Deep in the Art by LASA Ezine

D EEP I N

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Letter-From-the-Editors Dear Reader, The team behind Deep in the Art is thrilled to present the unparalleled art scene in Austin which encompasses the charm of visual arts as well as the energy of performers on stage, even in the face of the COVI D pandemic. With such diversity in the creative community, the city is a crossroads of a variety of artistic mediums. We hope to highlight the stunning work of local artists as well as showcase their tenacity in such an unpredictable time. Our magazine will explore the impacts of the pandemic on street art in the city, a key component behind countless murals, as well as the adaptations made by Austin?s visual art industry to lessen the challenges brought on by COVI D. I n addition, we will delve into the changes that performers such as musicians and actors have made to accommodate to new regulations. Lastly, Deep in the Art will cover the effect of strict health guidelines on local museum operation. Hours of work were invested into our magazine, whether it be through interviews, writing feature stories or grasping new graphic softwares. Of these tasks, the team has the most pride in the design and visuals of the final product. Each editor brought their own unique spin to the layout of each page and meticulously added graphics to accentuate the stories being shared. As this is the characteristic of Deep in the Art that we admire most, it was also the most strenuous component. A ton of experimentation and effort went into the imagery and format of the magazine. Not to mention the tediousness of ensuring consistency page to page. Though the editors put tremendous work into the creation of the magazine, none of it would be possible without our generous interviewees who took time out of their schedules to help us share Austin?s art. Thank you, reader, for your desire to learn more about the local art scene, and we hope you enjoy Deep in the Art. Sincerely, The Editors

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Tableof Contents 4-5

m eet the editor s D e si g n b y K ay l a L e

str eet a r t

6-11

B y So l o m o n M o o n

6-11

m usic B y N at h an L e e

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18 -25

m useum s B y K at i e B u sb y

24-29

visua l a r t B y K ay l a L e

30 -35

thea ter B y N o a A d e l m an

w or d sea r ch B y K at i e B u sb y

Covers by Solomon Moon and Kayla Le Inside Covers by Kayla Le Letter From the Editors Graphics by Kayla Le Table of Contents by Kayla Le Meet the Editors Graphics by Kayla Le Word Search by Katie Busby

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Meet theeditors Noa Adelm an Noa has been living in Austin for 5 years. She is a freshman at LASA and the magazine?s ASF editor. Some of her favorite hobbies include climbing, playing soccer, and art, all of which she has been doing for as long as she can remember. Noa was delighted to work on a story about theater and hopes that she was able to shed some awareness on the struggles of maintaining a theater in a post-pandemic world.

Kat i e Bu sby Katie is a student at LASA and the copy editor of Deep in the Art. She enjoys journalism and has written for the LASA school newspaper, and also has been fascinated by the art scene in Austin ever since she moved here a few months ago. She hopes that by reading this magazine people?s eyes will be opened to all the ways the Austin community is striving to bring people art and inspiration even during such a difficult time.

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Kayl a Le Kayla is the student at LASA and the graphics editor for Deep I n The Art. I n her leisure time, she is an avid graphite sketcher and enjoys creating fanart. Prior to Ezine, she had very limited experience with adobe design programs but through the creation of this magazine has honed her skills and strives to deliver pleasing visuals to the magazine. Kayla hopes that Deep in the Art will break the convention that valuable art is only shown in upper echelon exhibitions and convince people of the priceless artwork that can be found in their very own city.

Nat h an Lee Nathan is the photo editor for Deep in the Art and is a freshman at LASA. He loves playing the piano and various sports such as Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball. Nathan wanted to focus on the musical arts in Deep in the Art since music is a globally popular thing, and the pandemic has affected the community. He hopes that this magazine will better show the current situation for music lovers in the community.

So l o m o n M o o n Solomon is the magazine?s content editor for Deep in the Art and is a freshman at LASA. He likes to write riveting stories and try new things, whether they may be Ultimate Frisbee or street art. Solomon hopes that this magazine sheds a new light on the smaller, unrecognized works of art that Austin has such an abundance of and encourage others to try to make an impact of their own.

