Away Spa at the W Hotel

Shower her with memorable gifts or take her out to an unforgettable brunch or event this Mother’s Day in Austin.

We have some great gift ideas from Limbo Jewelry and the Away Spa at W Austin.  Limbo Jewelry features an endless selection of exquisite jewelry at an affordable price. A classic pair of stylish hoop earrings can really show your appreciation.

Litho Large Hooked Earrings in Sterling Silver from Limbo Jewelry

Founded in 2005 as an intimate and unassuming retail pop-up shop on South Congress by husband-wife team Edson Enriquez and Anne Rutt-Enriquez, Limbo’s brand has grown in strides due to Edson’s uncommon take on architectural jewelry, art, and nature-inspired designs and Anne’s complementary professional experiences in marketing and public relations.

“I am trying to prove a point with my work. Things, shapes, and forms are beautiful already. We as designers do not need to add to them or drastically transform them. Our job is to simply enhance them and present them the right way,” says Edson Enriquez about his work.

Don’t miss your chance to give your mother a piece of jewelry encompassing beauty and simplicity.

Drop Horizon Bangle Bracelet from Limbo Jewelry

If she has enough jewelry, give the gift of relaxation at W’s Away Spa with one of their three indulgent Mother’s Day spa packages or a special Mother’s Day gift set assembled by Away Spa experts.

Away Spa has three different Mother’s Day packages to choose from. The Mother’s Wind Down for moms on-the-go features the Away signature scrub, wrap, and massage as well as an Away pedicure for $175 (regularly $220). The New Mama Delight, special for expectant mothers, features a 75-minute mother-to-be massage and an Away mani & pedi for $250 (regularly $290). Mom’s Favorite package, a special treat for someone who deserves the best, involves a 75-minute Away massage, Classic Radiance Facial, and an Away Manicure for $275 (regularly $330).

If she doesn’t have time to go to  the spa, bring the spa to her with Away’s fabulous gift set. The assortment of luxe products for anytime pampering consists of an AWAY soy candle in Eucalyptus Spearmint, Farmhouse Fresh Honey Magnolia Sparkling Bath Soak, Farmhouse Fresh Honey Heel Glaze, Organic Silk Lavender Eye Pillow, Farmaesthetics Eyebright, MALIN+GOETZ Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer, and MALIN+GOETZ Mojito Lip Balm. This package is priced at $140. Gift cards are also available.

The Tea Embassy

While the Mother’s Day Tea Tasting is currently sold out at downtown’s Tea Embassy on the corner of 9th and Rio Grande, you can still surprise her with premium loose-leaf teas or tea ware. Tea Embassy is a family-owned business with over 200 teas from around the world. Whether you are looking for a hand-made tea from the country Georgia on the Black Sea or a Japanese bamboo whisk for making Matcha, the Tea Embassy has got it. Their current samples include Green Treasures Tea, Lapsang Souchong Black Tea, and Sentimint Rooibos.

Or, fill her day with sunshine and love with a fresh bouquet of flowers. For a friendly full-service florist serving the Austin area, look no further than Texas Blooms, located in the Triangle.

Austin even has you covered for free Mother’s Day events. Check out the Austin Symphonic Band (aka the “Official Band of the City of Austin”) as they celebrate Mother’s Day with a free concert at the Texas State Capitol. Beginning at 7 pm, the band will perform an hour-long concert of well-known tunes, including marches and musical numbers. This free annual concert becomes more popular every year, so producers recommend coming early and bringing your lawn chairs.

Onto brunch! With a smörgåsbord of brunches, offerings and dinners, it can be quite hard to narrow down. Below are some of our favorites.

Chef Joe Anguiano from eleven plates & wine will be creating an amazing carving station. For veggie lovers, a spring mix of baby squash, snap peas, vine-ripe tomatoes, and baby turnips will accompany. The charcuterie and cheese plate will be loaded up with delicacies like Manchego, Tomme de Savoie, Texas goat cheese, proscuitto, and more. Mimosas and sangria come bottomless.

Dine in the cozy Italian farmhouse setting at Sagra for an intimate and elegant Mother’s Day. Brunch consists of a gourmet Italian buffet complete with banana French toast, caprese salad, pastiera and chicken piccata among others.

