State of the ARTS

THE INSPIRATIONAL

side

OF AUSTIN

STATE OF THE

THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF AUSTIN’S ARTISTS

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October/November

CONTENTS

06

Publisher’s Note

08 Local

Tradgedy & Tribute

Learn why one local woman cherishes her strong ties to a long-standing community organization.

11

Art+Entertainment Under Pressure

One print press continues to serve the community with workshops, gallery space, and a chance to slow down.

29 Go+Do

6 Best Murals

Murals represent more than art; they act as a message and a voice.

37

Home+Away

Imaginative Interiors

Inspired by Gaudi's architecture, art history, and nature, a painter embraces her influences to create scenic interiors.

43

Sip+Taste El Camaron

An unexpected turn of events forced a couple to create a fresh, modern twist on an old family recipe.

Read more at eastsideatx.com

19

State of the Arts

Four female artists are leaning into their work and processes as a way to move towards a cause and inspiring others with their messages along the way.

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eastside | publisher's letter

Art-full Messages

H

Photo: Katie Wnukoski

ighlighting artists was one of the many reasons we started this magazine. We love local artists, and we are very proud of the culture from where the art begins. This particular issue exists to highlight the different issues facing the art community today. As the team gathered to curate this issue, we imagined how impactful art can be, we recalled how art is used as an instrument to impact era in time: to raise voices, to start movements, and to propel us toward hope for a better tomorrow. Throughout history, art has played a pivotal role in society. And this time is no different.

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These last six months have changed many of the ways we do business, and with our attention spans being pulled in a million different directions, it’s easy to miss the beauty of the arts that surrounds us daily. Please take a moment and notice local artists’ creations as you drive by your favorite coffee shop or search for something to adorn your walls. Rallying around artists can become a way for expressing, remembering, displaying love, unity, and pride while sending a strong message in a beautiful way. The power of art is amazing, and the four artists here range in mediums, inspirations, and causes.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting this local art community. Thank you for buying local art, and thank you for sharing the powerful message and the beauty that comes with it.

With that said, we would like to take a moment to appreciate some of our local artists. Eric Morales is our lead photographer and has been with us for over five years; he is one of the most talented and humble people we know, and his incredible talent has shone through every issue we have produced. Shelby Bella has been with us for three years, and just about everything in each issue that makes you go, “Ohh, I have to try that!” was probably composed by her. The other artists are our writers. It takes a special kind of storytelling to remain unbiased, authentic, and hopeful. We ask a lot of Jessi, Sam, and Chris, among others, and their creativity just keeps flowing. Ashley, “the editor,” is the all-around artist. There is not a page in the magazine that does not have her fingerprints on it; whether it’s writing or designing the magazine, she does it all. This magazine is made to be a work or art—something for which East Austin can be proud. And I hope, you as a reader, can feel that beaming from each page.

Thank you for reading, Will Bowling

ON THE COVER:

“Not A Punchline" by Dawn Okoro Acrylic on canvas, 36x36 inches From “Misogynoir/Resistance” series Print Price: $75.00 Signed and numbered limited edition giclée print. Printed on archival watercolor paper.

Edition size: 100

okorostudio.com/prints/not-a-punchline find more at eastsideatx.com

Austin, Texas 78702 eastsideatx.com

side

OF AUSTIN

THE RESILIENT

3317 Manor Road/Dharma-Yoga.net

EAST

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Publisher Nillo Studios, LLC Creative Director Will Bowling Publishing Editor Ashley Bowling Photo Editor Eric Morales Business Development Will Bowling

Contributing Writers Sam Lauron, Jessi Devenyns, Sean Saldana, Ben Haguewood, Alison Bryce, Chris Ferguson, Bethany Wales, Eric Morales, Justin & Kayla Butts Distribution Brian Phillips, Will Bowling Submissions info@eastsideatx.com Advertising advertise@eastsideatx.com

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Contributing Photographers Shelby Bella, Ashley Haguewood, Rachel Benevides

Copy Editor Pam Bowen Social & Web Joanna Fuller

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Copyright © 2016 Nillo Studios, LLC. EASTside Magazine is published by Nillo Studios, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.