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STREET SM A RT By Solomon Moon

Profession and self- expression by artists

Photo by Mike Johnston

rt ties people together and defines who they are. Street art is something that can be seen by everyone, whether it?s on the side of an electric box or displayed across the face of an office building, and it embodies the attitude and culture of Austin. Both street art and graffiti generally have been tied to vandalism and have negative connotations, but rising artists all over the world are giving the genre a new light, proving that these art styles deserve the same amount of recognition as any other. The scene in Austin is no exception. As the COVI D-19 pandemic forces people to stay home, Austin artists have to adapt to the circumstances and use their talent to help others struggling in the pandemic. However, being a street artist is not always easy, according to professional street artist Nathan Nordstrom. Also known as Sloke, Nathan Nordstrom has been painting on the streets of Austin for over 30 years. He rose to the position he is in now after facing struggles on his journey.

with painting on the streets. I had to find a way to make it work, and I didn?t know what that was gonna look like because back then the options were pretty slim and nothing like it is today.? Now Nordstrom runs his own business and produces art for many different companies including SXSW, Apple, University of Texas, and the American Heart Association.

Despite what many people believe, street art and graffiti are two very different subcultures. The substance that makes up each genre is different. ?Graffiti comes from a

Photo by Nathan Nordstrom

Professional street artist Mike ?Truth? Johnston has noticed the newfound recognition towards street art. He shares his thoughts on street art as a profession. ?Austin is pretty special in the way that you can make a full time living creating murals and doing art for

" Back then, the options were pretty slim and nothing like it is today.?

?I started on the streets of Nathan Nordstrom, Professional Austin,? Nordstrom said. ?I Street Artist did the streets for about 12 years, and I ran into a lot of consequences of painting people,? Johnston said. ?I feel on the streets illegally. Around very grateful that this city is so 2002, I decided to transition to supportive, and it?s cool to see doing art for a living artists come and go.? professionally. I would say the biggest factor into making that A common misconception transition was dealing with the about graffiti and street art is consequences of what came that they are synonymous.

subculture and is based on letters,? Nordstrom said. ?Street art, on the other hand, started out with things like stencils, which later evolved more into muralism, and that?s what you?re seeing a lot now.? Due to their similarities, it is not uncommon for an observer to make the easy mistake of confusing the two. ?A lot of times it all gets lumped under the same category of street art,? Nordstrom said, ?but believe or not, they?re actually two different worlds. Sometimes they do merge, but there are a lot of differences.? Nordstrom neatly summed up his attitude Deep in the Art -

Photo by Mike Johnston

towards each by saying, ?I would rather see art, whether it?s graffiti or street art, than a blank, gray wall.? As a second generation Austinite after his parents, Nordstrom has seen the atmosphere towards both street art and graffiti shift dramatically over the past decades. Both have become more accepted by the city, and artists are even being commissioned by the city to add to the Austin vibe. He noticed the increase in artists flooding to Austin and sees it in its infancy. ?I t?s got about 10 years under its belt now, it?s trying to find its own identity, and the more artists practice, the more they?ll get better,? Nordstrom said. ?I come from a generation where if you were painting with spray paint you were looked down upon, and it wasn?t accepted by the mainstream. Nowadays, it?s

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changed. I t?s done a 180, and it is accepted.? Street art is gaining recognition as both a hobby and a profession. Johnston has observed the city encourage artists to brighten the blank walls and gray buildings. He recognized the Graffiti Park at Castle Hill for being a great addition to Austin. ?We had the graffiti park in town, that was really awesome for those years that it was there, and it?s things like that where it feels like in this city it?s okay and acceptable to do something creative and colorful out in the streets,? Johnston said. He also explained why he does street art separately from his professional work, and what he loves about being able to create pieces of art for everyone to see. ?When you make a living doing

art, a lot of times you have a client that wants something specific, so you create an art piece specific to their interests and to what they want,? Johnston said, ?but when I do the street art, that?s more for me, doing something that I want to see out in the community.? However, both Johnston and Nordstrom have noticed that the artist?s market is currently flooded with new artists wanting to take it up as a profession. The scene is constantly shifting, people coming and going. ?One thing that?s tougher to do in Austin is to have that longevity,? Johnston said. ?Some of my peers will last ten years, and you have people coming and going where there?s not quite as many of those original people that I ?ve painted with that are still putting stuff up in the streets.?

