www.todoaustin.com VOLUME X / APR 2019
The seeds we planted.
“Words/Matter” at the Blanton Jazz in the Park Nola/Austin Black Fret’s 2019 Nominees Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS broadcast 18.1 / cable 9 klru.org
Y W E 'R E S O H A P P
TO B E
Learn more at KLRU.org Airing this month
Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
Ozone Hole: How We Saved The Planet
Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s new four-hour documentary series explores the transformative years following the American Civil War.
Discover the forgotten story of the hole in the ozone layer and how the world came together to fix it.
Acclaimed news anchor Juju Chang will host the multi-platform event highlighting some of the most pivotal events in nature’s calendar.
April 10th at 9 pm
April 29th, 30th and May 1st at 7 pm
Part 1: Tuesday April 9th at 8 pm; Part 2: April 16th at 8 pm
Nature American Spring Live
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is community supported. More than 85% of our funding comes from the public. PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTING IN KLRU.
C E N T R O U R B A N O HABLA Austin Say It Loud debuts on KLRU-TV The new PBS Digital Studios series Say It Loud, hosted by YouTube sensations Evelyn Ngugi of Evelyn from the Internets and Azie Dungey, Emmy-nominated writer and creator of Ask a Slave, is part cultural critique, part talk show and part history lesson. Say It Loud will explore Black American culture and its impact on broader communities and trends. Produced in partnership with KLRU-TV, the series will dive into the history behind cultural tropes and touch points, and focus on relatable experiences of modern Black American life, exploring media, public affairs and social media trends like #GrowingUpBlack and #BlackGirlMagic. Audiences can expect to see episodes that highlight things they didn’t know were invented by Black people, the meaning of Black pride and the experiences of first generation Africans in America compared to African Americans. ESB-MACC unveils new mural The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center will unveil “La Mujer,” a large-scale mosaic mural created by teens in the Caminos program, on April 13 at the annual La Mujer Festival. The mural honors Latinx women and serves as a powerful reminder of the arts’ transformational power in bringing youth and community together through creativity. The mural will join the ESBMACC’s permanent outdoor collection.
Movies in the Park series Austin Parks Foundation begins its 2019 schedule for Movies in the Park, a series of free films shown outdoors in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Rolling Roadshow on March 29, to run through Oct. 17. This year’s Movies in the Park series will visit nine different parks throughout the city, and the lineup is filled with favorites from the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s. DAC project update The PARD Project Team presented the Dougherty Arts Center redevelopment project update to the Design Commission March 25, and then to the Parks and Recreation Board on March 26. Both of these groups gave their unanimous support to the project. The next presentation is to the Planning Commission, scheduled for April 9, 6 p.m., City Hall, Council Chamber. Census campaign launched A campaign to make sure everyone in the City of Austin and Travis County is counted in the 2020 Census will be launched next week. Every 10 years the U.S. Census Bureau oversees a survey of the whole country to determine population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Next year, between March and July, individuals will be able to respond online, by phone, or by mail.
After 10 years, TODO Austin becomes digital brand By Gavin Garcia
This issue marks the completion of 10 years of TODO Austin’s publication. After a decade of monthly production of newsprint, the journal will be available online via a new portal beginning next month. Co-founder Dave McClinton and I put out the first issue of TODO Austin in May, 2009, with a mission to focus on the city’s growing multicultural community. Dave and I were introduced by a mutual friend, the Austin Chronicle’s Louis Black, and with a production assist by Mark Gates we began our collaboration. Louis has sparked countless creative ventures in his lifetime and Dave and I are most grateful to him and Chronicle publisher Nick Barbaro for their support. Where injustice has reared its head in a city with an ugly history of discrimination, Louis and Nick have met the challenge. TODO Austin is just another example of their singular legacy.
APD citizen oversight The City of Austin’s Office of Police Oversight is encouraging Austin residents and visitors to share feedback about their experiences with APD and submit feedback: anonymously; online – including mobile phone via atxpoliceoversight. org; in-person during regular OPO visits to City libraries; or by phone (512-972-2OPO) for multiple languages.
In 118 issues of newsprint (10 issues in the first volume, and monthly thereafter), we’ve endeavored to provide a multicultural medium for all of Austin. The free tabloid was circulated across the city with an editorial objective to use advocacy journalism and mirror the changing demographics of Austin. As a niche publication, we were able to portray positive aspects of a city that is majority-minority while addressing false perceptions of cultural harmony.
ESB-MACC ‘La Mujer’ mural
Guadalupe Street info fair On April 1, the City of Austin’s Corridor Program Office will host a Guadalupe Street Corridor Information Fair to share information on planned mobility and safety improvements funded by the 2016 Mobility Bond. The event will take place from 3-6 p.m. at the University United Methodist Church (2409 Guadalupe Street).
Dave and I, with Editor Lesly Reynaga and Managing Editor/Web Editor Merideth Cox, were joined in our task by hundreds of editorial collaborators whose optimism and encouragement kept us on track every four weeks for a decade. TODO Austin’s advertisers, likewise, echoed that same commitment, making room in their tight
Austin’s MULTICULTURAL media source for TEN YEARS • Find us at TODOAustin.com
Volume X, Number 12 PUBLISHER // Gavin Lance Garcia info@todoaustin.com ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton dmdesigninc.com EDITOR //Lesly Reynaga // lesly@todoaustin.com MANAGING/WEB EDITOR // Meredith C. Cox meredith@todoaustin.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Liz Lopez, Monica Peña, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins, Yvonne Lim Wilson
CONTRIBUTING STAFF // Anwuli Chukwurah, Rose Di Grazia, Callie Langford, César E. López Linares, Genoveva Rodriguez PRODUCTION SERVICES // Anthony Garcia CONTRIBUTORS // Alka Bhanot, Rick Carney, Roy Casagranda, Cat Cardenas, Cindy Casares, Lobo Corona, Nora De LaRosa, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Cossy Hough, Yadira Izquierdo, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ali Khataw, Ramey Ko, Harish Kotecha, Sonia Kotecha, Julia Lee, Isabel Lopez-Aguilar, Art Markman, Al Martinich, Cynthia Aashi Morales, Tom Palaima, Hye June Park, Cristina Parker, Monica Peña, Paul Saldaña, Peter Salovey, Marion Sanchez, Sameer Shah, Blake Shanley, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Rama Tiru, Carola Rivera, Aaron Rochlen, Lesley Varghese
budgets for minority-owned media. Locallyowned businesses made up our distribution points and found space on their crowded shelves for our stacks. Our printing houses also accommodated us at every turn. We’re grateful for everyone’s service and thank you for inspiring our collective project.