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eastside | local

A few weeks later on April 18, on a utility box at the corner of Webberville Road and Pleasant Valley, a mural appeared honoring the youngest victim, Draylen Mason. The mural shows Draylen, a member of the East Austin College Prop orchestra, dressed in a tuxedo playing the double bass. The turquoise background and placement at one of East Austin’s busiest intersections make the artwork nearly impossible to miss.

The mural is the work of local street artist Michael Johnston. Before becoming a full-time artist, Michael spent over a decade as an educator, and this is part of why Draylen’s story spoke to him.

Michael says, “Being a teacher for twelve years, I connected with the fact that this was a youth who had a lot of promise.” Before putting the poster up, Michael asked himself, “Where would [Draylen’s] community most appreciate this?”

He noticed that there was an electric box about half a mile away from the church where Draylen’s funeral service was held. Thus, the location to honor such a young man was selected.

He put the poster up early one morning, fearing that someone might have a negative reaction and attempt to deface the mural.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Tragedy & Tribute

Celebrating the Life of Draylen Mason

Sean Saldana PHOTO BY Will Bowling

WORDS BY

In 2018, tragedy struck Austin, Texas, when two people were killed in a series of serial bombings. A month after his death, a mural honoring the youngest victim, 17-year-old Draylen Mason, appeared overnight in East Austin.

8 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

O

n March 2, 2018, Austin was thrown into a state of panic. A series of package bombs were scattered throughout the city, detonating at random. The first victim was 39-year old Anthony Stephan House who was killed at his northwest Austin home.

Ten days later, 17-year old Draylen Mason, East Austin College Prep student, was killed while his mother, Shamika Wilson, was injured when the second bomb exploded on their doorstep.

By March 19, after two more victims had fallen to the third and fourth bombings, police determined that the attacks were the work of a “serial bomber,” and a $115,000 reward was issued for information leading to arrest of the attacker.

The attacks all came to an end on March 21 when the attacker drove into a ditch and detonated a bomb on himself as SWAT was closing in on him. Excluding the killer, the bombings killed two and seriously injured four others.

find more at eastsideatx.com

The mural was immediately embraced by the community. Within just a few days, local news outlets were on the scene covering the mural.

There was massive support on social media, and Michael heard from Draylen’s family — including his mother, Shamika.

Two years after Draylen’s death, the mural has been incorporated into a virtual tour of East Austin, March 3 has been declared Draylen Mason Tribute Day, and a scholarship in Draylen’s honor has been established by the Austin Youth Orchestra.

Did You Know? The new KMFA location on Navasota Street will be home to the Draylen Mason Music studio. A fellowship has also been created in his name, The Draylen Mason Fellows Program, which is a full-scholarship initiative

by Austin Soundwaves to assist in the musical and personal developments of high school musicians.

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Art+ entertainment

Oct +Nov 2020

12 inspired

art

A CALLIGRAPHER FINDS HER VOICE IN A NEW FOUND ART.

14 entertainment

HOW ONE LONGTIME AUSTIN INSTITUTION HAS OFFERED A SPACE FOR COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION FOR LOCAL ARTISTS FOR THREE DECADES.

eastside | art

F

ollowing a period in her life where she says her “soul didn’t feel like it was on fire,” Stephanie turned to a book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert to realign her creative desires. Upon finishing the book, she felt she must act on her impulse to live a more artistic life, and, having always been drawn to the beauty of letters, she decided to give calligraphy a try.

Inspired Art

In Pursuit of Creative Callings WORDS BY

Sam Lauron Morales

PHOTOS BY Eric

Stephanie Bernard has always felt the need to create. But it wasn’t until she made the leap into running her own creative business, Ivelisse Designs, that she received the fuel she needed to fully explore her artistic calling.

12 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

find more at eastsideatx.com

Stephanie committed to practicing calligraphy every day for three weeks. Shortly after, without hesitation, Ivelisse Designs was born.

Ivelisse Designs—which officially launched in December 2018—initially began as a calligraphy business geared toward the wedding industry. But the business shifted, although in a positive way, when the pandemic hit.