Nordstrom sees the competitive nature of Austin

Photo by Mike Johnston

and attributes it to the large influx of people searching for a way to create art as a profession. ?I think that the artist?s market here is kind of flooded, meaning that there are a lot of artists, and so it?s become more competitive like any business. A lot of these murals that you see around town are commissioned and it?s definitely created more of a platform, a pool, for artists to jump into, and that?s just human nature,? Nordstrom said. Nordstrom also added that art is more of a hustle than it seems; artists have to actively seek out work and put themselves out there in order to make a living. ?What a lot of people fail to understand is that being an artist for a living is like being a musician,? he explained. ?You gotta find gigs, you have to find commissions, and there?s other

people that do art too.? Ultimately though, it all branches from opportunity. Nordstrom thinks that the best aspect about our city right now is the level of opportunity, and our city is in a stage of expansion and growth, promoting street artists and their work. Then the pandemic showed up and changed everything. The whole city was affected drastically. Many people were left without jobs, and the street art scene was no different. Considered a non-essential profession, countless artists were left without a stable source of income. The struggle made it harder to find clients, and artists are forced to adapt to the circumstances. Nordstrom was supposed to do a big job for SXSW in 2020, but because of COVI D-19 it was cancelled. ?When the shutdown happened a year ago, they made the announcement that they were cancelling SXSW. I lost like five jobs and a lot of money,? Nordstrom said. ?Everything was put into a state of uncertainty.?

?A year ago, I had enough work to last me a year,? he said, ?and now, I have enough to last me a week and a half.? Johnston also saw the work slow down in the pandemic, and there was a sense of fear instilled in artists who had no idea how they would earn money. ?We were wondering, ?Okay, it was good while it lasted, but now people aren?t gonna want to spend money if folks are losing their jobs.?Art is usually one of the first things to go,? Johnston said.

Photo by Nathan Nordstrom

Fortunately, he found a way to work around this problem and adapt to the circumstances. ?Since a lot of our work was inside different offices, and since people aren?t really working in offices these days, the work transitioned into doing murals in people?s homes and apartments,? Johnston said. ?People are home all the time and they want to enhance their spaces.?

He took a major financial loss and had to rely on small jobs that would pop up here and there. Deep in the Art -

By Solomon Moon

2. THE TECHNIQUES To create thicker and thinner lines, you can also adjust the distance from the painting surface: Spraying further away will have a larger area of effect, but less concentration of paint. Spraying closer will have a thinner line and a darker stroke.

4. BE SAFE Safety is the most important thing. The fumes are usually toxic, so be sure to wear a face mask, preferably a ventilator mask. Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin, and lay down newspapers to keep the work area clean.

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1. CAPS, CAPS, CAPS Different can caps create different thicknesses and lines. A fat cap will have a wider line width and bigger spray circumference, while thin caps create thinner lines. These are important to create the desired effect on your artwork!

3. USE STENCILS! Stencils are great tools that both beginners and experts use. You can buy some or create your own by drawing and cutting out a design in a thick sheet of paper or cardboard. Be sure to tape the stencil down securely, or else the paint will seep through the edges.

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AMusician'sJourney The process of how a musician became who they are

By Nathan Lee

Photo courtesy of Marco Verch

usic has always been something that is well known all around the world. The city of Austin is no exception to this as there are many musicians all over the city. They choose to follow their passion while providing a source of entertainment for others around them.

The musicians in Austin worked constant hours practicing their instruments. I t is impossible to learn how to play a new instrument in one day, much less become an expert at it. Many musicians started learning at younger ages. ?An early start definitely gives them a good boost to carry on throughout their life, ? says music teacher Dr. Kyung-Ae Lee. But just because somebody started learning to

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play an instrument at a very young age doesn?t mean that they will be better in the future. What matters is how much dedication they put into learning it. No dedication means no improvement in skill. Another important factor to consider is whether or not they switch learning to play a different instrument. This occurs quite often. Most of the time, it is the parents that assign the instrument to the child. However, once the musician is older, they think for themselves and have a passion

"An early start definitely gives them a good boost to carry on throughout their life." Dr. Kyung-Ae Lee, music teacher

for

whatever interests them. Once they put in a consistent amount of effort and dedication for a long period of time, signs of skills will show which opens up many opportunities for them to be able to choose their own paths from there.

