoigTrqJ79A

Valentine Art and Gift Pop-Up
2022-02-05 12:00 - 17:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Love is in the air! Mark your calendar to shop for unique and artful gifts for all your favorite people at our Valentine Pop-Up. Selected artisans will be offering lots of eye candy: Fine crafts, paintings, wearables, jewelry, and more.

OPEN MIC: THE LION & PIRATE
2022-02-05 19:00 - 20:30
The Lion & Pirate, inclusive, open mic for writers, performers, and acoustic musicians invites you to join us the first weekend of the month. Sponsored by Art Spark Texas and the Pen 2 Paper Creative Writing Contest. Organizers also include Malvern Books and the Coalition of Texans Disabilities.
Join the Lion & Pirate for our next virtual inclusive, open mic! Featured performers to be announced; then, it will be your time to shine!
Join us on Zoom:
Use this Link to attend our virtual open mic.
Stay tuned to our Facebook Group for event updates, signup sheets, and links, and invite your friends too. You can tune in just to connect with your community and give us those “clap” reactions.
As always, we’re open to work in any genre: music, spoken word, improv, skits, storytelling, dance, poems or prose… Anything you can perform! There will be 10 sign up slots. We ask that you sign up ahead of time. Any sign-ups after 10 will be held on a backup list.
Questions? Please email Ms Boye: boye@artsparktx.org.
Thank you for donating and supporting Art Spark Texas Speaking Advocates Program and the Pen 2 Paper Creative Writing Contest.

Community Conversation with Artist of the Month Kemi Yemi-Ese
2022-02-09 19:00 - 21:00
Join us to meet our February Artist of the Month, Kemi Yemi-Ese! Kemi is a Nigerian-American artist living in Austin. She was raised in Houston, Texas and moved to Austin eleven years ago for physical therapy and to gain independence after a car accident in 2006, which left her with a spinal cord injury. Kemi is now a fully-licensed therapist who focuses her counseling practice on helping those with stress, anxiety, and childhood trauma. She is also an artist and an art teacher. Her belief is that art can promote emotional healing, and this is core to her practice as both an artist and a therapist. Kemi will also lead us in a drawing activity. The only supplies needed are paper and markers.
Join the Community Conversation here on Wednesday, February 9th @ 7-9 PM CST.

Makers Meet-up
2022-02-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join Art Spark staffers and artists, April and Susan, for our monthly Makers Meet-up, a creative in-person gathering, taking place the last Sunday the month 1-4:00 PM CT. All types of Makers are welcome! We’ll hang out, try a new art method and/or do a creative prompt or two, and share our work. You are always welcome to bring your choice of media, or your latest creative project to share. Participants have the option to join either virtually or in-person. Use this link to participate virtually.

Amplify Austin Kick-Off Party
2022-03-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join our Amplify Austin Kick-Off Party on Wednesday, March 2nd from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at our new office at 1152 San Bernard Street. Enjoy light refreshments and help us kick off this important fundraising effort for Art Spark Texas. Take home Art for $25+ donation made at the party! All donations add you to a drawing for our T-shirt ‘n Tote.
To make a donation, please visit https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/artsparktx

Amplify Austin 2022
2022-03-02 18:00 - 2022-03-03 18:00
Amplify Austin is Central Texas’ 24-hour annual giving event in support of non-profits. It starts at 6:00 PM CT Wednesday, March 2nd. Please join us in our efforts to help us amplify the creativity of Artists with disabilities and join our giving campaign to support our 2022 Art Spark Texas Artist of the Year Awards!
To make a donation, please visit https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/artsparktx

VIRTUAL OPEN MIC: THE LION & PIRATE
2022-03-06 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-04-02 19:00 - 20:30, 2022-05-08 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-06-04 19:00 - 20:30

Don't Dis the Vote
2022-03-26
Join us for a day of fun!!!
WHO: REV UP Texas, along with channelAustin & Art Spark Texas, have joined forces to get out the Disability vote.
WHAT: Don’t Dis the Vote is a community empowerment exercise to create a non-partisan toolkit – for non-profits & groups – to galvanize people with disabilities to register, vote & educate themselves on pertinent issues. The package consists of an original song, a choreographed dance performance, & (this is where you come in!) a music-video-a-la-flash-mob. Join us!
WHEN: Saturday, March 26th, 2022 between 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Fabulous fun along with breakfast & lunch will be served so plan to dance with us all day! Can only stay for half? Meals & dance lessons will begin at 9:00 am or 1:00 pm.
WHERE: North Plaza of the Texas State Capitol (free parking at any State Parking garage). You’ll be escorted to the Legislative Conference Center inside to meet your fellow dancers & receive your free T-shirt to be worn over your (mostly black, if possible) clothes for the video. Note, that we will be dancing outside so dress weather appropriate.
HOW: Please go online & register: https://tinyurl.com/dontdisthevote2022

Art in the (Virtual) Park
2022-04-07
Our annual inclusive festival is being held virtually again. Typically, we invite students and adults with disabilities to an outdoor event full of art activities, performances, and fun in the fresh air. Join us online for videos of at-home or in-the-classroom activities as well as performances of music and theater. We will be posting daily video on our social media accounts @artsparktx through April 21st.