“When COVID happened, it was a blessing in disguise,” says Stephanie. “Since I couldn’t work on the weddings I had lined up, I started creating more things that I felt like creating.” She adds, “I’m so quick to create for other people, but it’s harder to create for myself.”

With a chance to step back from her calligraphy designs, Stephanie allowed herself the space to process her feelings and freely create from the heart. She started with a drawing of herself and ended up with five other women

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who are longtime friends or have made a big impact on her life. “I wanted to make a collection during a time when I didn’t feel very empowered,” she explains, “and each of these women possess a quality that’s empowering to me.”

Together, these drawings made up the Mujer collection, Stephanie’s first series of art prints. With influence from the Dominican dolls she grew up seeing in her home, the faceless black and white outlines of female figures represent more than just the inspiring women in her life. They are a celebration of women everywhere.

“I didn’t give the women a face because I wanted every woman to see themselves in it,” Stephanie explains.

For anyone who dreams of following their desires and creating something of their own in the steadfast way Stephanie has—whether that’s a business, an art collection, or even a new hobby—her advice is to just do it.

“Start exactly where you are,” she encourages. “Trust that you have your own gems, and you’re on a search to find them.”

Contact:

ivelissedesigns.com @ivelissedesigns

Like many, Stephanie found herself wanting to contribute to the Black Lives Matter movement in a more meaningful way than just signing petitions and making personal donations. So she leaned on her designer roots and created a Black Lives Matter shirt to help spread the message and donate the proceeds to different organizations.

Shirts can be purchased at her online shop.

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eastside | entertainment

The Show Must Go On Flatbed Press will host two workshops in October. The first will be a course on monotyping on Oct. 10-11 where attendees will learn to create monotypes using an experimental layering process.

The second workshop will be on relief printmaking on Oct. 17-18.

Participants will be introduced to designing woodcut images and then transferring them onto a surface using a printing press.

Under Pressure “I Where Aspiring Printmakers Ink

WORDS BY Jessi

Devenyns PHOTOS BY Shelby Bella

Thirty-one years ago, Katherine Brimberry opened the doors to the first iteration of what would soon become an institution on Austin’s art scene. Thanks to the groundwork laid by the matriarchal patrons of Austin’s creative life like Clara Driscoll and Jane Sibley, Katherine arrived in Austin and was greeted by a thriving community of painters, musicians, sculptors and graffiti artists. What Austin did not have, however, was a home where aspiring printmakers could ink their unique contributions onto the creative capital.

14 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

wanted to have a community studio so that people, like myself who didn't have access to a press, would have a way to continue their practice in printmaking,” Katherine says.

However, bringing a community studio into being required Katherine teaming up with Mark L. Smith and merging visions to not only create a dual-purpose space where artists could produce artwork but also have gallery space to display their pieces and build a community around creating and appreciating art.

Over the years, this model developed into a tenuous balance where gallery blended into workspace, and community classwork found its way before patrons. However, that all changed when Flatbed moved to a 6,000 square foot studio with a physical and temporal separation between collaborating artists and the community crafters. Now, several etching presses are ensconced in a community press where members have 24/7 access to the facilities. Of course, the limitations of the moment require them to sign up for socially-distanced time slots.

The remainder of the studio space is dedicated to a gallery where Katherine curates exhibitions and a workshop space where connoisseurs of printmaking come to be coached through the process of etching, coating, and printing their imagery with the aid of a public print press. While workshops were paused for the majority of the summer, they picked up again in September, with limited capacity. Katherine explains how the in-person

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While the intricacies of an etched print can be mesmerizing and the mottled color on a sheet of paper emanate the unique beauty that is the hallmark of printmaking, Katherine says that the entire process can sometimes feel just outside of the artist’s control. However, she maintains that it is the unexpected hiccups that make printmaking such an enduring art form and primes the medium for those looking to express a momentary state of mind; much like thoughts, rarely are two prints identical. Katherine describes the process with affection, “You really get interested in what happens with the transfer; sometimes you have control over it, and sometimes you don't. And sometimes the things that are not controlled become the most interesting.”

