Guest blogger: Shannon G.
The weather is heating up and so a
re the local events. This marks the 2nd year that the Austin Public Library partnered with Big Medium to present the West Austin Studio Tour! WEST is a free, self-guided tour that showcases Austin talent among a diverse creative community. The West Austin Studio Tour is presented by Big Medium, an Austin-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting contemporary art throughout Texas. In addition to WEST, Big Medium programming includes the East Austin Studio Tour and the Texas Biennial.
The tour is always free and this year it was held the weekends of April 27-28 & May 4-5 from 11 AM – 6 PM. The West Austin Studio Tour encompassed the area west of I-35, east of Mopac/Loop 1, south of HWY 183, and north of HWY 71/Ben White and HWY 360. Among the venues featured were artist studios, exhibition spaces alongside residential spaces transformed for the event.
The Yarborough Branch plays host to the photographic series "Thank the Romans", created by photographer Chris Evans. Chris Evans is a recent graduate from the St. Edward's Photo-communications department. After initially being interested in geography he promptly changed the trajectory of his studies to photography. Since the switch, Evans has worked extensively within photography with an emphasis on portraiture. He is specifically interested in how locations lose place authenticity caused by a commodity driven society. Evans intends to pursue an MFA in Photography and eventually teach at the university level. Chris is interested in the ethical implications of photographic portraiture.
Evans photography depicts people living in the everyday moments. At first, nothing seems particularly special about the imagery of a person in commute. But, then you notice the look on the person’s face – the expression of those who are wandering aimlessly, roaming about innocently and the moment is captured. Almost as if the photographer had stolen it from the subject.
"We are always looking at each other; it is part of who we are. However, this process of looking becomes questionable with the introduction of a camera. The implication of the interaction is inevitably changed: the moment is captured, made permanent and infinitely reproducible" – Chris Evans
Evans work will be on display in our conference room during regular open hours until May 25.
For more information about the West Austin Studio Tour visit http://west.bigmedium.org/. You may also view Chris Evans online portfolio at www.cwrightevans.com.