Although TODO Austin is ceasing use of ink and wood pulp with this last print publication, it isn’t going away. In the modern news era, it’s common knowledge that consumers’ turn to the internet and electronic media and that’s where you’ll find us next month. Our decision will allow us to operate more efficiently and target increased readership and stronger ties to the community. We’ll be very much alive in the online world, publishing a free magazine associated with a 24/7 website focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. We’ll continue to reflect on this era of social change, giving voice to the underserved population in our evolving city while taking a sharper look at the creative cultural divide. Despite Austin’s reputation of being a progressive city, access for all communities to a high quality-of-life and conversations about bias and prejudice are required, more than ever, and TODO Austin will strive to make its presence felt. After 10 years of newsprint, TODO Austin will officially become a digital brand in May. As we look toward the future, our aim will be to play a role in encouraging Austin’s progress, addressing its cultural vitality and lifestyle assets. Ethnic minority communities serve as an economic development opportunity for Austin. Although a disparity in allocation of resources still exists, continuing a local custom of resources being dispersed disproportionately, TODO Austin will continue to advocate for our diverse community and spotlight our multicultural heritage. ONLINE EDITION // TODOAustin.com TODO Austin // Multicultural Media for All of Austin. TODO Austin is a free print and online journal for all of Austin highlighting our multicultural heritage and promoting the concept of community in an ethnically diverse city. Circulation throughout Austin, from the Westside’s Pennybacker Bridge to the Eastside’s Montopolis Bridge. TODO Austin is published by Spark Awakened Publishing. © 2019 Spark Awakened Publishing. All rights reserved. The views expressed here are the authors and should not be taken to represent those of Spark Awakened Publishing or of any of its associates or partners. ADVERTISING/SUBMISSIONS/EDITORIAL: info@todoaustin.com, 512.538.4115 TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 03
What the ides of March can teach us today By Tom Palaima & Al Martinich
Beware the ides of March!” This expression is familiar to many of us because Shakespeare used it in his tragedy “Julius Caesar,” named after the famous Roman general and politician who was once the most powerful person in the world. Its warning is one all Americans would do well to take to heart in today’s troubled and confusing times. The ides of March in question was March 15, 44 B.C. More Americans ought to think through how long we can tolerate disruptions to the functioning of our federal government, put off upgrading our aging transportation and water supply infrastructures, live with ever-widening gaps between the relatively few haves and the many have-nots, support an economically and humanly costly forever war on terrorism fought by one percent of our population, ignore the splintering of information so that there is no common basis for informed and respectful public debate, and attribute our problems to immigrants, illegal and legal. We are calling out, with guidance from Shakespeare and Roman historians, “American citizens, beware the ides of March.” This is no trivial matter, as we can see by using as an example Julius Caesar, a savvy and courageous public figure and an accomplished military leader who makes Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Karl Rove look like amateur politicians. In the second scene of Shakespeare’s play, during the public celebration of Caesar’s greatest triumph, a soothsayer — truth-teller — shouts out his warning from a tumultuous crowd. Caesar asks who this man is. Brutus, a close associate who we know will later help assassinate Caesar, explains the “soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.” Wanting confirmation, Caesar has the soothsayer 04 TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM
brought face to face. We hear for a third time within seven lines of the play, “Beware the ides of March.” Shakespeare wanted this warning to stay with us as we watch the political maneuverings of Caesar’s rivals and the miscalculations that the shrewdly intelligent Caesar makes that will soon cost him his life. But the self-serving actions taken by all of Rome’s leaders and by the people who supported their different factions would lead to increasing violence and bloodshed across the known world and, within a few decades, to the end of the Roman Republic. Fifteen years earlier than the action of Shakespeare’s play, Caesar passed landgrant legislation designed to bring relief to Roman military veterans and the urban poor. The strong objections of old-guard Roman aristocrats against the bill and the political chicanery they used to try to block it were based on political self-interests and aimed at keeping Caesar from increasing his popularity and power base. Caesar’s situation in 45 and 44 B.C. even in antiquity stood out as a case study of the pitfalls of power politics. After defeating his rival Pompey’s army at the Battle of Munda in Spain on March 17, 45 B.C., Julius Caesar was named dictator, a title given to a leader in times of emergency. He is at the height of his power and popularity. He is not about to have a soothsayer with no political power or economic influence affect his life with a prophetic warning. So, Caesar dismisses it: “He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.” Caesar’s inattention cost him his life. One ancient source calculates that more than 80 conspirators were planning Caesar’s assassination. His opponents were senators who no longer ruled for the common good, if they ever had. They were joined by those who had grown rich with the support of senators and other government officials. They wanted their power and prestige back. They assassinated Caesar three days before he was scheduled to lead the Roman army to wage war against the Parthians in what we now call the Middle East. Our lives continue to suffer under complex problems that self-regarding political leaders refuse to solve. Let us at least heed the ides of March. Tom Palaima is a professor of classics at The University of Texas at Austin. Al Martinich is a professor of philosophy at The University of Texas at Austin.
Is “Being Beto” enough to win? Maybe, maybe not By Jim Henson and Joshua Blank
The question of whether Beto O’Rourke can raise vast sums of money in a national race has been answered by his first-day fundraising haul of $6.1 million. But a larger question still looms: Can the persona that propelled O’Rourke in Texas power a successful presidential candidacy?
based on policy and ideology. To be fair, O’Rourke associates himself with some substantive issues, though the two most prominent ones lead back to who he is rather than to a broader policy agenda. His opposition to Trump’s determination to build a wall on the southern border is clear but ultimately rooted in his origin story as an El Paso native. Similarly, his rejection of campaign contributions from political action committees carves out a position, but again, one rooted in his pose as a candidate rather than a clear agenda on campaign finance reform. These stances seem as much about “Being Beto” as they are about where the country should go.