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eastside | events

13THINGS WE LOVE IN

&

OCTOBER NOVEMBER

Steel Magnolias October 9- November 8

The Georgetown Palace Theater will create an enchanted evening with their outdoor production of Steel Magnolias. With lights hanging from the trees and the show beginning after sunset, the cast of Steel Magnolias will take the audience along for a journey with a group of women as they rely on friendship during difficult times.

Tickets are $34. 810 S Austin Ave.

| georgetownpalace.com

to accommodate groups of 10 or more. The class kit costs $40 and includes alcohol for three cocktails, mixers handcrafted by Contigo Catering, specialty garnish or cocktail fruit, and a recipe guide.

online event | contigodispatch.com

Texas Autism Bike Ride & Fun Run October 25, 7am-1pm

Inspirational Women's Event October 15, 22, & 29, 7:30-9pm

Join EASTside Magazine at The Cathedral for three separate evenings in October in support of local artists and musicians. Each Thursday will feature artists from atxGALS next to an intimate live music setting. Cocktails by Dulche Vida and swag bags by EASTside Mag will be provided to each guest. Reservations for 2-6 are required for the in-person event, and tickets start at $35 while virtual tickets are also available for those who prefer to pick up swag and catch the online version. The Cathedral is operating at 50% capacity with mask & sanitizing protocols enforced and temperature checks at the door to ensure the highest level of safety for the Austin community.

2403 East 16th St. | eastsideatx.com/womensevent2020

plore, and items will be available for purchase. online event |

crafthermarket.com

craftHER Market October 3-11, all day

More than 80 vendors will participate in craftHER’s virtual market.

Explore digital booths, sign up for virtual workshops, and order curated meals and cocktails for curbside pickup through craftHER from Emoji’s Grilled Cheese, Nixta Taqueria, and DrinkSlingersATX. The marketplace is free to ex-

16 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

Systema Praeternaturae

Now-November 30, 10am-6pm Dimension Gallery will take visitors on an artistic journey with its new exhibition, Systema Praeternaturae by Collin McIntyre. The exhibition is part of the ongoing Organism Series which explores imagined lifeforms with varied morphology. 979 Springdale Rd.,

Ste. 99 | dimensiongallery.org

Great American Beer Festival

October 16-17, Friday 7-10pm, Saturday 5:45-9:30pm Enjoy a virtual festival to discover interesting facts about beer during the Great American Beer Festival. With virtual festival speakers, giveaways, a downloadable tasting tip sheet, and more, the festival will teach even the most seasoned drinker something new. Festival passports are $20 per person and include access to the virtual event as well as national and local beer deals.

online event | greatamericanbeerfestival.com

Stir Crazy Cocktail Class

October 17, times vary Learn how to mix a classic gin martini, a dirty vodka martini, and a Mexican martini along with friends at Contigo’s Stir Crazy Cocktail Class. The course is taught live via Zoom and is made

find more at eastsideatx.com

Gather with fellow bikers and runners virtually for the 12th annual Texas Autism Bike Ride and Fun Run. Complete the race in your neighborhood and wear your event t-shirt, track your miles, and share videos and photos. All proceeds are used to fund programs and provide access to resources for families and adults living with autism in Texas. The bike race entry fee is $40, and the run is $25.

Add an additional family member for $10. autismbikeride.org |

online event

Texas Book Festival October 31- November 15

Book festivals must go on regardless of a pandemic. The Texas Teen Book Festival will take place virtually October 31-November 1, followed by children’s programming November 2-6. The adult festival will wrap up the book season November 6-15. In total,

the festivals will feature more than 125 authors. The virtual festival is free and interactive. online event

| texasbookfestival.org

The evening opens with Giovanni Gabrieli’s "Sonata 'pian’e forte" and ends with Mahler’s "Symphony No. 4 in G Major." Tickets for the virtual concert are $50. online

event | austinsymphony.org

Other Worlds Film Festival

December 3-6, times TBA

Blue Genie Art Bazaar

November 13-December 23, 10am-10pm Holiday festivals may look a little different this year, but that is no excuse to wait to find the perfect gift for loved ones. Visit the Blue Genie Art Bazaar to find gifts from over 200 artists. Don’t want to venture out? Visit the virtual shop online at any time. 6100 Airport Blvd. | bluegenieartbazaar.com

