Alumni in the News

Art and Art History alum Dane Larsen (BFA, Studio Art, 2008) has joined with conceptual artist Scott Gleeson to create a new controversial Dallas-based public art project, Las Manos Negras (The Black Hands). Las Manos Negras is a grassroots initiative designed to facilitate communication between day laborers, contractors, and labor advocates and to empower workers to assert their legal and moral rights to social justice. To help further this project, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has awarded Larsen and Gleeson a coveted 2012 Idea Fund Grant.

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts awards ten $4,000 grants annually to support experimental public artworks. Las Manos Negras will use the grant funds to develop an audio archive of worker's narratives that have been recorded at varying Dallas construction site since August 2011. Workers stories will be available to the public through a bilingual proect website, www.lasmanosnegros.org.

In the coming weeks, Maxine Price, BFA '59, will be showing her contemporary original paintings in two Texas galleries. First, TASTE Wine + Art Kirchman Gallery in Johnson City is honoring Ms. Price from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 30 and again beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 8.  From July 14 through August 28, Ms. Price's work will be present at Art Fest Houston in Thornwood Gallery. http://www.thornwoodgallery.com/

Alumna Dawn Davis Loring (BA, Dance, 1992) and Mosaic Dance Body present Danceopoly at the Big Range Austin Dance Festival. Danceopoly is a game involving both audience and dancers and "takes a snarky look at being a struggling artist through the lens of a cheesy reality game show."

Collaborators include Dawn Davis Loring, Jennifer Micallef, Tracy Sadler Machalek, Ivry Newsome, Cinnamon Barton and Dawnerin Wilkinson.

Danceopoly will be shown at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre on June 30th at 8pm and on July 1st at 2pm.

Alumna Katy O'Connor (MFA, Painting, 1999) is having a studio sale at Generous Art Gallery to benefit Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region. On view from May 25 to September 10, 2012, the sale will be hosted at Texas French Bread in Austin, TX. All artworks are original oil paintings on canvas and panel. Forty percent of all sales will go toward the Austin Stands with Planned Parenthood campaign.

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.