Having stepped up to a significantly different political environment, O’Rourke will have to rely on more than “Being Beto” and add to the fundamental assets that fueled his 2018 campaign if he is to have a chance at victory in 2020. The challenges facing him in the Democratic presidential primary campaign differ significantly from the Texas Senate race. With Sen. Ted Cruz, he faced a candidate well-known but deeply disliked by Democrats in a nationalized off-year election defined by a first-term president who was even more reviled by the Democratic electorate. His free-wheeling, post-partisan brand provided the right contrast with both Democratic bêtes noires, and Texas Democrats exerted little pressure on O’Rourke to articulate extensive policy positions. This enabled the kind of ideological fuzziness that has emerged as one of the chief points of criticism against O’Rourke among the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. In his new incarnation as a presidential candidate, O’Rourke continues to offer himself up as something of a Democratic cypher — reflecting back the ideological wishes of his supporters in the name of rising above Democrats’ shared horror at our current politics. Although this worked in the shadow of the twin towers of Cruz and President Donald Trump, the primary campaign requires him to differentiate himself in a crowded and more accomplished field of fellow partisans. However, O’Rourke’s reliance on personality and presence coupled with vague policy positions makes him vulnerable to the assaults on his personal story that we are already seeing. The reality is that these criticisms over personal failings, real, perceived, or otherwise, seem all the more valid for a candidate who has relied so much on his personal brand. Successful attacks on that persona potentially exact a higher cost than they do on candidates whose assets include not only themselves, but fleshed-out appeals
O’Rourke is certainly not the only, nor perhaps even the best, Democratic candidate with the potential to unseat Trump should he become the presidential nominee. But the evidence strongly suggests that he has the best chance of making the presidential race in Texas competitive, which would fundamentally change the Electoral College map. It is still early, but Trump has a looser grip on Texas than any Republican candidate in recent memory. Although it is too early to make broad claims, a competitive Texas is much more likely with O’Rourke on the ballot given his superior name recognition and recent experience campaigning in the state. He lost by only 2.6 percentage points in a state where Democrats regularly lose by double-digit margins. But, if he’s to get the chance to be the democratic nominee, he first needs to do more than offering an attractively vague choice in a field of increasingly sharply defined alternatives to Donald Trump. Jim Henson is the director of the Texas Politics Project at The University of Texas at Austin. Joshua Blank is manager of polling and research of the Texas Politics Project at The University of Texas at Austin.
New exhibits. Reception Friday, April 12, 6-8pm: “Pioneer Painter.” Rose Chin Wong (1915-2012) was a prominent artist and owner of several East Austin grocery stores. She became well known for her naturalistic portraits of children in oils, pastel, and watercolor. She was also the wife and mother in one of the first Chinese families to settle Austin. “Heritage.” Rakhee Jain Desai combines the centuries-old textile dyeing technique, Batik, with the weight and texture ofoilsto push an Eastern art into a modern application. Using this process and the layering of images that the artist has collected throughout her lifetime: memories, hopes, travels and comments, either rejected or absorbed about being an Indian-American woman, Rakhee aims to understand and raise awareness about migration and assimilation. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day - Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. An annual worldwide event to send a wave of peaceful healing Qi around the world. Beginning in New Zealand at 10 a.m. in each time zone, ending in Hawaii. Free and open to the public. Open to all individual practitioners or schools of any style. All levels and ages welcome— beginners group available during Mass Tai Chi. worldtaichiday.org.
How election administration failures impacted hundreds of thousands of Texas voters
New exhibit - Con Cariño: Works by Tiffany Moreno (April 5- June 8). Con Cariño is an exploration of the natural tension between loss and healing. Humor and heartbreak are juxtaposed in imagery that feels both familiar and foreign. Strange characters and common objects are steeped in cultural iconography and playful phrases that create dissonance. But rather than a sheepish chuckle in an awkward situation, this work is meant to be tongue in cheek in the face of pain. New exhibit - El Muro y El Ocelote: Works by Yareth Fernandez (April 5- June 8). El Muro y El Ocelote is a solo exhibition exploring the environmental concerns raised by the proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. From endangered species to natural borders such as rivers and canyons, this work is inspired by science, biology, geography and investigative imagination. Saturday, April 13, 3-8 p.m. It’s time to celebrate La Mujer. We are teaming up with Frida Friday ATX to produce an incredible celebration of womxn inspired by the first feminist in the New World: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. This annual free event include artisans, authors, and musicians, in an afternoon full of performances and activities for all ages.
Although Texas’ overall turnout rate was still the eleventh lowest in the nation, these numbers mark a significant improvement from the recent past that we can all celebrate, regardless of party membership or ideology. Texans are energized and eager to participate in our democracy.
By Emily Eby, Texas Civil Rights Project
A wave of renewed civic engagement and democratic participation swept across the country during the 2018 midterm election, and Texas was no exception. The two years leading up to this election were a frenzy of activism, media coverage, political advertising, and social media activity. Voter registration surged to 79 percent of the citizen voting age population, the highest percentage in Texas since the 2004 presidential election. Of those registered in Texas, 53 percent turned out to vote (up 20 percent from the 2014 midterms and the highest in a Texas midterm election since 1970). Texas had the sixth largest turnout increase in the nation, outpacing the nationwide average turnout increase of 13 percentage points.
Nevertheless, the mechanisms of our democracy failed us. The 2018 Texas midterm election was characterized by re-energized civic engagement without the infrastructure to meet it. In fact, our data indicates that
On exhibit: “Constant Escape.” Founding members of the Austin based Black Mountain Project Adrian Aguilera, Betelhem Makonnen, and Tammie Rubin debut a body of work in sculpture, photography, text, and video, at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center. Through July 27. On exhibit: “Re-Membering is the Responsibility of the Living” is the work of New York-based, multi-disciplinary visual and performing artist Taja Lindley. Her mixed media installation will be on view through July 31. Moved by the non-indictments of the police officers responsible for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, Lindley draws parallels between discarded refuse and the violent treatment of Black people in the United States. The Bag Lady Manifesto: A Ritual of Re-Membering happens April 19 and 20. Liberation Technologies and Theologies Reading Group. Fusebox, in collaboration with the Carver, is launching Technologies and Theologies of Liberation, a monthly reading and discussion group designed to engage Austin-based artists, scholars, art enthusiasts, and people interested in exploring theoretical frameworks around blackness, identity, and creative practice. Joins us April 14, 2 - 4 p.m. Join Story Time with Angela Shelf Medearis Saturday, April 2, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
election administration failures reported to our Coalition affected, at a minimum, 277,628 voters —a number higher than the margin of victory in Texas’ closely watched Senate race.
machine malfunctions. One clear example is at least 753 voters were disenfranchised because Texas refuses to comply with the National Voter Registration Act.
The long-standing failures in Texas election administration infrastructure will grow more dire unless state and local governments address the problems as soon as possible. Texas’ election systems cannot handle even the previous baseline of voter turnout, much less the substantial increase we saw in 2018 and will likely see in 2020. Even with the advance notice provided by increased voter registration and higher voter turnout elsewhere in the country, Texas failed to establish the infrastructure necessary to conduct an efficient, fair, and pro-voter election in which voting is easy and reliable for every citizen who wants to cast a ballot.
