Photo Credit: Suzanne Pressman

Four studios and fifteen artists will be showcased in the ninth annual Art of the Pot Austin Ceramic Studio Tour and Sale this Mother’s Day weekend. Join Austin potters Chris Campbell, Keith Kreeger, Ryan McKerley, Lisa Orr and Claudia Reese as they open up their studios for you to enjoy the art of pottery. The tour is free and open to the public, and runs on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

 Art of the Pot is a collective of Austin-based potters committed to expanding the reach of contemporary studio pottery through studio tours, public lectures and gallery exhibitions.  Each year, Art of the Pot brings some of the top ceramic artists in the country to Austin for the invitational pottery show.

“We’re thrilled to have such high caliber artists in our lineup again this year,” says Kreeger. “The tour has grown in scale and stature in Austin and across the country. Visitors will see the limitless possibilities of our medium in the wide range of work on view.” The ten nationally recognized guest artists come from as far away as New York, California, Maine, North Carolina, Washington state, Missouri and Pennsylvania

Photo Credit: Suzanne Pressman

The tours are complete with eats and drinks. Saturday’s tour kicks off with food from Snack Bar on South Congress and coffee at Lisa Orr studio, and the day ends with “Tacos, Shots & Pots” at Keith Kreeger studio. Sunday’s tour will feature brunch fare at Claudia Reese studio, and pizza from East Side Pies at Ryan McKerley/Chris Campbell studio.

Prior to the weekend’s tour, Art of the Pot is offering you the opportunity to go behind the scenes with some of their artists with a Free Ceramics Workshop on Thursday, May 10, 12-4pm at the Dougherty Arts Center. Guest artists Deb Schwartzkopf (WA), Gwendolyn Yoppolo (NC) and Michael Kline will (NC) will discuss and demonstrate their creative approaches and technical knowledge.

A special  VIP Collector’s Preview Tour will be held on Friday, May 11, 6-9pm. Private bus tour, with cocktails and refreshments at each studio. VIP tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

To launch their new supper club, fresh and seasonal Royal Fig Catering will be hosting an Artisan Dinner Series in their beautiful new Harvest Room. Austin’s favorite cheese shop, Antonelli’s, will be part of the debut dinner, along with Chef Dan Stacy, fresh off the successful launch of Royal Fig’s mobile venture The Seedling Truck.

The first Artisan Dinner will feature five cheesy courses that will highlight Chef Dan Stacy’s culinary attention to detail, quality and artistry as he showcases a selection of Antonelli’s artisanal cheeses. The meal will also include a cheese commentary by Cheese-monger Paul Kiry.

At Antonelli’s, an artisanal is described as “cheese that’s been touched by hands.” While a “farmstead cheese” is one that is made on a farm that also cares for its own animals, often meaning that the same group of folks who take care of the animals also make the cheese and that the milk doesn’t have to travel far or sit long before being made into cheese.

While the lines can get blurry between artisanal and industrial cheese, Antonelli’s distinctly chooses to focus primarily on artisanal cheese. These cheeses have taken a good deal of human labor to create and can be traced to cheesemakers and the milk source.

Cheese-monger and Wholesale Manager Paul Kiry will talk about the selections and pairings throughout the service. This event is open to the public and is B.Y.O.B. Diners are encouraged to bring their favorite wines, brews, or other beverages to complement the meal.

The Harvest Room has a warmly rich yet rustic atmosphere, and with a capacity of about 40 will serve as a versatile space not only for Royal Fig’s multi-series supper club, but also rehearsal dinners, showers, corporate events and functions of all kinds.

The Artisan Dinner featuring Antonelli’s will begin Sunday, April 29th at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased for $65 each by contacting Harvest Room Manager Jerod Hruska by phone at 739-3233 or email him at jerod@royalfig.com  Due to limited seating, please include the number in the party and secure with a credit card number and expiration date.

Royal Fig prides itself in its use of fresh, seasonal ingredients that come from organic farms throughout central Texas. Each menu is created with seasonality in mind, so that guests will be eating food at the peak of freshness.

Royal Fig is dedicated to providing full service catering with outstanding customer service and attention to every detail. They cater many types of events from the very formal to the relaxed and casual.

Art festival meets block party in Art Alliance‘s oldest festival, Art City Austin. Bring friends and family to this cultural event that includes art, local food vendors, live music, and activities in one of the most beautiful spots in all of downtown Austin.