Bistrot Mirabelle will roll out the red carpet for Mother’s Day with a wonderful array of new brunch additions, including lobster pot pie, grilled salmon, and prime rib. Popular brunch items include the Eggs Hemingway and the Challah French toast. Every mother receives a complimentary flower upon arrival and her choice of a gluten-free coconut or chocolate macaroon at the meal’s end.

Chef Jeff Axline at Lakeway Resort & Spa will be creating a Mother’s Day brunch composed of both cold and hot choices along with a delicious spread of desserts. Brunch will be held in the Vista’s Ballroom overlooking the lake. A petting zoo an live entertainment going on throughout the day will provide fun for families of all ages.

Or get Mother’s Day brunch — to go! The instructors at Whole Foods have done all the prep work and are ready to guide you through creating a menu of strawberry salad, quiche florentine and cinnamon rolls with ginger cream cheese icing. The brunch comes stocked with a package of locally roasted Cuvee Coffee along with Prosecco and orange juice for mimosas. This hands-on package is priced at $70.

Show Mom just how important she is! Mother’s Day only comes around once a yea, so make it count. Austin has options for any taste or budget.

Jade Mathews, Sonya Cote, Mickie Spencer & Greg Mathews

Restaurant and novelty grocer all rolled into one, Hillside Farmacy‘s outdoor patio is one of our favorite places to enjoy the wonderful spring weather and savor the local produce. All of the bakery and dry goods come from Texas companies, with the exception of the Stumptown organic direct-trade coffee, which is roasted in Portland. The bakery case alone is well worth the stop, stocked with an amazing assortment of confectionery delights from local favorites like Luxe Sweets, Fat Belly Bakery, Cake & Spoon, Moonlight Bakery, Swedish Hill Bakery, Rockstar Bagels and Cake Mix. The miniature apple pie from Pie Fixes Everything beg to be taken home even after a long lunch!

Hillside Farmacy creates amazing dishes with their attention to all of the local farms in the surrounding area. Rockdale’s Richardson Farms supply the pork used by the restaurant’s in-house charcuterie. Chicken, rabbit, and duck all come from Countryside Farms. Springdale Farm supplies produce and the eggs come from Hausbar Farms. You can taste what’s fresh and what’s in season in every bite.

Besides the incredible assortment of meats and produce, Hillside Farmacy also delivers some dynamite oysters on the half shell. Choose from smaller, creamier West coast oysters, the brinier East coast, or stay true to Texas with Gulf oysters.

While many sandwiches can be underwhelming, Hillside’s sandwiches are a revelation. The “Forager” was a favorite, combining roasted mushrooms, carmelized onions, brie and truffle oil. What a delight!

Snapper Ceviche

Also look out for their daily specials. Shown above is a wild snapper ceviche with Springdale Farm cilantro and mint with a Texas grapefruit. With their dedication to freshness, this same snapper was swimming in the sea just a day before becoming ceviche. For veggie lovers, Hillside Farmacy recently served a vegetarian beet tartare with East Austin mulberries, orange supremes, red sea salt, and truffle honey.

The restaurant stays open from 7 am to midnight, making this both a great breakfast and late night spot. If you’re not overly hungry, several menu items are available a la carte. One could easily come just for the drinks. Hillside Farmacy features a variety of expertly mixed drinks with champagne or liquor.

Signature drinks include a wasabi bloody mary, cucumber mojito, grapefruit jalapeño margarita ,and pick-me-up fizz – a tasty conbination of cava, St. Germaine, and orange bitters. Some top-notch beers and wine appear on the menu as well, with favorites like Stash IPA and 2010 Mohua sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Besides reds and whites, Hillside Farmacy offers cava, champagne, and rosé.

We eagerly await their homemade fountain sodas with seasonal flavors – like lily, which consist of lavender, blueberries, lemon balm, and rosemary. You can also add on a shot of liquor or a scoop of ice cream to really put these sodas over the top.

Owners of Brooklyn’s El Diablo Tacos, Greg and Jade Matthews, teamed up with Eastside Showroom owner Mickie Spencer and Chef Sonya Cote to bring Hillside Farmacy together. The building itself has an interesting history. Located at 1209 East 11th Street, this building was originally the pharmacy of Doc Young, the first African American pharmacist in Austin dating back to 1920. To complete the look, Spencer and the Matthews found beautiful pharmacy cabinets in Elgin, Texas just east of Austin. These wonderful cabinets truly complement the building’s rich history.