Austin’s one and only science fiction film festival is going virtual. Grab a Supernoval Badge for $143 to have access to the launch screening and special live streams, or purchase a Pulsar Badge for $99 to be included in all of the video live streams. online event | otherworldsfilmfest.com

} T N I R P { {Online} } l a i c o S {

Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller Sundays, 10am-2pm

Rule of Three

November 20, 7-9 pm Live performances are returning with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Pianist Antol Nel will perform Beethoven’s "Piano Concerto No. 2" virtually for fans to enjoy.

Sip, stroll, and buy local food at the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller. With a variety of fresh vegetables and artisan foods from local vendors, shoppers are sure to find the perfect dish to take home while supporting local Austin businesses. 4209 Airport

Blvd. | texasfarmersmarket.org/ mueller

‘Cold Beer and Country Music’ Album Release December 4, time TBA

Tune in to celebrate with local country artist Mark Willenborg as he releases his new album, Cold Beer and Country Music. With a sound that pays homage to Texas favorites like Willie Nelson, George Strait, and Waylon Jennings, Willenborg’s traditional style is easy listening for any country music enthusiast.

WORDS BY Alison

Bryce

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State of the

Words by Christopher Ferguson, AIA Photos by Eric Morales

IN A YEAR WITH LITTLE PRECEDENT, FOUR ARTISTS EMBODY THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF AUSTIN’S ART COMMUNITY. THEIR DIVERSE BODIES OF WORK SPAN GENERATIONS AND GEOGRAPHY, YET RESONATE WITH THE ETHOS OF A CITY – AND WORLD – CONFRONTING CHANGE.

{the inspirational side of austin}

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19

“I think people feel that some of what is going on in the world can be reflected in my work, even though my work was made before this year’s protests.”

Punk Noir Dawn Okoro

okorostudio.com | @dawnokoro

“I

had almost given up on art when I was offered a solo show at the Amon Carter Museum. It was the largest show I had ever had and a turning point in my life.”

Dawn Okoro is a Nigerian-American artist living in Austin. Enthralled by the world of fashion as a child growing up in Lubbock, Texas, her artistic roots can be traced back to her early paintings of fashion models. Unable to see people who looked like her in magazines, she began painting her own figures based on photographs she had as reference.

Childhood invesetigation and self-reflection have been integral to her evolution as an artist, thoughtfully developed into a process she calls “self-reflexivity” in which she critically examines the interior and exterior experiences that shape her everyday life.

Her body of work is expansive and diverse, but perhaps her most striking series is a series ti-

tled “Punk Noir,” a travelling solo exhibition of vibrant, large format paintings of Black people who embody the punk spirit.

She explains, “Punk is this movement that’s meant to be accepting of all kinds of people.

So, I wanted to paint people who had a ‘punk spirit,’ [people] who were self-expressive without worrying about what others would think.”

Rich hues of purple, orange, green, blue, and yellow acrylics set off an array of life-sized, expressive portraits of subjects who had posed for photographs. Metal leaf compositional accents both complement and erase the figures, contributing to their evocative nature. Taken individually, but especially as a collection, the work almost seems to vibrate with bold colors and kinetic forms.

Since the killing of George Floyd earlier this year sparked renewed calls for racial justice both nationwide and globally, Dawn has seen

{the inspirational side of austin}

increased interest in her work.

“I think people feel that some of what is going on in the world can be reflected in my work, even though my work was made before this year’s protests,” says Dawn.

“Rage,” from her 2016 series “Black and Yellow,” features the silhouette of a Black woman from the neck up. Her one visible eye radiates with acrimony under a furrowed brow, her short, tousled hair falling from her tilted head.

Her mouth is stretched open, bellowing to the sky.

On the topic of the increased attention to her work during a time of unrest, Dawn is thoughtful.