unless for whatever reason they decided to stop. I f a musician gets lucky, they may find a golden opportunity where they get to perform at some very famous places such as the Carnegie Hall, according to professional cellist Melissa

and under this incredible conductor called James D. Priest,? Solomon said. ?And it was just such an incredible repertoire that just the thought of it is so wonderful, so exciting to be in the wings of Carnegie hall and then come out into those incredible holes in principal cellist "It was such an incredible with this phenomenal conductor.? repertoire that just the

Once the musician has grown up, many paths are unlocked, leaving them more opportunities at their thought of it is so Just from Ms. Solomon?s disposal. They can go wonderful, so exciting to experiences, we can see that around and look for their musicians can have be in the wings of community professional opportunities to travel to orchestras or groups that Carnegie Hall." may be looking for a new new places to perform member that could whether it is famous or not. potentially join them. This Melissa Solomon, professional Once when a musician is the part in their lives cellist makes a debut like this, they where once they find a good settling point, they just continue to do this for Solomon. would expect to have a similar as long as they please. Many ?We played in Carnegie hall lifestyle moving forward musicians would even play until an old age because they enjoy performing that much. Of course, they will not always be able to perform in a place like Carnegie Hall as that is really for special occasions. For the rest of their lives, they will most likely do the same thing. Performing whenever they

can, yet being able to manage whatever new things enter Student from The Lone Star School of Music gently plays the piano to rehearse for an upcoming recital. Photo courtesy of The Lone Star School of Music

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their lives. I n our current day, COVI D-19 hit the world hard, preventing anybody from being able to go outside that often. This not only risks the health of the musicians, but their families and communities as well. Therefore, very few musicians have been able to make public performances in these times. Many of them have been trying to make things work at home. Piano teacher Dr. Kyung-Ae Lee said the pandemic has affected the ability to teach at this time and what worries her. ?Some students I haven't seen for about a year,? said Lee. ?For

some of my students, I never really got to keep in touch with them, which I find a bit upsetting ? during these times, I think that it is important for both the teacher and the students to try and have a stronger connection with each other so that we can reach out to each other when needed.? We see that strong connections between students and teachers are important in order for the students to succeed at a high level. Music requires interaction in order for the musicians to play regularly with ease. Especially in our current situation, a good

Orchestra plays with much fewer people than usual for to decrease risk of catching covid. Photo courtsey of Julio Albarran

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connection between the teacher and fellow students can help. To make matters worse, this pandemic situation has also affected the ability for young musicians from learning to play their instruments in person or as a group. However, online classes and lessons have been able to allow musicians in training to continue to play and learn while they are at it. I f it has affected the students, it has definitely affected the hard working teachers, who are mostly professional musicians themselves who took on the hobby of teaching. ?I know that people are doing a

Young pianist practices as he may potentially becoming a great pianist. Photo courtesy of ottawagraphics.

lot online and I 'm not sure. I think that people are finding a workaround as far as life at home is just kind of shut down a lot. But the online performance is fun,? Solomon said. Even though we are all living during this pandemic, it won?t stop young musicians from pursuing their passions of music. The students may not be able to go through the same journey as older musicians, but

if they really care, the students would put in all of their efforts to pull through this pandemic, and become incredible musicians afterward. I n fact, now since nearly all lessons and classes are online, opportunities open up for students to begin learning to play instruments. There may very well be students out there who are just seeking out the positive in this situation. The more they?re learning, the

better. ?Even though this isn?t a very good situation for us teachers and learners, I think that it is still a good idea to view the positive things,? Dr. Lee said. ?Because of online learning, more people who may not have been able to attend in person have more opportunities to learn now.?