Get a true taste of Austin history and produce with your next stop at Hillside Farmacy. Perfect for drinks, gifts, a full meal or a la carte, this lovely restaurant and retailer will not leave you disapointed.

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.

Five x Seven SPLURGE is an art sale and exhibition featuring hundreds of recognized contemporary artists with strong Texas ties, who create unique works of art on identical 5” x 7” boards. Each 5×7-inch piece of artwork benefits Arthouse exhibitions and educational programs, and will be sold for only $150 or $100 for Arthouse members. Just another great reason to become an Arthouse member today!

By attending Five x Seven SPLURGE on April 4,  you will have first pick of over 1,000 original 5×7-inch works of art by emerging and established contemporary artists. The sale begins at 8:30pm with the blow of a whistle.
With hundreds of works to choose from, this is your chance to have your first pick of an original piece of art with which to begin or add to your art collection. All pieces are displayed anonymously – only when you purchase a work of art will you discover who created it. This is one of Austin’s most unique artistic events you can’t afford to miss.

The event takes place at the Jones Center at 700 Congress Avenue from 7 to 10 pm. Light bites will be provided by Ranch 616, Trace and sugarPOP sweetshop alongside beverages from Cinco, Pedernales Cellars and Shiner. Each SPLURGE ticket entitles you to a $25 credit toward the purchase of one Five x Seven piece of art. Click here to purchase your ticket.

Cut to night two of the annual Five by Seven exhibition, which will continue the sale of original works at the Art SOCIAL. Join with the artists in celebrating the talent by which this exhibition has received its name and reputation. This event will also be held at the Jones Center from 7 to 10 pm, and will feature music by DJ Peytonius with food and drink by Crave, Bombay Sapphire, Pedernales Cellars, Real Ale and more, to ensure another festive night.. Buy tickets singly or in a five-pack for a discount here.

AMOA-Arthouse provides rich environments for a wide range of audiences to investigate and experience excellence in modern and contemporary art. The museum accomplishes this through innovative exhibitions, education, interpretative programs and direct access to the creative process.

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.

Several French rosé wines from the Rhone Valley and Provence

While you never need an excuse to spoil that special someone, Valentine’s Day offers several options to really make the day. From upscale to low-key, there are great places to shop, dine, relax or indulge.

Milk + Honey Salon and Spa will be offering various Valentine’s packages, along with extended hours. All of their locations offer couples spa rooms for treatments together. For instance, the couples retreat boasts a 60-minute massage, facial and manicure. Gift cards are also available for purchase. You can indulge here without going overboard on calories or cluttering up your closet.

Couples Treatment at Milk & Honey

However, some pieces never go out of style. Treat your man to something he’ll want to wear forever. Come check out Edge boutique downtown for staples that last a lifetime. For a personalized shopping experience, don’t hesitate to call on Edge’s “fashion brain,” Phillip Solomon. Come in Thursday nights from 6 to 9 pm and enjoy a Cinco Vodka drink while you shop.

Edge Founders

Women love their shoes. Locally-owned Stella Says Go, on the corner of Lamar and 5th Street, has an array of distinctive shoes with their own comfort rating system. Some of the brands they carry include Seychelles, Poetic License, Miz Mooz, Jeffrey Campbell and more. Look to Stella’s Steals for prices under $60, and don’t forget about the free parking entrance on Baylor Street just west of Lamar.

Does she just love TOMS shoes? Check out Sola for special edition “Let Love Rule” TOMS shoes stenciled in silver and pink over black canvas. Besides being vegan,  TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy.

"Let Love Rule" TOMS shoes

Valentine’s Day is famous for satisfying a sweet tooth. Since 1885, Lammes Candies on Airport Boulevard has been creating some amazing confectionery wonders. While famous for their Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines and Longhorns, they will be offering several special Valentine’s gifts as well.

More than likely, you will probably see chocolate-covered strawberries all around town. One of my personal favorites can be found at Amy’s Ice Creams. Fresh strawberries get dipped in European dark chocolate, drizzled with a white chocolate lattice and then packaged in a lovely pink box. Order your dozen by clicking here.