In addition to detailing the concrete problems that voters faced, we also set out a blueprint for urgent reforms that policymakers at the local, state, federal can take to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot that counts. Three commonsense solutions that would go a long way towards addressing problems highlighted in our report include online voter registration, mandatory countywide polling places, and improved poll worker recruitment, training, and compensation
Texas Civil Rights Project’s Election Protection hotline received thousands of calls detailing issues faced by the record-breaking number of Texans who turned out to make their voices heard in the 2018 Midterm Election. Problems reported to our team included late poll openings, long lines at polling places, polling place problems on college campuses, early registration deadlines, noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act, provisional ballot problems, voter intimidation, and voting
Let’s be clear, even one voter who is disenfranchised by our state’s failure to modernize our election is one too many. There is no cost we shouldn’t pay to ensure that every eligible voter can participate in our democracy. There is an urgent need for Texas to reform its antiquated election infrastructure immediately. Texas is not ready for its next election. Without reform, our state faces the risk of a catastrophic breakdown in future elections, perhaps as soon as 2020. To access the full report, please visit texascivilrightsproect.org. TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 05
‘Words/Matter’ exhibition celebrates history and future of Latin America at the Blanton The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin presents “Words/Matter: Latin American Art and Language at the Blanton” through May 26, 2019. The exhibition examines how modern and contemporary Latin American and Latinx visual artists have engaged written language to make personal, political, and poetic statements. “Words/Matter” is drawn primarily from the Blanton’s extensive collection of Latin American art. The collection began in 1963, when the museum’s first director established a collecting priority that identified contemporary art from both North and South America. Since then, the Blanton has continued to focus on collecting, researching, and exhibiting Latin American art. In 1988, it was the first museum in the U.S. to establish a curatorial position devoted to this field. The collection now includes 2,500 works of modern and contemporary painting, prints, drawing, conceptual art, installation, video, and sculpture. “We are very proud to shed new light on the museum’s Latin American art program with exhibitions opening simultaneously at the Blanton and at the Reina Sofía in Madrid this winter,” said Blanton Director Simone Wicha. “The Blanton has long been a leader in this field and continues to build on its commitment to celebrating the unique art histories that have emerged from Latin America.” The 2019 Blanton Gala will honor the museum’s enduring innovation and engagement in the field and showcase the exhibition, organized by Beverly Adams, the Blanton’s curator of Latin American art, and Florencia Bazzano, the Blanton’s assistant curator of Latin American art. “We are thrilled to share Beverly’s brilliant scholarship with audiences both here in Austin and concurrently in another exhibition drawing from the Blanton’s Latin American collection that begins a world tour in Madrid this February and will conclude at the Blanton in 2020,” continued Wicha.
“Words/Matter” highlights the depth and breadth of the Blanton’s Latin American collection, featuring approximately 150 works in a variety of media, dating from the 1930s to the present. The exhibition will also debut recent gifts to the museum, including several works donated to the museum by the late Jacqueline Barnitz, an internationally recognized scholar of Latin American art and UT Professor Emerita, and a group of Chicanx prints given to the Blanton by Gilberto Cardenas, a collector of Latinx and Chicanx art and professor at UT from 1975 to 1999. “‘Words/Matter’ is a testament to the origins and future of the Blanton’s Latin American collection,” said Beverly Adams, curator of Latin American art and co-curator of the exhibition. “Bringing together works from the beginnings of the collection, such as Barbara Duncan’s seminal gifts of South American paintings, which came to the museum in 1971, with more recent gifts from collectors Charles and Judy Tate, ‘Words/Matter’ showcases the Blanton’s deep ties to artists, scholars, collectors, and others working and interested in Latin America.” Several key loans in the exhibition demonstrate the strong campus partnerships that continue to position UT and the Blanton at the forefront of this field. A collection of sculptural poems, as well as several Chicanx protest prints from the 1970s, are featured in the exhibition and are on loan from the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, the largest university research collection focused on Latin America in the U.S. “Organizing this exhibition allowed us to present our collection of Latin American art in a new way, organized around a significant theme: visual artists’ enduring interest in language and the written word,” said Florencia Bazzano, Blanton assistant curator of Latin American art and co-curator of the exhibition. “‘Words/Matter’ calls attention to the inventive and subversive aesthetics of artist’s books, poems, socially engaged printmaking, and conceptualist practices, revealing the powerful messages that emerge from the convergence of art and language.” The exhibition has six sections that examine the varying ways artists made written language a key aspect of their work: Alphabets, Between Poetry and Prose, Concrete Poetry, The Shape of Language, Fighting Words and Between the Lines. Antonio Caro, Colombia CocaCola, 2010, enamel on tin.
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Black Fret announces 2019 nominees Black Fret, a public charity headquartered in Austin whose mission is to empower musicians to create and perform great new music, has announced its sixth class of artists. The 2019 nominees are A. Sinclair, Altamesa, Beat Root Revival, Black Pumas, Cari Hutson & Good Company, Cilantro Boombox, Dave Scher, Dr. Joe, Erika Wennerstrom, Go Fever, Good Field, Jonathan Terrell, Ley Line, Superfonicos, Sydney Wright, The Texas KGB, The Watters, Think No Think, Tje Austin, and Western Youth. Founded in 2013, the organization is an innovative evolution of the age-old symphony patronage model that is focused on supporting popular Cilantro Boombox. Photo by Michael Weintrob.
Black Pumas. KUTX Photo.
local music. Black Fret’s limited membership seeks to build an endowed institution capable of sustaining more than a million dollars a year in grants to Austin musicians. Black Fret Members gain access for two to over 20 unique performance events each year, pay annual dues to fund artist grants and performances, and are eligible to participate in the Artist Selection Process.
‘Carnavalia!’ and ‘Pohela Boishakh’ Pack up your friends and family, bring a picnic, and be prepared to dance April 6 at Zilker Hillside Theater. Austin Samba and friends will bring the captivating sounds and dances of Brazil for its 2019 show: Carnavalia! The show features more than 80 performers performing to music by Beth Carvalho, Os Tribalistas and more. Attendees are invited to come early for a preshow dance lesson beginning at 6:45 p.m. and stay late to dance away the evening. Show time is 7 p.m. Presented by the City of Austin’s Division of Museums and Cultural Programs, and the Zilker HIllside
Over the next decade, Black Fret will fund hundreds of bands and thousands of new songs while building a new Austin institution capable of supporting the sustained artistic, cultural and economic growth of Austin and the artists who call our city home. For more information, visit blackfret.org.
Sydney Wright. Photo by Letitia Smith. Tje Austin
Black Fret grants are directed by a yearlong Artist Selection Process, where Members nominate exceptional artists, gather to see them perform in interesting venues all over the city, and vote to allocate grants awarded at the spectacular Black Fret Ball in December. Black Fret grant recipients unlock their grant dollars by writing, recording and performing new music and by providing community services to other area nonprofits. To date, Black Fret has
Zilker Hillside Theater Presents:
awarded over $1 million in grants to local Austin artists. These grants have resulted in 646 U.S. tour dates, 328 songs written, 329 songs recorded, 151 charitable performances, 137 songs and videos released and 88 international tour dates. In addition to their grants, all Black Fret nominees have continued access to one-on-one mentoring from Black Fret’s Advisory Board, which consists of some of Austin’s top music industry leaders.