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In-Person Learning V

The advantages and disadvantages

Pro

Student and teacher can be anywhere with device and instrument More suitable for advanced learners

Can be set up more easily

Both valid m learni

Is a long pr master

Digital Learning

Sound quality is not perfect Can be hard to follow with lessons

By Nathan Lee

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VS. Digital Learning

s of two different methods of learning

Group lessons are much easier to do

More suitable for beginners

Able to correct form and posture more easily

methods of ing

rocess of ering

ons

In- Person Learning Both location and time need to work out for lesson

Setup time and mobility can become an issue depending on the instrument

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Photo by Katie Busby

AppreciatingSafely HowCOVIDhastaken atoll on indoor art collections By Katie Busby here are many ways for people in Austin to enjoy art and the incredibly diverse range of art forms and artists in the Austin art community. A way that may come to mind when you think about going to look at art is going to museums and galleries. However, with a large portion of museums and galleries housing their collections inside buildings, COVI D has made it hard to enjoy these places like we might in a more normal situation.

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Photo by Katie Busby

Steve Clark runs Stephen L. Clark Gallery on West 6th St. here in Austin. He now runs it alone since he lost his assistant during COVI D and he said that it has been hard organizing everything by himself as well as talking to guests and enforcing COVI D guidelines. ?One of the hardest parts of COVI D was losing my assistant,? said Clark. ?She was wary of COVI D and also not sure we were going to be able to keep paying her well because we have had to do everything differently, so I ?m doing everything by myself.? Clark said that openings for the gallery have also been one of the hardest parts because of COVI D and not being able to have people gather. He has only been letting a few people in at a time and he has been doing more virtual showings. ?Well, we did last year, we did videos with the show,? said Clark. ?So we put the videos out, we'd send an email out with the link to watch the video and telling you to watch it. And at the end of the video, the videographer would walk around and talk about the art and the artists. And then when we got to the very end we would say thank you for the virtual visit, please come see us in person soon, we pratice safe art."

Photo by Katie Busby

Photos by Katie Busby

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Photo by Katie Busby

One other effect of COVI D that Clark said has been affecting the gallery is lack of foot traffic. Since many things are closed or only open at partial capacity, there have not been as many people walking around 6th street that just see the gallery and decide to stop in with so many things around closed. ?There has really been no curbside business,? said Clark. ?Not like what I ?m used to with getting drop in business from people coming to restaurants or other businesses around me and deciding to come look around.?

Photo by Katie Busby

Many of the photos are from West Chelsea Contemporary gallery, they have been opening up more lately and having new exhibits to draw people back in after a long period of time of not being able to have visitors.

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Photo by Katie Busby

During COVI D many people have started slightly different routines and a lot more things have gone digital. Clark says that he thinks he will continue doing the video showings even when things are back to normal just so that more people who may not be able to stop in to the physical location can enjoy the art. ?I think I ?ll keep doing the videos, that?s for sure,? said Clark. ?More people are able to see them and get a good tour of all the pieces we have. We got an very positive responses to the videos we put out during COVI D so I think I ?ll definitely incorporate those in to normal openings in the future. "

" Make sure to support your With the vaccine however, hopes of normalcy are coming back. With the vaccine so widely available things have become a lot safer. Clark says that he has been able to open a little more with the vaccine but that he still wants to be cautious to make sure everyone who wants to see the gallery can do so safely.

Photo by Katie Busby

local artists. Support artists of all kinds. This has been a very tough time for the art community and people's support means so much. " Steve Clark, Gallery Owner ?We still have signs on the door to enter as a small group and wear your face mask and everything, but we?ve been able to be not quite as strict about it recently,? said Clark. ?Were still being very careful and I am definitely always wearing a mask and making sure that everyone is being safe.? Overall Clark said that COVI D has been rough on the art community and he?s ready to go back to some form of normal. He said that supporting your local artists is essential and doing it through this has kept the art community going. ?Make sure to support your local artists. Support artists of all kinds. This has been a very tough time for the art community and

people's support means so much. "

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Top5Museumsin Austin By Katie Busby

Sources: Trip Advisor Photos and Graphic by Katie Busby

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1. TheBlanton

2. Umlauf SculptureGarden and Museum 3. The Contemporaryat LagunaGloria 4. Elizabet Ney Museum 5. Mexic-Arte Museum

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Austin Goes

Art-Vante Garde Visual art in a remote world By Kayla Le Saul Jerome San Juan keenly observes his reference while painting an illustration for his upcoming exhibition. When working, he creates a grid to help inform the accuracy of his paintings. Photo courtesy of Saul Jerome San Juan.

rt is scattered all over Austin. The spirit of the city is captured through paintings, sculptures and masterpieces as far as the eye can see, but visual art can be hidden gems in a community surrounded by a lively music scene and dramatic theatre performances.