Flowers can always take it up a notch, and there are some amazing local florists to check out. Verbena off of West 38th Street always have the freshest flowers and work with you to create a unique bouquet. Mercedes Flowers has four different Valentine’s Day bouquets with roses, for delivery or pick-up, at their location on South First Street.

Spice it up this year with a special something from Teddies for Bettys on West Second Street. You will find a great selection of designer lingerie and lounge wear, including La Perla, Cosabella, Jimmy Jane, Lelo, Hanky Panky and more.

You don’t have to be a big spender to purchase lingerie ,either –  just look for the Bazaar on East Riverside. Find all kinds of lingerie at non-designer prices, along with any accessory, including wigs, costumes, and even individual peacock plumes.

Many of Austin’s best restaurants will be offering special Valentine’s Day menus. Feb. 12 through 14, Fleming’s will be offering a special Valentine’s Day menu with options like lobster, filet mignon with prawns, and prime New York Strip with king crab. In addition to recommended wines, a special Valentine’s Day “bella-tini” cocktail will be featured. They are offering a $25 Dining Card for use in the future by reserving here.

Finn & Porter’s Valentine’s menu goes on from Feb. 10 through 14, with three courses for $65. Choose between a selection of lump crab cake, beef carpaccio, tuna with foie gras, citrus salad or cauliflower soup with a salmon dumpling for the appetizer. Entrée selections include mushroom ravioli, lamb shank, red snapper, beef filet, and more. For dessert share a trio for two, consisting of crème brûlée, chocolate espresso bread pudding, and a key lime cannoli.

This is also a perfect time to try their signature French 76 cocktail, Belvedere vodka and Chandon Brut, or their champagne flight. For $20, you receive a two-ounce pour of Chandon Brut, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Moët & Chandon Impérial Rosé.

While limited space with only two seatings at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., Foreign & Domestic will have a four course menu, with wine pairings included, for $50. Highlights include winter cabbage trifle, potato gnocchi and duck fried rice with fennel kimchi.

Sister restaurants Asti and Fino will be putting an Italian spin on Valentine’s Day with their special menus. Fino will be serving tomato gazpacho, scallop with pork belly, lobster risotto and more. Asti will be serving a scallop crudo, gnocchi and grilled lamb chops on their special menu.

The Carillion presents their “Texas Love Affair” menu, boasting seven courses for $80 per person. You can also choose to pair wines with each course for an extra $60. Another ritzy option is the four course prixe fixe menu at Four Season’s TRIO restaurant, priced at $95.

Check out South Austin’s favorite gastropub, Barley Swine, and their six course menu for Valentine’s Day. Reserve by sending your name and phone number to info@barleyswine.com and they will contact you to confirm.

Beginning February 10, Chef Larkin of Chez Zee will prepare a special menu composed of  seared ahi tuna, Valentine’s salad of beets and fennel, redfish stuffed crab and cream cheese, jerk chicken and a house-cut beef onglet with Maine lobster.

Lastly, at Trace, Chef de Cuisine Paul Hargrove will prepare both a vegetarian and omnivorous three course menu. The prix fixe dinner runs $65 a person or $90 with wine pairings. Look out for the hot smoked sabelfish with hushpuppies.  Pastry Chef Janina O’Leary will make her special Valentine’s dessert specials, available Feb. 10, with treats like butterscotch budino, choclate nutella torte and a champagne float.

While Austin has an amazing dining scene, cooking for a loved one can also set the mood. Go fancy and pair your dinner with a champagne or rosé wine. If you’re not sure what to make or how to maneuver the kitchen, try Central Market‘s chef-prepared dinner-for-two this Valentine’s Day, composed of lobster tails and beef tenderloin. They will also have heart-shaped pot de crème and crème brûlée. Click here if you would like to order.

You can appreciate some of Austin’s natural beauty and burn off some calories before or after dinner with a romantic walk up to Mount Bonnell, the city’s highest point. You can see the city and the lake from this gorgeous vista. If scenery could speak, it would say, “I love you.”

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Viewing Platform at the top of Mount Bonnell

In case you haven’t heard about Austin’s most-talked about natural soup, Holy Posole, now is your chance to learn more about it and support a local product. This ancient soup, known for its healing properties, is quickly gaining popularity with more and more stores stocking it on their shelves.