Community Conversation with April Artist of the Month Thom the World Poet
2022-04-13 19:00 - 20:00
April is National Poetry Month and this month our Artist of the Month is the delightful Thom Woodruff, also known as Thom the World Poet, the Texas Beat Poet Laureate 2020-2022! Join us for a virtual conversation and POETRY JAM with Thom!
Link for the virtual event: https://meet.goto.com/211088573

Makers Meet-up
2022-04-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Spend a fun afternoon creating together in our new space, 1152 San Bernard Street! Our April Makers Meet-Up will be card making! Make cards for Mother’s Day and learn a tip or two from Cardmaker Jourdan Huerta of Greetings By J. It’s free to participate, plus we’ll have lots of materials available, but you are welcome to bring items to share. If you don’t feel comfortable joining us in- person, join us virtually! For details, contact Susan at susan@artsparktx.org. Use this link to participate virtually.

May Day Arts Celebration
2022-04-30 12:00 - 17:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Saturday, April 30 (12-5:00 PM)
Spring is in the air! Come celebrate the Arts with us! We’re planning our largest event ever – but, hey, this is Texas, y’all. Go big or home!
Selected Artisans will be offering fresh, new art, fine crafts, wearables, jewelry and more. And what would be an Arts Festival in Austin without live music? So, guess what – there’s an afternoon of performances planned!
It’s the weekend before Mother’s Day – a great time to find the perfect gift for Mom! Plan on FUN for the entire family! Tasty treats and libations will be served! Hope to see you there!
This will be a full day of FUN with:

An indoor & outdoor gallery featuring dynamic local visual artists
An afternoon of LIVE MUSIC performances you are going to love
SPECIAL GUEST Those Vending Machines
Art Activities and Face Painting
Drum Circle

PLUS our amazing community (that’s you)!
Raindate Sunday, May 1, 2022

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Call for Models: Runway of Dreams College Club Fashion Show
2022-05-04
BE A PART OF A FASHION REVOLUTION: Wednesday, May 4th, 2022!
Runway of Dreams Club at UT Austin! creating the first-annual Runway of Dreams All Inclusive Fashion Show representing The Runway of Dreams Foundation and would love for YOU to be a part of the journey!
The Runway of Dreams Foundation is a nonprofit that works toward a future of inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity in the fashion Industry for people with disabilities. The Foundation develops, delivers, and supports programs and events that celebrate people’s differences, break down stereotypes and highlight the need for mainstream adaptive fashion.
They are looking for models with all types of disabilities (ages 18-23) to rock the runway and help bring awareness and inclusion to people with disabilities in the fashion industry! It’s time to make a change. Help be a part of it + have fun while doing it!
To apply, please fill out the form below and email this document and a photo of yourself to runwayofdreamstexas@gmail.com
Download RoD Model Application (PDF Format)
Download RoD Model Application (Word Document .docx)

Fareground Fundraiser
2022-05-04 | Fareground, 111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Eat at Fareground in May! Fareground is a food hall open 11 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week with 6 eateries, 2 bars, and all-day coffee. It is located at 111 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701. If you visit on nights and weekends, you can get 90 minutes of complimentary parking. After your visit, save your receipt and submit it online at faregroundaustin.com/fundraising to support Art Spark Texas.
If you aren’t doing in-person dining, you can order online at order.faregroundaustin.com.

Arts + Culture Celebration
2022-05-14 10:00 - 14:00
Join us on May 14 to celebrate the unveiling of “Common Waters: A Demonstration Project for the Butler Trail and Lady Bird Lake.” Dancers Veronica DeWitt, Tanya Winters, and Joey Smallet are performing as part of the 50th anniversary celebration for the Trail Foundation on May 14th at 1:45 PM at the shores of Lakeshore Park, 2525 South Lakeshore Drive.

Three local artists, Ruben Esquivel, Reji Thomas, and Taylor Davis have been selected to collaborate, design, and install a temporary art installation on Lady Bird Lake this spring as part of the Trail’s Arts + Culture Plan. The installation, titled Common Waters, will explore themes of community, creativity, environment, and collaboration, and will incorporate artistic components as well as ecological function. Supporting this effort will be TTF, environmental artist Stacy Levy, and Austin-based curators Public City. This event is in partnership with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Art in Public Places, and the Watershed Protection Department.