Austin is frequently critiqued for its lackluster platform for visual arts. I t is heavily contrasted within the Austin art community to Houston which has an abundance of museums and

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galleries. Visual arts is the predetermined underdog of the local art scene and the rise of the COVI D pandemic preyed on this vulnerability. ?Often a complaint here in Austin is we're not like Houston, where Houston has all these art galleries and artists are able to sell,? said Saul Jerome San Juan, a local painter and art instructor. ?Here in Austin, a lot of what I 'm hearing is that it's harder for us to sell here.?

As public places began to close need for spaces to advertise technology has really helped due to COVI D, the virus their work and meet clients. A even though I ?m a Luddite; not compromised countless solution was to create a virtual so computer savvy.? Austinites?livelihoods. New space for these necessities. COVI D has mandated countless health regulations caused Online auctions and exhibitions individuals to stay in their employees to begin working were the most prevalent online houses, including Saul Jerome remotely. Technology such as events, often hosted by galleries San Juan, painter and art computers and video in lieu of physical openings. teacher at Stephen F. Austin conferencing platforms High School. While have aided in making teaching art is his main this transition; however, career, the pandemic these benefits come with Let the artist know they're allowed San Juan to get their caveats, being seen or being heard back in touch with the particularly in the Austin working art market. San and let your city know that art community. Juan said that people

Under the pressures of new COVI D regulations, not only studios but also galleries were forced to shut down. Artists felt the brunt of cutting off an essential line of outreach for their work.

you support them and can't wait for them to come back." Saul Jerome San Juan, Art Teacher and Painter

Austin-based sculptor Shawn Smith specializes in creating pixelated statues of endangered animals. His primary mode of advertising was featuring his artwork in galleries where he could draw in commission opportunities. Smith expressed that the closure of public galleries put a staunch hold on the already slim profit margin for local artists. ?I f you have a gallery, and you sell a piece for $5,000, you?re only gonna get $2,500 or 50%,? said Smith. ?That?s the way it works because they?re paying for brick and mortar. A gallery is a store, right? So if it?s not open, they?re not making money.? With galleries closing and prices dropping, artists have a

Jennifer Prichard is an Austin-based installation artist who creates wall displays with ceramic pieces. The nature of her work relies heavily on direct person to person contact, as she usually installs the art pieces for her clients. With limited technological experience, Prichard witnessed new art adaptations to in person interaction in the community.

were motivated to improve upon the aesthetics of their personal spaces with so much time being spent at home.

?For the visual arts, it?s actually thrived in a way that people were buying art because they needed something in their house. As a portrait artist, I think people were also starting to really value the people in their lives,? said

?Non-profit arts organizations, like Women I n Their Work, go to the gallery here in town that has been around for a long, long time,? said Prichard. ?They had a silent auction over the computer and it worked well. They tried to help people market themselves and get out there and show their art. I think Deep in the Art -

Saul Jerome San Juan?s cyanotype portraits are showcased at the exhibition Crit Group 2020. Crit Group is an art event where many local artists collaborate by contributing their work to the Jones Gallery in Austin. Photo courtesy of Saul Jerome San Juan.

San Juan. With people having to stay home and not being able to do a lot of normal activities, people have been turning to things that can be done from the safety of a house. The spread of visual art rivaled that of the pandemic itself. Art supply stores, such as Ampersand Art, boasted empty shelves as more and more people were fascinated by the creative world. ?On one hand, you know, artists might scoff at that. Like, ?oh, gosh, all these amateur artists,? but no, to me, it?s great,? said San Juan. ?People are getting in touch with their creative side, and it?s gonna be a more peaceful city.? While the number of people interested in art rapidly increased, their loyalty to local studios could be compromised. With so much

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media available through the traditionally, Prichard?s forte internet, Austinites risked losing was ceramic installations, she sight of local artists. decided to extend her clay body works to sculpture. The object ?There?s plenty of artists here de art was intended to serve as that make great work. Maybe memorabilia for her studio. they don?t show in New York, but that doesn?t mean the work is not good,? said Smith. ?They should be supported.? To counteract this skirmish, Jennifer Prichard?s studio, J Prichard Design, drafted a new product to release to customers. While