For those of you who don’t know what posole is, its roots come from Texas and New Mexico. A combination of Hatch green chiles, Chimayo red chile, tomatoes, hominy, garlic and other spices, including chicken, flavoring create a soup that people say “tastes like home.”

I had a wonderful opp0rtunity to chat with Holy Posole creator, Sharon Ely, and ask her a few questions about her amazing soup.

Emil, Sharon, and Gary at HEB with Holy Posole

Q: What first inspired you to start making posole?

A: The first time I made Holy Posole was after tasting it in Santa Fe, New Mexico at my friend’s house, after my husband and I had driven 14 hours to get to a wedding on time. We were exhausted when we arrived, and my friend had made this wonderful soup from an ancient recipe that a hundred-year-old lady had given her.The taste of this magical soup made us feel so warm, comforted, happy and energized, that I decided from then on I, too, was going to make posole. After more than thirty years of making this delicious soup, I have finally decided to sell my soup in jars and give it the wonderful name of Holy Posole. It is such a healing soup for anything you may have.

Q: Without giving away the recipe, are there any special ingredients that you use?

A: Yes, I use very special spices from the region where I first tasted the soup. I use Chimayo red chile, which comes  from a little town near Santa Fe . I also use Hatch green chiles from another region in New Mexico that are very high in nutrients and vitamin C. We use as many natural ingredients as we can, including the natural chicken broth with low sodium. I have worked very hard to make this soup as naturally good for all of us as possible, and to use the best ingredients from Texas and New Mexico. Everyone that makes posole has their own special recipe which makes it their own. I, too, have evolved an ancient recipe to make it my very own so that many people may enjoy this wonderful healing soup.

Q: The name is so creative, is there a story behind it?

A: The name I give Holy Posole is simple. I love the way it rhymes. I also love it because this soup is made with Chimayo chile, which adds to the flavor and healing power of the soup. I feel that it may very well be a sacred soup, and is appropriately named Holy Posole for that reason. Chimayo is very well known for its little ancient church that has healing dirt all around it. Since the chile we use is from this region, I believe it could also make our soup healing.

Q: With Holy Posole becoming so popular, has it been difficult to keep up with the demand?

A: There is never enough Holy Posole. We always run out. I am constantly asking the factory to make more Holy Posole. Right after New Year’s 2012, we got an order for three truckloads of Holy Posole to be delivered to HEB. We continue to get orders every week. So yes, we are continually surprised by how many orders we are getting, and thus trying to make more posole. Actually, for 30 years this has always been the case. No matter how big a pot of posole we make, we always run out and people are always saying, “where’s the posole?”

Q: Where in Austin can you purchase Holy Posole?

A: You can purchase Holy Posole at 49 HEB grocery stores that have the Kitchen Connections in their store. I have a list on my website, holyposole.net. Also you may find my Holy Posole at Fresh Plus on West Lynn in Austin, Texas. Amazon also carries my soup online for people not living near an HEB grocery store or in Texas.

Q: Do you see Holy Posole expanding beyond Texas?

A: Oh yes, I see Holy Posole being served all over the world. My soup  spreads peace and harmony and comfort and it will allow people all over to world to enjoy this feeling. It is all I can think of to help the world right now, make soup to help us all heal from whatever problems we may have. I would love to provide soup for all the hungry people that may need food.

Q: Would you ever consider selling another natural soup besides posole?

A: Right now we are manufacturing two new natural soups….a Verde Holy Posole and a tortilla soup with hominy. I also have a habenero sauce we are finalizing this week. All of these products are all natural and very tasty. Harmony through hominy and peace through posole!

Check out local HEB’s and Fresh Plus on West Lynn to try out Sharon Ely’s famous Holy Posole, while supplies last. You can also stay up to date with what’s happening with Holy Posole by visiting their blog or Facebook page.

Support a local product and unlock the healing powers of the Chimayo chile with your purchase. Besides tasting great, this natural soup has restorative powers and is made with love. Keep in mind, this also makes a great gift to those not familliar with regional Texas and New Mexico cuisine!

"Gun", 2011, pigment print, 16"X24"

Elaine I-Ling Shen explores the complex nature of childhood and human impulse in her latest exhibit, Everything is Possible Again, through a series of photographs and sculptures. The exhibit opens February 11 with a reception from 6 to 9 pm.