“I’m used to thinking of my art as a reaction to what I’m feeling at one time. But if my art, in and of itself, can inspire someone, I’m okay with that.”

eastsideatx.com

21

Contact:

hunter-ash.com hunter.s.ash@gmail.com @hunterash.art

Process Prowess Hunter Ash

“I

have a deep belief that we are designed to create things,” explains Hunter Ash, an emerging contemporary abstract impressionist painter with a background in graphic design.

Arriving in Austin in 2019 after completing her studies at Baylor University, Hunter has put that core belief into practice, producing a steady series of commissioned work deeply rooted in a meditative and personal process with both herself and her patrons.

Taken collectively, her work is at once ephemeral and diagrammatic, seemingly freewheeling with its use of form, scale, and color, yet organized by a subtle structural layering that lends a sense of gravity to otherwise disparate and complementary gestures. The result is an aesthetic that feels delightfully improvisational, yet also highly controlled.

22 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

hunter-ash.com | @hunterash.art When approaching a new piece Hunter notes, “I’m trying to speak to a memory or a moment. I try to uncover pieces of it; it’s kind of a dance. Does it need more depth or contrast?

Does it want to be a vast space or a simple, tranquil moment?”

Much of her work is oil-based “pour paintings” that require her to lay a canvas on the ground before pouring layers of diluted pigment onto the flat surface. The process is sporadic, spontaneous, and highly reactionary.

“Each act is in reaction to what I previously did. So, each mark speaks so loudly on its own that it informs the next step of the story, which then informs all future steps. The trick is knowing when to stop and not go any further.”

Hunter describes the process as liberating, especially when it yields something unexpected that informs something deeper within herself.

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“As much as my art is a vehicle to communicate to a viewer, this is also a process that’s about me and my ability to synthesize the world around me.”

When questioned about how the events of this year have affected her burgeoning career, she is quick to offer gratitude to her patrons and is thankful for Austin’s art community, at large.

She’s encouraged by the thought that art can be a resource for people in times of fear and uncertainty and sees opportunity in helping herself and others make sense of the broader world through her art.

She notes, “We all feel a mix of contradictory emotions right now. We’re not only missing our social lives but maybe also grateful to stay home. We’re fearful but thankful for more time around family. We don’t live in one season at a time. Exploring that with other people has been beautiful, and I consider it a gift that I hope serves others.”

Feature: Hunter A “

I have a deep belief that we are designed to create things,” explains Hunter Ash, an emerging contemporary abstract impressionist painter with a background in graphic design.

Arriving in Austin in 2019 after completing her studies at Baylor University, Hunter has put that core belief into practice, producing a steady series of commissioned work deeply rooted in a meditative and personal process with both herself and her patrons.

Taken collectively, her work is at once ephemeral and diagrammatic, seemingly freewheeling with its use of form, scale, and color, yet organized by a subtle structural layering that lends a sense of gravity to otherwise disparate and complementary gestures. The result is an aesthetic that feels delightfully improvisational, yet also highly controlled.

When approaching a new piece Hunter notes, “I’m trying to speak to a memory or a moment. I try to uncover pieces of it; it’s kind of a dance. Does it need more depth or contrast? Does it want to be a vast space or a simple, tranquil moment?”

Much of her work is oil-based “pour paintings” that require her to lay a canvas on the ground before pouring layers of diluted pigment onto the flat surface. The process is sporadic, spontaneous, and highly reactionary.

“Each act is in reaction to what I previously did. So, each mark speaks so loudly on its own that it informs the next step of the story, which then informs all future steps. The trick is knowing when to stop and not go any further.”

Hunter describes the process as liberating, especially when it yields something unexpected that informs something deeper within herself.

“As much as my art is a vehicle to communicate to a viewer, this is also a process that’s about me and my ability to synthesize the world around me.”

“As much as my art is a vehicle to communicate to a viewer, this is also a process that’s about me and my ability to synthesize the world around me.”

When questioned about how the events of this year have affected her burgeoning career, she is quick to offer gratitude to her patrons and is thankful for Austin’s art community, at large. She’s encouraged by the thought that art can be a resource for people in times of fear and uncertainty, and sees opportunity in helping herself and others make sense of the broader world through her art.