?A lot of times with marketing, they may remember us, but they forget because I ?m sure they?re just inundated with the internet,? said Prichard. ?There are so many different things you can see, but if we made them a little object that they wanted to keep on their desk, we could be on their mind, and they?ll remember us.? New works to sell weren?t the only thing to come out of the pandemic. The virus encouraged artists to experiment with new mediums out of their comfort zone as well. San Juan, primarily a painter, used his creativity to abide by

Graphic by Kayla Le

COVI D regulations while still practicing his craft. ?I began making cyanotypes because of social distancing.? said San Juan. ?Before that, I was doing photoshoots. Of course, I can?t do photoshoots that intimate anymore. A couple of the people I was depicting in those cyanotypes were originally going to be photographed. That?s how I found an opportunity where there was a limitation.? Though the pandemic has given rise to artistic innovation and technology has made art more accessible to the average individual, it may cause a fracture in Austin?s future generation of artists. The industry is notable for its ?attrition rate,? which describes the decline of art students who become working artists over time. ?When I graduated from

undergrad, you know, let?s say there were 100 people,? said San Juan. ?Within five years, I ?d say 40 people are still making art. Within 10 years, it?s probably seven. So you just have this attrition rate of people who lose interest, or they find another job. I think that those numbers fall off.? The professional sector of the Austin art economy has adapted for the better though art education has been heavily limited. The anxiety that going remote could worsen the already apparent attrition is a very real one. San Juan, who teaches art courses at Stephen F. Austin High School, struggled to maintain a nurturing classroom environment. ?Do you know how when you go into an art classroom, it?s a bit more relaxed than a normal classroom?? said San Juan. ?That distinction doesn?t

I nstallation artist, Jennifer Prichard, unpacks a shipment of porcelain from Armadillo Clay to prepare for her work. Prichard specializes in creating ceramics pieces which later are placed into intricate wall installations for clients. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Prichard.

happen here in Zoom, and I don?t know how to do it. My fear is that kids are not getting the experience of feeling empowered.? Fewer kids feeling encouraged in the art classroom hindered the force at which art classes were previously progressing. The stark difference between in-person instruction and remote learning was apparent. ?I found that students who are on campus who weren?t so engaged were able to do that,? said San Juan. ?They came back being able to produce more because they saw I ?m not really this mean guy behind a screen. I t?s hard. I t?s hard to be the reassuring presence through the screen.? Austinites can fight these repercussions by supporting local artists, whether it be through a message of gratitude or viewing online exhibitions. These are ways in which the double edged sword of technology can be wielded advantageously. ?We want to be seen, we want to be heard,? said San Juan. ?I think especially in this time, we want to try to find ways of connecting that way. I think that's the way to be supportive. Let the artist know they're being seen or being heard and let your city know that you support them and can't wait for them to come back.?

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Set up a commission

1. 2.

This is the most direct way to support an artist. By purchasing a commission, you can get a work of art tailored to your utmost desire while also supporting an artist. Though it can be pricy, it?s a win win for both parties.

Engage with artists? social media Leaving a comment or a like helps to boost an artists publicity on social media by skewing the algorithm. Posts with more engagement are more likely to be seen by users and therefore expose more of their work to the public.

Visit their website

3. 4.

Similarly to the effect of social media engagement, visiting a website creates traffic which is beneficial for attracting business, or in this case, consumers of art. Checking in on an artist?s website occasionally, for new pieces and such, can help the success of their work.

Share art resources with friends and family Sharing art with individuals in your circle is an easy step to spreading the word about an artist. By starting with those closest to you, the individuals you inform will relay the information to people who may be outside of your own community. The more people in the know, the better.

22--Deep 28 Deepin inthe theArt Art

Partake in a virtual exhibition Exhibitions are one of the key ways in which artists showcase their work, particularly for purchase. Just by attending, you can expose yourself to new styles of art while simultaneously ensuring that the art market thrives.

SUPPLYINGSUPPORT top 5 ways to support local artists By Kayla Le Sources: WBUR, Artwork Archive

Art is notorious for being a competitive industry where success is a rarity. However in the midst of COVID, many artists have faced even harsher struggles to secure their livelihoods in the dramatically changed market place. To help preserve the craft, here are a few ways that everyone can support artists during the pandemic.

