Austin Downtown Arts

March 1999
Volume 5 Number 2

All that Jazz by Paul Klemperer
Indie label Leaning House has backed some impressive recordings in recent years, reminding jazz fans that Dallas has its own history of producing heavyweight players.

Almost Forgotten by Sandra Beckmeier
At Los Camales Restaurant, covered in pottery, the smell of rotisserie, surrounded in a pith of sound, Austin activist Marcelo Tafoya talked at length about the days when he broadcasted live from the small cafe on E. 7th Street.

The Art and World of Thor by Maria Rios
Armed with only the impression of his name and a composition book, I awaited the arrival of Thor, local artist and session drummer, to join me in conversation at Ruta Maya, a site always so opulently atmospheric and a perfect place to discuss the challenges of being a working artist in a town dichotomized, according to some, by the effects of its artistic productivity.

Austin Girl poetry by Karyna McGlynn

The Bull-Jean Stories by Sandra Beckmeier
The first time I ever heard the character "bull-jean" was in the startling performance play, no mo blues in 1995. I remember her strutting across the stage -- startling because the character expressed a simple kind of sadness. Bridgforth's talent as a storyteller is purposeful and loving.

Notes from the Woodshed by Paul Klemperer
It is helpful to remember that in today's musical ocean the big fish need the little fish, and to some extent the little fish need the big.

A Poem a Day by Stazja McFadyen
Once you have witnessed Clebo Rainey strut bare-chested through an audience demanding "amens" with a convincing revivalist preacher impersonation in his signature performance piece, "Rarefied in Arkansas," you will find Dallas' most famous slam poet has little in common with vegetation.

Sound and Vision Festival by Rachel Staggs
Jason Phelps has created an event that will fill your every desire for improvisational performance art. The Sound & Vision Festival supports multi-disciplinary stage work and presents some of Austin's finest performers.

Texas Film Art by Allyson Lipkin
I threw out some ideas, and had just joined the Austin Film Society, and wanted to tap into the film groups here. I started thinking, "Why don't I do something for the artists that I have been working with?"
-- Neal Coleman

Up All Night by Harold McMillan
In this one building, like no other address in Austin, is a vibrant, self-contained, growing, potentially important, multidisciplinary arts community in the making.

Verities by Grace McEvoy
I lived in a small wooden shotgun house with no electricity or furniture and saw at least one movie a day, sometimes three. This was not an escape, it was research, passion and adoration.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Wristbands: Non-South by Southwest Events for the Middle of March by Kelli Ford
This year the trend continues of Austinites taking matters into their own hands and creating alternative venues during the festival.

The Wired Side: South by Southwest Interactive Festival Gets Interactive by Shilanda Woolridge
Unlike the music and film festivals, the interactive festival may not have much to offer the casual visitor. If one lacks knowledge of the Internet, the WWW, or interactive new media they may find themselves lost and frustrated.