a quarterly publication of AArC. vol. 4, spring 2007 AArC is a group of professional artisans in the Austin area working in wood, metal, stone, clay, glass and other media — both traditional and contemporary. Let us know what you think of our
e-communications. We're open for questions, comments and suggestions. Reach us through our web site at www.austinartisan.org. |
Projects  A series of 20 small floor murals by Clayworks will be set into the entryway of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Somerset, Texas. The 10 in. x 10 in. murals are part of an extensive restoration and remodeling of the historic church. The unglazed murals are made in the cut tile mosaic technique, and all color is derived from pigmented clays.
 This steel and glass entry door was recently completed by Fisterra Studio for a residence in the Cherrywood neighborhood.
 Fisterra has also completed 6 sconces for The Domain. The sconces were made by forging round pipe into circles and welding the circles together over a form. They were then powder coated for exterior use, and the slumped glass to diffuse the light was created by Studio K.
Ironwood Industries is currently working on a reception desk for a mortgage company in downtown Austin. The shop recently completed two benches for an East Coast interior designer and as part of the commission, Ironwood built custom crates and arranged to ship the benches to a country club in South Korea.
 Levack Sculpture & Constructions has completed a large shade sculpture for the Domain shopping and residential development. Chris Levack designed and built the structure as an entrance to one of the Domain's park areas and as a
shelter for the public who are dropping off passengers or using the valet. The structure stands 40 feet wide, 20 feet high and 25 feet deep. It is primarily of steel, with ipe hardwood elements built into it. Supports are surrounded with two large stone oval seatwalls housing native Texan grasses and plant life. The design is inspired by the intersection of elliptical geometry and organic shapes.
 Locke Design & Woodworks has begun offering relief carvings. These carvings begin with a 3D computer model made from a photograph or other two dimensional image, which is then carved on a computer controlled router with some detailing added by hand. The 3D carvings are very
affordable and can be made virtually any size and of any wood. The carvings can portray people, animals, buildings or almost any image. Shown is a recent 18" x 24'" carving of St. Agnes made from padauk and oak.
 Lars Stanley Metalworks has installed a set of gates for Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
The project is shown in process at the early layout stage. The forged steel gates are 8' wide x 10' tall. They are inspired by the grasses of the plains and the growth and change that happens with seeds blown to distant places. They represent metaphorically the seeds of knowledge disseminated by the Office for Outreach and Extended Studies at Texas Tech, where they are installed.
 Window grillwork by Susan Wallace completes the street face of the new Breezeway Gallery, an extension of Clayworks Studio/Gallery. The project parameters included continuity with the existing custom screen door and security for the restored bifold windows. The four window grill designs utilize a Moorish tile pattern and complement the door artwork derived from Lebanese stonework. The receding perspective of the door is repeated in the window patterns.
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Press  The June/July issue of Western Interiors magazine features a house designed by Austin-based McKinney Architects. The client, a former art curator, commissioned Macek Furniture to build the dining table around the themes of boats and trees. The table, made of white oak lumber, features paddle-shaped legs, hand sculpted edges, and a silver-grey finish. Hawkeye Glenn of Blacksmith contributed custom stainless steel candle holders, which were mounted flush with the table top.
Images of Jennifer Chenoweth's oil paintings in the University of Texas' Creative Research Laboratories juried show "All Together Now", were published in Neiman Marcus' Incircle Entree, Spring 2007 in an article titled "Keep
Austin Fabulous".
Todd Campbell's sculptures were featured in Cite:68, the Architecture and Design Review of Houston, published by Rice University. Wells Mason of Ironwood Industries was featured in the May issue of Brilliant magazine. The article shows several pieces from his experimental Umasi series. The article describes his work as a careful balance of "tranquillity and excitement." The Austin American-Statesman interviewed Mark Landers of Landers' Studio for an article on fine and religious art. "Diocesan Show Holds Art Sacred" was published April 21. 
An article on the home of Austin designer, Tracey Overbeck-Stead, in the March 2007 edition of Home Magazine features work by Redstart Paint Design. Two of Redstart's pieces are pictured: an abstract paint concept rendered in latex paint and gold leaf, spanning the ceiling and flowing onto the walls; as well as a gold leaf op-art concept rendered in one corner of the room.
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Events June 2007
 Clayworks new "Breezeway" show space will display decorative screen doors, mailboxes, outdoor tables and garden art. The new gallery — which had its "soft opening" in June — is an extension of the original Clayworks Gallery, known for handmade sconces and address plaques. The Breezeway will also serve as a resource for architectural detailing such as grillwork, railings, awnings, and fountains. All work is handmade by local artisans including Susan Wallace, Levack Sculpture and Constructions, Eric Billig Works, Fisterra Studio and Daniel Tackett.
The Breezeway will also be available as a place where artisans and architects who work from home offices or shops can meet clients. There will be an official opening party later this summer.  "Spaceballs", a sculpture by Fisterra Studio's Todd Campbell is part of the juried show "The New Steel" by the National Ornamental Metals Museum in Nashville, Tennessee concurrent with the Society of North American Goldsmiths' national conference.
June 12 – 30
Todd Campbell's "Kernel," will be shown in Gallery Lombardi's annual "Just Been Fired" show in Austin.
June 28 – October 28
Work by Ironwood Industries and Fisterra Studio will be shown in the 2007 Idea House and Farmstead at the Cool Water Ranch in Fredericksburg. Sponsored by Progressive Farmer the Idea House is a custom built and designed farm house created as a demonstration of new ways of thinking about rural living. |
Recognition  Wells Mason's "Umasi Chair," subtitled "Portrait of Florence Pierce," won the Chapman Prize at the Live Oak Art Center in Columbus, Texas. Also, "The Umasi Collection" won the award for "Excellence in Design of the Future" as part of the Smithsonian Craft Show at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. this spring.
Lars Stanley Metalworks has been awarded a competitive public art commission for Oro Valley Marketplace, a large commercial development in Oro Valley, AZ near Tucson.
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Community  Mark and Tina Landers of Landers Studio started planting trees for each major commission in the mid-1990s. Since wood is a renewable resource, it just made sense to replace a resource that the studio used. The Landers work through American Forests for most plantings. American Forests has been around since Teddy Roosevelt's time, and you can specify where the tree is planted, for example to reforest a burned area.
In the last 5 years, the studio has planted over 150 trees along the Rio Grande River in an
effort to restore it to its pre-agricultural state. Recently clients have been offered the option to select from the historic tree collection for plantings on their own property. Originally, many clients did not even know that the studio was planting trees; Mark and Tina were doing it for their own conscience. Now clients involved in the decision of what and where to plant can feel good about it too.
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