A series of photographs depicts a group of children in an unscripted, mysterious environment. The children stand in defiance of what a “good” child is supposed to look like. Instead of being well-scrubbed and properly dressed, they are gestural, bold, raw, confident, and breathtakingly beautiful. The painted, feral images read part Lord of the Flies’ crash survivors meets Peter Pan’s Lost Boys. These wild creatures inhabit their own world where tenderness and aggression, chaos and hierarchical order can coexist without confusion. The savage vista reigns without technology or the dominating presence of adults.

Alongside the photographs, Shen presents several sculptural assemblages that use found weapons constructed by very young children. This speaks to notions of instinct, origin, and the desire to collect and categorize in attempt to make sense of our place in history. Fashioned by anonymous hands, the primitive weapons share the common material language of sticks, wood chips, bamboo, and duct tape. Considering the makers’ age, these complicated objects show the contrast between innocence and violence.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Elaine I-Ling Shen received her BA from The University of Texas at Austin and her MFA from Yale University. She has taught at Yale University, Fordham University, and the University of Texas. While her work has been shown in several group shows, this will be her first solo show.

Blackbox is an art space that presents contemporary art exhibitions and diverse creative ventures. Blackbox is located at the home of its facilitators, Stella and Leon Alesi, at 1017-A West Milton St, Austin, Texas 78704. Hours are from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and by appointment. For more information, contact Leon Alesi at (512) 460-9756 or leonalesi@gmail.com.

Blackbox

Citizen Generation’s Second Annual Charity Bash and Masquerade Ball will be held Saturday, February 18 benefitting Capital Area Food Bank. The Winter Wonderland will include an open bar, food, entertainment, and art from Generous Art which donates 40% of each piece of art to nonprofits.

The dress code is black tie. Early ticket purchasers will be charged $80 or $150 per couple. Otherwise, the event is $100 per person at the door. VIP bottle service packages are available by emailing info@citizengeneration.org. Click here to purchase tickets.

The artists from Generous Art have also been making headlines. Six Generous Artists were filmed by KLRU during E.A.S.T.  TREND magazine featured Jennifer Chenoweth’s Heaven and Hell piece from the two-part show Hell and Heaven in Santa Fe. ART LIES magazine recently reviewed Virginia Fleck’s 2011 solo exhibition CONSUMED at the Holly Johnson Gallery in Dallas, Texas.

"CO2 Mandala" by Virginia Fleck; plastic bags and tape; 60" in diamter; courtesy of the artist and Holly Johnson Gallery, Dallas

Carol Haymen was selected as one of the ten winning artists of the Austin Art Board’s competition. Lastly, Southwest Art named Generous Artist Kerry Schroeder as their “Arist to Watch” in the November 2011 issue.

In 2011, the combined total donated to charity was $124,390. Generous Art has grown to represent 23 artists and 30 nonprofits in Austin.

Generous Art and Artists will be featured on an upcoming episode of Arts in Context on KLRU airing Thursday, Fenruary 23 at 7:30 pm. Generous Art will have a viewing party.

If you would like to help a Generous Artist raise money to attend a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in March, you can visit Emily Moore’s studio sale online. Additionally, a live event will be held February 5 at Texas French Bread at 2900 Rio Grande from 3 to 7 pm with refreshments provided.

"Home" by Emily Moore; monoprint and watercolor on paper; 10"x6.25"; $100 unframed

If you would like to see more work by the Generous Artists, many have their work on view in Austin. The 2012 People’s Gallery Exhibit at Austin City Hall will feature the work of Jennifer Chenoweth, Larry Graeber, Renee Nunez, and Sydney Yeager. Chenoweth will show her hanging steel sculpture titled Heaven and Hell. Renee will show her work titled Inertial Haze which consists of a reclaimed materials wall installation. She will also show Octofloss, a 7 foot cut canvas painting. The opening reception will be held Friday, February 24 from 6 to 9 pm.

Carolyn Kimball is a part of the upcoming Women Printmakers of Austin show. The juried Monoprint/Monotype Exhibit will take place at the Gallery at the J in Austin, Texas through February 28.

Two of Sydney Yeager’s paintings hang in the restaurant and bar of the W Hotel as a part of their collection. See them at 200 Lavaca St. in downtown Austin.

With Austin’s art scene taking off, these are great oppurtunities to see some of these masterpieces live in person.