Theater. For more information email ZHTInfo@ austintexas.gov On April 13 (rain date is April 14), the Texas Bengali Cultural Alliance presents the South Asian New Year Festival, an annual outdoor celebration showcasing the culture and diversity of South Asia. Now in its 18th year, The South Asian New Year Festival draws over 5,000 people each year. The South Asian New Year, or “Pohela Boishakh,” is based on a solar calendar introduced in North India over 400 years ago by the Mogul Emperor Akbar. Corresponding to the harvest and the beginning of the financial year, the new year is a seminal event in South Asian social and cultural life. It is a time of happiness and joy, and for celebrations and feasting. In Central Texas, the rapidly growing South Asian community has enthusiastically kept its traditions alive, sharing its heritage with the community at large. The Hillside Theater Stage will feature live dance and music performances along with authentic programs highlighting the colorful diversity of South Asian Culture. Off stage, visitors will be enticed to enjoy the wonderful foods and merchandise available in the Bazaar. With food, ethnic clothing, jewelry, crafts, henna and more, this festival has all the ingredients to represent the rich tapestry of South Asian culture. For more information visit sasianfest.com.
Go Fever. Photo by Ismael Quintanilla.
iACT’s 2019 Hope Awards return to the Bullock Texas State History Museum On Tuesday, April 30, Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) will continue the tradition of hosting the Hope Awards, one of the most uplifting nights of the year in Austin. This year’s event will take place at The Bullock Texas State History Museum and will celebrate iACT’s many years of service to Central Texas. The evening will feature an intimate conversation about friendship and giving back with two inspiring givers, Earl Maxwell and Bobby Jenkins, moderated by Rev. Joseph Parker. “This year’s focus on friendship and giving is timely--learning how to be better neighbors in the spirit of generosity is the best antidote to the spirit of fear, ” said Rev. Stephen Kinney, co-chair of the event. “The Hope Awards teach that whatever we have been given is supposed to be given away again, not kept.” The Hope Awards is iACT’s major fundraiser for their community service programs. These programs include Hands on Housing, which repairs the homes of low-income seniors
and people with disabilities, the iACT for Refugees program, which provides basic English instruction and other supportive services to newly-arrived refugees from around the world, the Red Bench dialogue program, which encourages important and meaningful conversations among individuals from diverse backgrounds and the Passport Program, which gives participants the opportunity to travel to the houses of worship and various community celebrations of many different faith traditions. iACT’s work centers around inclusion, peace and respect among all faith communities. Their programs strive to be an example of what it looks like to live in harmony and inclusion with one another. “iACT brings people together to celebrate the goodness we share with the world, ” Executive Director at iACT Simone Talma Flowers said. “We need to come together in good times.” At this year’s Hope Awards, iACT will recognize individuals and organizations from Austin who have proven their commitment to strengthening the community through their words and actions. More information at interfaithtexas.org. TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 07
Jazz in the Park makes its way from New Orleans to Austin New Orleans’ most significant weekly cultural concert series, Jazz in the Park, is coming to Austin April 7. Jazz in the Park is bringing its music and Cajun food show to Austin with a twist. The show will incorporate Austin’s best bands and food as part of the entertainment to create a Jazz in the Park Nola/Austin culture bonanza. Jazz in the Park Nola/Austin will incorporate Austin’s choirs, dance troupes and local bands, and will merge with New Orleans culture. This includes second line parades, Mardi Gras Indians and New Orleans bands, blending into a show meant to provide a unique spiritual experience that will satisfy the soul. To kick things off right, the celebration will showcase a traditional New Orleans-style second line parade, featuring the Sudan Social Aide and Pleasure Club and the All For One Brass Band. Jazz in the Park will also highlight Austin’s Minor Mishap Marching Band, a 30-piece marching band, along with The All For One Brass Band.
One of New Orleans’ most unique local expressions of culture, second line parades are the descendants of the city’s famous jazz funerals and, apart from a casket, mourners and a cemetery visit, they carry many of the same traditions with them as they march down the streets. Straight from the French Quarter, Austin will see its own take on this Nola staple. The parade will include a brass band, jubilant dancing in the street and members decked out in a wardrobe of brightly colored suits, sashes, hats and bonnets, parasols and banners, melding the pomp of a courtly function and the spontaneous energy of a block party, albeit one that moves a block at a time.
alligator, muffuletta, andouille, and beignets, plus the best barbecue and Mexican cuisine from Austin. Guests will be able to wash it all down with a variety of cold beers from Austin while enjoying national recording artists providing diverse cultural musical entertainment. The event will be completed with arts and crafts including art, jewelry and sculpture on display and available for purchase. For seven straight years, People United for Armstrong Park, the proud producer of “Jazz
In addition to music and fun, “Jazz in the Park” will be a culinary experience that features Cajun delicacies prepared by authentic Louisiana-inspired chefs and Austin’s local chefs. Guests at the series are in for a real treat as they feast on fresh crawfish straight from Louisiana, jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, on October 17, 7:30 p.m. (rain date October 24). Austinites are invited to join APF for these fun and relaxing evenings under the Austin night sky. Blankets, lawn chairs, picnics, and dogs on-leash are welcome, and every Movie in the Parks screening will be accompanied by local food trucks and opportunities to win APF merchandise. Glass and styrofoam containers are not permitted in any of the parks.
Austin Parks Foundation is excited to announce the 2019 schedule for Movies in the Park, a series of free films shown outdoors in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Rolling Roadshow and presented by H-E-B. This year’s Movies in the Park series will visit nine different parks throughout the city, and the lineup is filled with favorites from the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s.
APF has partnered with local organizations to help make a few of the summer screenings extra special. The Texas Playboys Baseball Club and RBI have teamed up for baseball-themed activities ahead of the screening of “Angels in the Outfield” at the newly renovated Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park on June 20. Zilker Hillside Theatre will help bring “The Little Mermaid” to 08 TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM
The event runs from 1 - 8 p.m. For more info visit jazzintheparkatx.com or call at 225284-3658.
The second line will start at Austin City Hall’s plaza and will parade down on Guadalupe Street all the way to Republic Square. Second lines are an integral part of the Jazz in the Park experience and will lead attendees to the main stage, where they can enjoy Austin/ New Orleans top bands, as well as the Gospel Tent, where folks can get uplifted through song and dance.
