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.

The developers of Domain, a high-end North Austin retail center scheduled to be completed in spring 2007, have sought out artists and artisans whose work "depicts the uniqueness and diversity found within the Austin area".  After touring studios and soliciting proposals, Domain designers contracted with a number of AArC members:

Levack Sculptures, responsible for the Whole Foods steel and ipe wood trellises will design a large scale sculptural metal arbor.

Blue Genie Art will produce a 12 foot sculpture of a walking Whooping Crane, and a smaller armadillo that serves as a play feature for children.

Kathleen Ash of
Studio K has been commissioned to create four light globes designed as large flowers for the children's area.

Fisterra Studio's Todd Campbell will be doing six light shrouds and seat wall fixtures that serve as functional art.

Clayworks Studio/Gallery has designed a leafy ceramic light shroud for the project and will design a floor mural in the same technique as their Plaza Saltillo mural.

Archaic received a commission for three ornaments that will work in combination with two freestanding Berthold Haas sculptures.

Holly Kincannon of Archaic developed, along with Nicholas Brumder, the master plan for the Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown.  Holly also designed many of the sacred monuments gracing the cemetery.

Archaic has received a "Bill of Rights Project" commission from a national organization known as the Foundation Foundation with the mission to install a Bill of Rights sculpture on every State Capitol ground.  The Texas Capitol is among the first three sites to be commissioned.

Blue Genie Art is putting the final touches on a giant 5’ model of an Atlas Beetle for the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  Other projects in progress include Plinko game boards for Geico Insurance and a recently refurbished parade float for the Lower Colorado River Authority.  Blue Genie is also ramping up an expanded products section on their website.

Clayworks Studio/Gallery has been emphasizing Craftsman style sconces and address plaques which allow clients to choose custom color combinations for the multi-tile frames from the studio palette. The studio has just delivered another order of the "No Dumping" tiles used by the City of Austin to mark curbs where drainage flows to the creek.

Fisterra Studio has completed the extensive remodeling of an East Austin house, including a new kitchen with concrete countertops, 2 new bathrooms with unique tile patterns, and vaulting the living room ceiling using long leaf pine from the house. The project also added a master suite and a screened-in porch as well as new windows, tile, and paint throughout.

Ironwood Industries was hired by an advertising agency to transform an old house in downtown Austin into a creative workplace.  Projects include furniture and sculpture, signage and lighting.  Shown here are custom workstations that were designed and built by Ironwood Industries  (they're on a coffee break).

Art bronze foundeur & sculptor Jim Thomas recently finished a double compound curved tigerwood entry door for a Lake Austin residence.  Miro Rivera, architect, designed the doors which vary in thickness from 3" to 6" and swing on offset hydraulic pivots with a 1000 pound capacity.  Detail image shows encapsulated deadbolt trigger and hand-forged bronze door pull.

Among several large Thomas Studio projects completed this year are a pair of 13 ft. bronze soldier sculptures and a 5' x 10' bas relief for a Houston Vietnam memorial in Bellaire and a pair of large-scale bronze fountains for a house in Naples.

Landers’ Studio is back in full swing after a move from their longtime downtown Austin location to a compound at 500 W. St. Elmo Rd.  Designed by Austin Architect Emily Little, the Landers' new space includes two large studio areas and a loft above the office, where Mark and Tina Landers live. They are currently working on a commission for a mesquite altar and ambo for the University Catholic Center at The University of Texas.
Read more about the move and see photos.

Lightcrafters has produced 18 exterior metal sconces for the Rick Skirrow home featured in the 2006 Parade of Homes.  The custom octagonal fixtures are fashioned of raw copper with sandblasted water glass.  They were designed by Rick Skirrow and built by Lightcrafters to mimic the many turrets in the multi-million dollar show house.

Wayne Locke of Locke Design & Woodworks has devoted the last several months to the completion of a conference room in Houston.  The 13' conference table is made from a single slab of Bubinga.  The wall unit is Mahogany and Waterfall Bubinga.

Metal worker and architect Lars Stanley of Lars Stanley Metalworks has received a major public art commission for the corner of Congress Ave. and Second Street in downtown Austin.  The site will include a water feature, drinking fountain and a grove of forged cypress trees. The studio is also at work on a public art commission for Texas Tech University.

Finishes by Zita Raymond of Zita Design are featured in the Austin Home Builder's Association 2006 Parade of Homes/Seven Oaks, the 2006 Flintrock Falls Showcase of Homes, and the 2006 Symphony Designer Showhomes.  Zita has also shown her paintings at a number of local galleries and public spaces over the past year.

The January 06 issue of Austin Home & Living Magazine features AArC charter member Architerra as "the centerpiece of the Design Center of Austin in South Congress' Penn Field, having brought nine businesses together to cater to shoppers who delight in fine materials".  Read the entire article.

"Now the Texas Hill Country provides inspiration for Levack's large scale sculptures, pavilions, trellises, deckscapes, fountains, furniture and signage," begins an Austin American Statesman "Makin' It" feature on Chris Levack of Levack Sculpture and Constructions.

Wells Mason of Ironwood Industries is interviewed in the Mar/Apr 2006 issue of Fine Furnishings International Magazine for an article that explores the intersection of architecture and furniture design.

An Architectural Digest story, "Discoveries by Designers", June 2006 includes references to Ironwood's Celeste chair and quotes Steven Holl of Steven Holl Architects of New York:  "The craftsmen at Ironwood do brilliant work."

Wells Mason of Ironwood Industries has been selected to show his work at the 2006 New American Talent Exhibition sponsored by Arthouse at the Jones Center for Contemporary Art in Austin.  The exhibition runs from Jun 17 – Aug 20 2006 at Arthouse in downtown Austin and then tours for an additional 2 years throughout Texas.

The sculptures "Growth" and "Hairline" by Todd Campbell of Fisterra Studio have been accepted into CraftHouston's 2006 juried show this summer, opening July 14 at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.  (show dates:  July 14 – October 1, 2006)

Archaic received a Premier Award Commendation in an international competition sponsored by the British Association of Burial Authorities for their Georgetown Cemetery project  (profiled in the Austin American Statesman April 16, 2006).  At the London awards ceremony the design was noted for "holistic efforts to integrate memorial design, xerescaping and community needs .

Clayworks' John Gray, a constant gardener is the winner of The Austin Olla Design Contest.

Handcrafted work is regularly offered by AArC members for benefits and charitable events.  Ironwood Industries recently donated work to benefit the Zachary Scott Theater and to the Fundraiser Arthouse at the Jones Center for Contemporary Art. Other events supported by AArC members this spring and early summer include fundraisers for the Paramount Theater, Family Eldercare, Ariel Dance Theater, The Epilepsy Foundation of Central Texas and more.

Upcoming, look for items by Clayworks at the The French Legation Museum's July 15 Bastille Day event and at the Austin Chamber Music Society's silent auction.

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©  2006  AArC  (Architectural Artisans Collaborative)  Austin, Texas