Alumni in the News

On Friday, June 29th, alumna Thao Votang (BA, Art History, 2008) and her partner, Brian Willey, will reopen their gallery, Tiny Park, into a dedicated space at 1101 Navasota Street in Austin, Texas.

The opening will coincide with the opening of "Greatest Hits", a group exhibition featuring all of the artists previously featured in their home-based gallery. Featured artists include Michael Sieben, Sam Prekop, Deborah Stratman, Miguel Aragon, PJ Raval, Nick Brown, Leah Haney, David Culpepper, Stephanie Serpick and Rob Lomblad.

A reception will be held June 29th from 7pm to 11pm and the exhibition runs through July 28th. Viewing of the exhibition is available from 12pm to 5pm on Saturdays and by appointment.

The Texas Guitar Quartet, comprised of BSoM graduates Isaac Bustos (DMA, Music, 2010), Jonathan Dotson (DMA, Music, 2010), Alejandro Montiel, (DMA, Music, 2009) and Joseph Williams II, released their debut album titled "Red" in March of 2012. Produced in Houston, the recording contains new pieces and arrangements for guitar quartet, including the world-premiere recording of Antoine de Lhoyer's "Air Varié et dialogué" and Joseph Williams' "Red" quartet. For more information, please visit www.txgq.net.

The University of Oklahoma Press announced the publication of Megan E. O'Neil's (MA Art History,1999) book Engaging Ancient Maya Sculpture at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. In this book, O'Neil discusses how ancient Maya people interacted with sculpture in the culture.

In May, after the close of its current show, alumna Thao Votang (BA, Art History, 2008) and her partner, Brian Willey, will move their living room art gallery, Tiny Park, into a dedicated space at 1101 Navasota Street in Austin. Votang and Willey plan to open the first show in late June or early July. 

The 440 Gallery in Brooklyn, New York presents Petits Fours, a solo exhibition by Amy Williams (BFA, 1999). A site-specific installation, Petits Fours consists of gilt-framed photographs, gilt-framed mirrors, and a dramatic color of wall paint, all in examination of the extravagance of King Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles.

Petits Fours opens Thursday, May 24th and will run through Sunday, June 24, 2012. A reception for Williams will be held May 24th from 6 to 8 pm. The 440 Gallery is located at 440 Sixth Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

Alumna Megan Liu Kincheloe (BFA, Studio Art, 2009 and BA, Psychology, 2009) will have her MFA Thesis Exhibition entitled "The Habit of Scales" at Pratt Institute, Steuben South Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. The opening reception will be held May 7, 2012 from 5 to 9 pm.

Art History alum Don Bacigalupi (MA, 1985 and Ph.D., 1993) is featured in the New York Times' "T" Magazine. The article discusses his new home, life, and career as Director of the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Bacigalupi, his partner Dan Feder, and their son Guston moved to Bentonville from Toledo, Ohio, where Bacigalupi was director of the Toledo Museum of Art.

Tiny Park Gallery, located in Austin, Texas, will premiere their 2012 Drawing Annual on May 4th and will feature one UT alum and a current student, Miguel Aragon (MFA student) and Leah Haney (BFA, 2010). The exhibition will focus on drawings and the concept of drawing. The opening will be on Friday, May 4, 2012 from 7 pm to 11 pm and will continue through May 20, with viewings available on Saturdays from 12 pm to 5 pm and by appointment. Tiny Park Gallery is located at 607 1/2 Genard Street.

Noah Dillion (BA Studio Art, 2008) is a contributor on a recent publication from Paper Monument entitled "Draw It with Your Eyes Closed: The Art of the Art Assignment". The anthology features essays, drawings, and assignments from over 100 contributors including John Baldessari, William Pope.L, Mira Schor, and many others. The publication examines art education and in particular the art assignment from introductory exercises to graduate-level experiments. For excerpts, reviews, and to purchase the anthology, click here.

From April 27th to April 29th, Suzanne Bocanegra (BFA, 1979) will do performances of her piece "When a Priest Marries a Witch: An Artist Talk by Suzanne Bocanegra starring Paul Lazar". First premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 2010, Bocanegra will perform her work as part of the Fusebox Festival, an annual contemporary art and performance festival that takes place each April in Austin, TX.

Performances will take place at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre on:

April 27th at 9 pm, April 28th at 1 pm, and April 29th at 7 pm.