Invigorating the streets, plazas, and open spaces with art of all kinds, Cesar Chavez Street and the 2ND Street District will host this one-of-a-kind, weekend-long cultural celebration. Part art festival, part block party, Art City Austin features nationally recognized artists, local food and musicians, kids’ activities, and art installations that bring the community together to enjoy great art for the entire family smack dab in the middle of downtown Austin.

Art City Austin will transform Cesar Chavez St., the S. 1st Street bridge, and the 2ND Street District surrounding Austin City Hall into a car-free hub for the two-day festival and community-wide celebration.  Activating streets by opening them to people and creating an environment of culture and fun is central to the mission of Art Alliance Austin.

The festival will take place on Saturday, April 14 from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, April 15 from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission for adults consists of an $8 contribution at the gate, and is free for kids 12 and under.  Art City Austin encourages attendees to explore the city and walk, bike, or park and ride to the festival, and admission is free  if you park your bike at the Mellow Johnny’s Bike Valet at 1st Street Bridge and Lavaca at 2nd, or show your Capital Metro Pass.

If you want to volunteer, juts work for three hours and you get in free to enjoy art, live music, and more before or after your shift!

Or, treat yourself to the full VIP experience and celebrate in style in the Collector’s Lounge. From the mezzanine of Austin City Hall overlooking Lady Bird Lake, enjoy complimentary bites by Cain’s Fine Catering and sip cocktails from the open bar. The Collector’s Lounge will also host a series of meet & greet events with artists, musicians and other VIPs throughout the weekend. Collector’s will also enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and margaritas at the beverage bars located on the festival grounds.

The festival takes place at Cesar Chavez Street at Austin City Hall with entrances on the Guadalupe and First Street Bridge. Take advantage of free parking and shuttle service from MLK and Congress Avenue.

Fun, whimsy, and excitement are paramount to this decades old festival. A cultural phenomenon with a contemporary twist, Art City Austin is Austin at its finest.

Founded in the Fall of 2011, Rare Trends unique couture is comprised of sisters Paola Moore and Marina Silver. With a belief that women shouldn’t simply wear clothes, women should wear art, they travel globally in search of innovative and inspiring designers to introduce Stateside.

At the Spring Event, Rare Trends will be debuting in Austin with new pieces from exceptional Argentine designers: Jessica Trosman, Allo Martinez, Cosecha Vintage, Kostüme, Ana Silveyra, Natacha Morales, Tramando, Daniela Cortese, and Poty Hernandez. You’ll see colorful, floral dresses and separates with impeccable pleating, beadwork, hand painted original textiles, and laser cut detailing. Produced in limited quantity, each garment truly is rare!

This event is open to the public. If you miss the event but would like to shop or peruse the Rare Trends showroom, it is located at 4930 South Congress #305 and open by appointment by calling (512) 732-0456.

Paola Moore and Marina Silver

Originally from style-savvy Argentina, sisters Paola Moore and Marina Silver harbor a deep appreciation and understanding for the design community in their native country. The pair spent years selecting covetable pieces, at home and abroad, to define their own personal style, which inevitably generated requests from friends and acquaintances to bring these fabulous items to them.

Prior to Rare Trends, the duo honed their skills, Moore as VP of Marketing for a global manufacturer of furniture and equipment, and Silver working in the fashion industry in Argentina, carrying her own line and later representing a few Argentine designers in America.

Rare Trends is the culmination of Moore and Silver’s talents, delivering impeccable designs of enduring quality and an unparalleled shopping experience to women of the world who seek wearable objets d’art. Seeking out what is different, modern and extraordinary, Rare Trends carries designers who are inspired by architecture, movement, and construction, resulting in garments that each tell a story of their own. Created with optimal quality, pieces are produced in limited quantity.

Unique Couture. Rare in its kind. Rare Trends dress contemporary women of the world.

Line Up:
12:00- 12:45: The Other Side of Morning
1:00- 1:45: Enemies
2:00- 2:45: Dad Rocks!
3:00-3:45: Everyday Animals
4:00-4:45: Stephen Smartt
5:00-5:45: The Ray Johnston Band
6:00-7:00: Wooster

With John Jackson and friends during set changes and much more!

Complimentary Dos XX while it lasts – so get here early!

$10 Suggested Donation to Students of the World | Professionals.

RSVP

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