This event will be broken into three parts. Attendees may choose to attend one, two, or even all three aspects of the event:

Morning Launch: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join the artists at the Waller Beach Boat Launch near the Holiday Inn to watch the assembly of the piece – you may even get the chance to plant something yourself! Event includes live music by A’lante Flamenco and interaction with the artists.
Procession: 12 – 1 p.m.
Kayak, paddle board, canoe, walk, bike or run to join and watch the procession as the creation makes its way down Lady Bird Lake to the installation site at Lakeshore Park. Check out our recommended viewing areas. Music by Ephraim Owens Quartet.
Afternoon Celebration: 12 – 2 p.m.
Upon reaching its final destination, the floating wetland installation will be installed right off the shores of Lakeshore Park! Celebrate the install with a performance from Art Spark by Body Shift and a Sustainable Community Workshop by Future Front X Sustain the Mag. Drinks will be provided by JuiceLand and Weird Tea and Beverages.

Reconstructing Memories: A Memoir Writing Workshop for Veterans with Brian Turner
2022-05-21 10:00 - 13:00
Join us for a half day virtual writing workshop with hands-on writing exercises. Brian Turner is a poet and memoirist who served seven years in the US Army. He is the author of two poetry collections, Phantom Noise and Here, Bullet. His memoir, My Life as a Foreign Country, has been called, “achingly, disturbingly, shockingly beautiful.” Open to current and prior military and Veterans.
Registration is limited. Zoom link will be sent upon registration. Register via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/290721896017

May Makers Meet-Up
2022-05-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join us for our monthly Makers Meet-Up Sunday, May 22nd 1:00 – 4:00 PM CDT! We’re live and in-person and ready to spend a fun afternoon creating together in our new space, 1152 San Bernard Street, Austin. For May, we are getting creative with Embroidery Art! If you have a denim clothing item (jeans, jean jacket or shirt), bring it to embellish. We will also have some denim material you can use to make a mini masterpiece to put in a frame like the pictured image, created by Veteran artist Denise Knebel. We’ll have embroidery supplies. As an alternative to embroidering, we will have fabric paint (bring a cotton T-shirt) you can paint. It’s free to participate, and you are welcome to bring items to share.
If you don’t feel comfortable joining us in person, join us virtually here https://bit.ly/3IiBa7U At home supply list: Items you could use include embroidery thread, sewing needles, a thimble (optional), scissors, white lead pencil or washable marker to draw your design on your fabric.

Community Conversation
2022-05-25 19:00 - 20:00
Join us virtually on Wednesday, May 25th, (7:00 PM CDT) when our May Artist of the Month, veteran dancer, choreographer, and educator David Voss comes to chat with us! We will be hearing about David’s passion for dance that has led him to profound, and often surprising, work—always with a recognition for the healing power of movement. David will also help us wind down with a guided relaxation activity.
Tune in to the conversation here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038182706?pwd=[REDACTED]

Monthly Drum Circle
2022-05-28 11:00 - 12:30 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join our Monthly Drum Circle, led by Mary Oliver of Spirit Rhythms on the last Saturday of each month from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Mary focuses on her passion for drumming as a tool for nurturing others toward self-expression, spirituality, and wellness. The drum circle will take place outdoors in chairs but will move indoors in the case of inclement weather.
To sign up, or if you have any questions, please email mary.spiritrhythms@gmail.com
There is no cost to participate, though donations are welcome.

Women Veterans Moving Forward Through Creative Arts - Art and Songwriting Workshop
2022-06-11 10:00 - 14:00
Join us for a half day virtual event focusing on self-care through the arts for female-identifying current and prior military members. We will start with a warm up art activity with Art Therapist Leah Danze, then focus on a Songwriting workshop with musician Kelley McRae of Song Rise Arts. You will learn song structure and the basic elements of songwriting, with time for individual and group writing exercises, with sharing at the end. All supplies will be mailed to you. Zoom link sent upon registration

Register now to reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/290839337287

The Story Behind the Recipe
2022-06-22 10:00 - 15:00 | Art Spark Texas offices, 1152 San Bernard Street, Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Here in Austin, we love food! And this summer, Art Spark Texas needs your help to share the story behind your home recipes! During June and July we are offering Austin Seniors and Young Adults a series of multimedia art workshops that focus on building connection through food. We will learn the tools of visual art and video to share these recipes and stories. The focus of the videos will be “The Story Behind the Recipe”. Seniors will participate in a 4 week series of writing, illustration, and video interview activities. Classes for Seniors will take place 10-11:30 AM on Wednesdays. Young Adults will participate in a 6 week series of new media training workshops on audio/video recording, animation, and editing. Classes for young adults will take place 1:30-3 PM on Wednesdays. Each workshop covers a new tool and thus creates a new piece of content for our final videos. Our goal is to use the power of art to share Austin culture and bring together two diverse groups of people around the central focus of food. Artists of all experience levels welcome!
Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRoE7vaGk2o7kTgC-cD7IKPuXPWXIhUBxVUqM126fa4YFnrA/viewform?usp=sf_link