Austin Parks Foundation announces 2019 Movies in the Park series
“We’re so excited for this year’s lineup, which features a variety of nostalgic classics that we hope will bring the Austin community out to enjoy their neighborhood parks with their friends and families,” said Colin Wallis, CEO of Austin Parks Foundation.
in the Park,” has highlighted New Orleans music, food and culture. This year, support from the City of Austin, a media partnership with Visit Austin, and sponsorship from Downtown Austin Alliance and the Urban League are contributing to the inaugural Austin event.
life prior to the screening at Dove Springs Park on May 23. The series kicked off March 29 at Northwest District Park with a screening of the Spielberg classic, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” The full 2019 schedule for Movies in the Park is as follows: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” at Northwest District Park on March 29, 8 p.m. (rain date April 4); “Zoolander” at Zilker Park (Monkey Tree) on April 12, 8:15 p.m., (rain date April 19); “The Road
to El Dorado” at Dick Nichols Park on May 3, 8:15 p.m., (rain date May 9); “The Little Mermaid” at Dove Springs Park on May 23, 8:30 p.m. (rain date May 30); Clueless at Palm Park on June 6, 8:45 p.m. (rain date June 13); “Angels in the Outfield” at Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park on June 20, 8:45 p.m. (rain date June 27); “Space Jam: at Martin Middle School Fields on July 11, 8:45 p.m. (rain date July 18); “Freaky Friday” at Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Park on September 13, 8 p.m. (rain date September 20); “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” at Duncan Neighborhood Park
Founded in 1992, Austin Parks Foundation is dedicated to partnering with our community to enhance people’s lives by making our public parks, trails and green spaces better through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy, and financial support. APF is focused on creating equitable access to great parks for all Austinites and helps fill the City’s funding and resource gap in order to develop and maintain Austin’s 300+ parks. APF fosters unique public/ private partnerships and, since 2006, has given over $3 million in community-initiated grants in service to the greater Austin community. APF is known for its annual flagship volunteer event, It’s My Park Day, and is a presenting partner and beneficiary of the popular Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Metropolitan Park. For more information, please visit austinparks.org. For more information on the Movies in the Park series and updates on any changes to the schedule, please visit austinparks.org/movies.
To Do Música
Free” on Soundcloud and read more about him at oscarornelas.com. --The Spanish Governors Palace and The Battle of Medina Historical Society (Dan Arellano) invite you to attend the 11th Annual “Founding of the First Texas Republic,” now to be known as “Tejano Independence Day.” Commissioner Dan Arellano states the mission is to preserve, protect and promote Tejano history, and this is to be a historical and educational event, including food, a lecture and Tejano Music featuring Leonard Davila and Street People, Jorge Tamayo and Friends, Johnny Gonzales and Ruben Ramos and The Mexican Revolution. Saturday, April 6 from 4 -8 p.m. at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street. --Castaneda presents “T.R.U.T.H.,” an urban/R&B/ blues/soul release from Gold Man Records. Raul Hernandez - Bass/Vocals, Bryce Kelley - Drums, Chris Castaneda - Guitar/Vocals. This new music presents lyrics that move your inner soul with happiness, real life struggles and simply the truth. Read more on chriscastanedamusic.com. R E C O M M E N D E D S H O W S
By Liz Lopez
BROWN
SOUND
NEWS
The Texas state musicians are selected for oneyear appointments by the Texas Poet Laureate, State Musician and State Artist Committee. Last month, multiple Grammy winner Little Joe Hernandez from was named the 2019 Texas State Musician and the title was official by the Legislature and the Texas Commission on the Arts on March 25. He will be headlining the first night of this year’s Fiesta de la Flor (Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13) in Corpus Christi. --“Nicky Jam has gone Norteño! Sort of…” and that is how Son de Rey describes the celebration of the re-release of their single, “El Amante,” a cover of the Nicky Jam hit single with a Tejano Twist. The song was arranged by David Moreno in collaboration with Grammy Winner Fabian Hernandez, Armando Aussenac, and Raphael Flores. The video features Son de Rey’s lead vocalist Luis Miguel Ramírez, accompanied by Deborah Moreno, at Richard Moya Park in Austin. The video was filmed by Austin Kilcullen and produced by Ramirez. More information on the artist’s Facebook page. --Superfonicos are on the list of the Black Fret nominees 2019. “We’re so thrilled and honored to make the nominee list for Black Fret this year!,” they stated. “A big thanks to all the voting members and everyone who continues to support Superfónicos. Pa’lante mi gente!” Among other shows coming up, they will be performing at the Taco Libre festival on April 27 at the Dallas Farmers Market, on the same bill with Austin’s Bidi Bidi Banda, among others scheduled. --The first annual Margarita and Taco Festival will feature live music, with scheduled bands including Vallejo as the headliner at 6:45 p.m., as well as Conjunto Dominate and Grupo Vidal earlier in the afternoon. Saturday, April 6, from 12 noon to 8 p.m. at the Round Rock Premium Outlets, 4401 North Interstate Highway 35. Tickets start at $10. The festival brings the combination of food, music, shopping and fun for 21-and-up patrons. Full festival details and music line up at margaritaandtacofestival.com. --The 15th annual Fiesta del Mariachi will be featuring Ballet Folklorico Tonantzin (6:30 p.m.); Mariachi Los Gavilanes (7 p.m.); Mariachi Cielo Azul (8 p.m.) and Austin’s Mariachi Relampago (9 p.m.) on Saturday, April 27 in Lockhart (Dr. Eugene Clark Library, 217 South Main Street). Tickets are $5 per person. Children 10 and under are free. For more information, call the library at 512-398 – 3223. --Tejano Idol’s filmed auditions, hosted by the Austin Tejano Music Coalition, began in March and the schedule for more monthly auditions will be available soon. This is the ninth year they continue
Mia Garcia by Chris Garcia
Jonas Alvarez Band will perform Saturday, April 6
from 6 – 8 p.m. at Café Mueller by H-E-B, 1801 E 51st Street. --Rosie Flores concert on Friday, May 3 at 290 Vinery, located at 300 W Main St (HWY 290) in Johnson City. Cook your protein of choice on the giant grill beginning at 5 p.m., then enjoy some fine music by Rosie from 7 to 9 p.m. Price includes all the sides for your dinner and ticket information can be found at 290vinery.com. --Huerta Culture plays the last Sunday of the month at Craft Pride and will be mixing cumbia, ska, reggae, hip-hop, blues, rock, and Balkan influences to create a sound that has been dubbed ‘psichocumbia’... with songs in English, Spanish, and Quechua (an indigenous language of Bolivia). 61 Rainey Street. --Yayo Castillo invites you to make plans to party with Grupo Rumores on Saturday, April 6 at The Texas Club, 4914 Burleson Road. They are also working on a brand new single and plan to make it available on iTunes and Spotify soon. For updates, visit Yayo’s Facebook page. --Check out T. Tex Edwards’ first Thursday early show April 4, 7 - 9 p.m. at the Carousel Lounge, 1110 E 52nd Street.