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TheShowMust GoOn How COVID caused chaos in Austin's theaters

By Noa Adelman Photo courtesy of Lisa Scheps

n March 2020, COVI D took the world by storm, and the theater community was no exception. By July, nearly 1,500 businesses in the Austin-Round Rock area had been forced to close due to the pandemic. Area theaters had no choice but to shut down. Entire show seasons had to be postponed or rescheduled.

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Austin has a vibrant theater community filled with people who are so passionate about what they do. Stage performances are an art form that holds significant importance to many people, said Lisa Scheps, founder, executive director, and co-artistic director of Ground Floor Theatre. ?The act of making theater is special on so many

different levels,? Scheps said. ?You?re able to tell stories. You?re able to impact humans.? Tara Vela, associate director of Texas Performing Arts (TPA), said many people help contribute to making a successful performance. Often, some of the tech jobs with less public facing roles don?t get the same amount of recognition. ?There are a lot of hard working, dedicated, committed artists,? Vela said. Scheps agreed, explaining a team is assembled to work on a piece, which they create under the guidance of the director. ?We need scenic designers, costume designers, graphic

artists, lighting designers, sound designers,? Scheps said. ?Now we?re bringing in, for every performance, an equity, diversion, and inclusion person to come in and be with us for all our shows.? Theater-makers around Austin have been doing their best to navigate the new COVI D guidelines and to continue to bring theater to people in a safe way. Some performing arts sites around Austin have held various performances outdoors. Venues like Ground Floor Theatre have held virtual events like Trans Lives Trans Voices, which featured trans and nonbinary performers sharing stories about The costume closet at a high school theater. Costume design is just one of the many jobs required to put on a show. Photo by Noa Adelman

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their lives.

well, explained Vela. COVI D has allowed TPA to exhibit some of the behind-the-scenes

some of the work that goes into creating a noteworthy performance. Vela said she hopes this will continue after theaters reopen.

?We shifted a lot of the work we did online,? Scheps said. ?Then they live on our YouTube channel. And that?s completely done The act of making theater videos. We?ve turned our is special on so many theater into a little recording studio. We different levels. You're able have a video switcher to tell stories. You're able to and cameras and things impact humans." like that.?

Since the start of the Lisa Scheps, Founder of Ground pandemic theaters and Floor Theatre theater companies have been struggling financially. According to Vela, 90% of the elements of theater. With fewer theater?s revenue was lost. TPA people coming to see was forced to lay off many of performances, TPA has gotten their employees. the opportunity to display

?Right when this happened, the theater venue operators got together and started meeting every week, and we've been meeting every week since then,'' said Scheps. ?We will probably continue after that.?

Theaters in Austin have been relying heavily on donations, but they haven?t been nearly enough. One of the best ways to ensure that theaters continue to thrive is to give money. ?One of the things that folks can do to help the arts and theater community is to? if they have money that they can donate? that they donate to arts organizations,? Scheps said. ?There?s a slew of them here, in Austin Texas. That would help immensely as we get through this and set to reopen.? Additionally, Vela said that another thing people can do to support theaters is to buy gift certificates, and to come back once they are able to open. Despite the new struggles brought on by COVI D, there have been some benefits as

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Scheps and Vela said Austin?s theater community has become much closer, and has established a greater sense of community.

Photo by Dave Hawks Photography, courtesy of Lisa Scheps

(Bottom Left) Actors perform at Ground Floor Theatre.

(Top) Lighting and sound equipment for a high school theater production. Photo by Noa Adelman.

(Bottom Right) A makeshift outdoor stage, created for a high school theater production. Due to COVID, preforming inside the theater could be potentially dangerous. Photo by Noa Adelman.

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Partsof a

Stage The actors do most of the acting from the stage, located at the center of the theater.

Seats This is where the audience sits. The seats are arranged so that everyone has the best possible view of the stage.

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Thea

By Noa Adelman

eater

Curtains Stage curtains are large decorative pieces of fabric that are used to conceal parts of the stage, and to cover the stage during scene transitions.

O rchestra Pit The orchestra sits below and in front of the stage as they provide musical accompaniment for the actors.

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