to search for new and amazing vocal talent. The competition is similar to other singing contests, and Tejano Idol has cash prizes for first, second and third place finalists in the fall, aside from recording opportunities with Freddy Records and Hacienda Records. For more details about plans for San Antonio and other cities being considered, send an email to austintejanomusic@yahoo. com to reach Aggie Saldana-Sanchez and visit austintejanomusiccoallition.com. --Check out Mia Garcia’s newest release now on Spotify in celebration of earning a Tejano Music Award at 11 years young. “Si Yo Puedo, Tu Puedes!” Listen on https://spoti.fi/2Ymd9XL. --The event “DIANA + Entre Amigos” will open with the screening of the documentary “DIANA,” directed by Elias A. Hinojosa, in honor of the Colombian singer-songwriter Diana Naranjo and her musical history in East Austin. For three months the filmmaker accompanied Diana through many different venues and concerts, capturing numerous musical and personal moments in nine minutes of art. After the screening, enjoy a Bohemian night “Entre Amigos” with voice, guitar and the original themes of Diana Naranjo, as well as other songs that have inspired and nurtured her as an artist. She will be accompanied by Carlos Ufret. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Take your own beverages. Tickets $15 in advance/ $20 at the door. Esquina Tango Austin, 209 Pedernales Street. Visit the artist and the venue’s Facebook pages for more. --Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Oscar Ornelas will release a new album, “Some Gospel,” in June. You can hear his new song “Happy to be
Little Joe Hernandez TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 09
Austin Music Office news Creative Space Assistance Program Eligibility Deadline Extended! The Creative Space Assistance Program eligibility deadline has been extended to Friday, April 5. The program will provide direct support to qualifying creative organizations facing temporary or permanent displacement, or to those previously displaced. To build on the success of the 2018 Pilot—the Arts Space Assistance Program, which exclusively benefited arts nonprofits—2019’s Creative Space Assistance Program will provide grants to qualifying for-profit live music venues, performance spaces, and art galleries, in addition to arts-focused nonprofits. This year’s program budget is $750,000. For more information, visit austintexas.gov/csap. City Hall Sessions: Preztigio The City of Austin is incredibly proud of our local music culture. Live music is included at every regular City Council meeting. These selected performers are bestowed the honor of a “Proclamation Day” with an accompanying certificate. The latest episode of City Hall Sessions features
Mexican food truck with plenty of amor to give
Austin-Travis County to launch Census campaign to protect millions of dollars of federal funding
By Hye June Park
Austin’s own Alicia’s Tacoriendo adds something extra to their food--amor. Max Varela, owner of Alicia’s Tacoriendo, cooks all of the meals with passion and love for great tasting food. Alicia, who is famous in Mustang Ridge for tamales, is Varela’s mother. The restaurant uses Alicia’s recipes. His local, familyowned business specializes in authentic Mexican food from Monterrey, Mexico at an affordable price. He offers catering for any type of occasion or venue, along with readily available tamales made to each client’s delight. “I have worked alongside my mother at many food vending festivals and events,” Varela said. “My mother has over 30 years in the food serving industry and owned her own food truck. I want to provide opportunities for my family as we continue to grow.” The community that visits his food truck receives the love he puts in every dish. Although he had experience before, it was not easy to establish and promote his business. To 10 TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM
solve the problem, Economic Growth Business Incubator helped him refine his business plan and provided him ideas on marketing. More importantly, they continue to offer him business advice and counseling. By completing the EGBI small business workshop series, he was eligible for a free year’s membership to the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Being part of the GAHCC will give his business more exposure to potential customers. Alicia’s Tacoriendo is located at 8503 Hillmoore Dr. For more information about the food truck, please visit facebook.com/aliciastacoriendo. EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers of language, finances, and knowledge. For more information on Economic Growth Business Incubator, visit egbi.org.
A campaign to make sure everyone in the City of Austin and Travis County is counted in the 2020 Census was launched April 1. Every ten years the U.S. Census Bureau oversees a survey of the whole country to determine population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Next year, between March and July, individuals will be able to respond online, by phone, or by mail. The Census information guides the allocation of more than $800 billion in federal funding to programs across the U.S. that are crucial to the well-being of families and communities. If Texas residents are undercounted by even 1 percent, Texas could lose at least $300 million per year. If people in Austin and Travis County go uncounted then the community could lose significant funding for Medicaid, Medicare, State Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), Section 8 Housing, Head Start, National School Lunch
a performance and interview with local band, Preztigio. The band formed in 2013 by founding members Rafael and Jose when they were growing up as childhood friends. Preztigio’s mission is to influence our community and the world with a harmonic connection through their music.
Cultural Heritage Festival Programs Application Open Applications are now open for the Cultural Heritage Festivals Program. The Cultural Heritage Festivals Program is open to incorporated, tax exempt, 501c nonprofit organizations residing in Austin or its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction. Individual artists and other arts organizations may apply under the umbrella of a 501c organization. Project activities must involve the marketing, production, presentation, and funding of a culturally specific festival open to both residents and tourists. Deadline is 11:59 p.m. May 1. Join in at the next Music Commission Meeting The community is invited to join the next meeting of the Music Commission on April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street. Program, Special Education Grants and highway planning and construction. Counting everyone can be logistically challenging. Very young children, immigrants, people who live in rural areas, people of color, people who move residences more frequently, and people who face language barriers, are often harder to count. This year campaigners are concerned about a potential addition of a citizenship question added to the Census. This decision is pending and awaiting response from the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, the underfunding of the Census Bureau and changing demographics in the State could add up to a significant undercount for Texas. During the first week of April, the City of Austin and Travis County joined other local communities across the country as part of a national day of action to promote the importance of the Census to everyone in the community. Over the next year, the two authorities will join forces alongside the newly formed AustinTravis County Complete Count Committee to raise awareness about the importance of the Census and get as many people as possible to participate.
CELEBRATING DIVERSIT Y
Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt JCC COMMUNITY HALL Hindu Charities for America and the Austin Jewish Community are coming together for the seventh annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt on Sunday, April 7 from 4 - 7 p.m. This multicultural event provides an evening filled with fun, food and entertainment—all for a noble cause. This year, the audience will enjoy Dances of India, featuring a showcase of various regional performances. Attendees will savor a wide array of local Indian vegetarian culinary delights, Jewish desserts and chai tea. All event proceeds will benefit homeless children in the Austin area so they can receive school supplies for the upcoming school year. Two sponsorship levels are available. A $200 sponsorship includes two tickets, organization or individual’s name in the program, and online marketing via email, website and Facebook. A $500 sponsorship will provide a reserved table for 10 people—bring your friends, family, colleagues, and customers— as well as listing in the program materials. HC4A was founded in 2010 and was conceived for the purpose of providing communities across the U.S. an opportunity to serve where they live. Since 2010, it has been serving the Austin metro area with donations of school supplies to homeless children in Austin. HC4A’s mission is to bridge income disparity through education. In March, as part of its mission to give back to local communities, HC4A awarded a total of $105,000 in vocational training scholarship checks benefitting economically disadvantaged students at Austin Community College, Independent School Districts in Manor, Austin, Hutto and Florence, Capital Idea, Central Texas Veterans, PelotonU, Apoyando a nn Angel and other organizations. This award is one of the largest amounts raised by an Asian American group for scholarships in Austin, and will provide $500 and $1,000 vocational tuition awards for students seeking vocational training to develop skills leading to job and career opportunities. Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt will be held at JCC Community Hall, located at 7300 Hart Lane. Tickets are free for kids under 6-years old, $10 for kids ages 6-12 and $30 for adults— price includes dinner and entertainment. Festive Indian attire is encouraged. For ticket purchase and more information, visit hc4a.org or email info@hc4a.org.
BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin
Taste of Mexico
Poets from around the world, country and all of Texas gather for four days of live performances, readings and workshops during the Austin International Poetry Festival, April 4 -7. AIPF provides an inclusive, diverse, multi-generational environment welcoming the broadest possible audience of poets and non-poets alike in appreciation of the spoken and written word. aipf.org. Central Texas’ signature music event, Old Settler’s Music Festival, returns April 11-14 with Grammy-winning Americana, arts and crafts, camping, food and libations. Acoustic jazz, blues and bluegrass are all performed by old-time local favorites and award-winning international artists. Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlile are part of the 2019 lineup. oldsettlersmusicfest.org. The Fourth Annual Indie Meme Film Festival is taking place April 14, and 26-28 at AFS Cinemas. Founded by two visionary women, Alka Bhanot and Tripti Bhatnagar, IMFF showcases culturally diverse and socially relevant independent films from South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and more. The awardwinning festival will bring filmmakers from across the world to the heart of Austin. indiememe.org. On April 15 - 24, Austin Fashion Week showcases the work of fashion designers, photographers, hair stylists, makeup artists and models from around the state of Texas with over a hundred including runway shows, designer meet-and-greets, themed parties and benefits for Austin non-profits. The event happens at multiple locations throughout the city. afw.fashionxaustin.com Fusebox Festival is a hybrid arts festival that champions adventurous works of art in theater, dance, film, music, literature, visual and culinary arts. The festival takes place over five days, April 17-21, all over the city. Hundreds of local, national and international artists across all disciplines converge for one of the most unique cultural events in the country. fuseboxfestival.com. Scheduled April 19-21, the 26th Annual Reggae Festival brings the world’s best dub music plus conscious community involvement to Auditorium Shores. A threeday wristband ($45) allows attendees to leave and reenter the park. Single day tickets ($15 Friday and Sunday and $25 Saturday) will not be allowed to re-entry. A portion of all ticket sales benefits the Central Texas Food Bank. austinreggaefest.com. Eeyore’s 56th Annual Birthday Party will be held April 27 at Pease Park. Live music, local beer, food, acrobats and costume contests surround this annual gathering of Austin’s most eclectic locals. The children’s area opens 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and music runs 12 - 6 p.m. Eeyore’s Birthday serves as fundraiser to benefit local non-profits. Shuttle service available. eeyores.org.
MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM
Taste of Mexico 2019 returns on May 1 to celebrate the artistry and culinary arts of Austin and Mexico. This culturally conscious and historical celebration of Cinco de Mayo invites guests to generously sample creative cuisines from over 50 of Austin’s most eclectic and exciting restaurants, food trucks, and beverage purveyors. This year’s Taste of Mexico will explore the influence of Puebla in the Mexican culinary arts and will feature some of the top chefs, tequilas, and mezcales in Central Texas. Proceeds from Taste of Mexico benefit Mexic-Arte Museum’s art education programs, including the nationally recognized Screen It! Program, which introduces youth to basic screen printing techniques and careers in the art field. Screen It! received the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, a project of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities presented by Honorary Chairman, First Lady Michelle Obama. Mexic-Arte Museum is a nonprofit dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the collection, preservation and presentation of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latinx, and Latin American art and culture The Museum aims to promote dialogue and develop understanding for visitors of all ages. Since 1984, Mexic-Arte Museum has produced and presented cultural and educational programs for communities in Texas. Mexic-Arte Museum is one of the first museums in the U.S. to present Mexican and Mexican American art. Tickets prices are $65 for General Admission and $55 for Museum Members. VIP tickets are available for $80 and include a complimentary raffle ticket, entrance beginning at 5:30 p.m., and priority admission throughout the night. Members can email membership@ mexic-artemuseum.org to receive a special promotion code. Tickets are available exclusively online and will not be available at the door. To purchase tickets for Taste of Mexico 2019, please visit mexic-artemuseum.org. TODO AUSTIN // APR 2019 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 11
with violinist
Worlds
a Pa r t
William Hagen
Image: Leandro Katz, Ñ (detail), 1972, artist’s book with 15 off-set lithographs, 11 x 8 3/8 in. each, Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin, Gift of Jacqueline Barnitz, 2017
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ART TALK: Professor Doris Sommer, Harvard University Art, Narrative, and Social Justice Wednesday, April 3 • 7pm (RSVP required) ART ACTIVITY: Professor Doris Sommer, Harvard University Bookmaking Workshop Saturday, April 6 • 11am to 2pm (included with admission)
M usi c o f Dvorák an D M o z art
friday & saturday, april 12 & 13 William Hagen, violin n Peter Bay, conductor n Dell Hall concert at 8:00 p.m. n concert conversations with Bob Buckalew at 7:10 p.m.
ARTIST TALK: Leandro Katz: To the letter / Al pie de la letra Thursday, April 18 • 12 noon (FREE)
Worlds collide as the austrian Mozart and the czech Dvorák make a complementary pairing in this exciting program! Hear your aso perform Dvorák’s popular symphony no. 9, From the New World, and Mozart’s spirited violin concerto no. 4, performed by William Hagen on his 1732 “arkwright Lady rebecca sylvan” antonio stradivari! also hear Gioachino rossini’s fan favorite, the William Tell overture.
ART TALK: Dr. Gina Tarver, Assoc. Professor, Texas State University Words That Matter and Materials That Speak in Colombian Art Wednesday, May 1 • 12 noon (included with admission)
still want more? Enjoy activities like playing on stringed instruments, texting with aso staff and musicians using #aso108, and capturing a memory in front of our new photo wall!
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For details on the exhibition and these public programs, visit blantonmuseum.org/wordsmatter c o nc E rt s Po ns o r s
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All artists, programs, and dates subject to change without notice.
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