She notes, “We all feel a mix of contradictory emotions right now. We’re not only missing our social lives but maybe also grateful to stay home. We’re fearful but thankful for more time around family. We don’t live in one season at a time. Exploring that with other people has been beautiful, and I consider it a gift that I hope serves others.”

Contact:

hunter-ash.com hunter.s.ash@gmail.com @hunterash.art

{the inspirational side of austin}

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23

“I hope my work helps people recognize the importance of nature and how its preservation should always stay relevant.�

Feature: Navena B

Natural Order Danika Ostrowski danikaostrowski.com | @danika_ostrowski_art

“T

here’s something special about leaving land as wild as possible.”

As the daughter of two architects, Danika Ostrowski spent her upbringing surrounded by the creative arts. Early childhood memories include countless summer vacations spent visiting national parks, and it was during a nostalgic visit to Big Bend with her family that she felt compelled to paint a landscape for the first time.

The instinct was prescient, and after completing an artist residency the summer before her graduation from Texas A&M University, she soon found herself renting a small studio in Austin and committing to make art a full-time career.

“I hope my work helps people recognize the importance of nature and how its preservation should always stay relevant,” she notes.

Her pieces are bold and refreshingly literal, depicting dramatic topographies with a palette consisting of rich and exaggerated desert hues. She fittingly describes her style as residing at the intersection between impressionism and graphic illustration, yielding a mesmerizing depth and sensuality that would be difficult to accomplish with a different rendering approach.

While not intended to be exact reproductions of the formal landscapes, her pieces evoke the memory of a place by intentionally amplifying certain colors and geometrics.

Pulling memory and emotion into her work is central to her process, making each piece recognizant of the formative time of her youth spent surrounded by nature.

On the topic of memory, Danika expounds, “Most of the time my shows are in bigger cities where people can’t access these landscapes all the time. I’m trying to bring the exoticism of these places into people’s homes, while also creating awareness that they exist and that we should protect them.”

Those ideals of natural preservation, so central to the ethos of America that they led to the establishment of the national park system over a century ago, have most recently come under surprising assault from political pundits and lawmakers alike.

“I guess it’s hard not to be political lately,” she says with a bemused shake of the head.

“Unfortunately, being an advocate for our national parks can be taken as a political statement, and it shouldn’t be.”

Despite the challenging times facing the world, and art community in general, Danika is especially grateful for the art community she has found in Austin. “Creative communities can get competitive, but that part of the scene doesn’t really exist in Austin. Between the artists, gallery owners, and patrons, there’s a genuine support for each other around a shared goal. I find it to be pretty unique.”

{the inspirational side of austin}

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25

Becoming One Nevena Bentz

nevenabentz.com | @nevenabentzart

“I

was asking myself, ‘Who cares about abstraction when the world is on fire? Is this really the best use of my time?’ So, I quit art to go plant trees,” Nevena Bentz laughs, tossing her hands in the air as she recalls her art career’s meandering path.

Discontent with creating art for art’s sake, she found purpose – and her voice – by creating work that seeks to elevate the interconnected nature of humanity, femininity, and the natural world we all share. Her pieces are rich with allegory and are visually dazzling.

After growing up in Bulgaria, she studied and practiced law in France and the United States and also lectured at the American University campus in Bulgaria. After receiving her Juris Doctor from The University of Texas in 2003, she found herself with a young family and a demanding career in state government: one that left her feeling overstretched, unfulfilled, and artistically adrift.

“We all have to find something to put ourselves towards to fix these messes,” she notes, broadly referencing the societal challenges present in the world today.

Returning to art, she launched a line of fine jewelry in 2012 and also published a book of poetry in 2017. While her work has spanned multiple professions and continents, she has pushed herself to continuously explore artistic techniques, multiple mediums, and her own identity which have shaped her ideals throughout her life.

26 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

Her current series, “One,” juxtaposes faces of women against semi-abstract patterns invoking natural forms like leaves, water, and reflections.

The women’s expressions are subdued and calm, with their desaturated features blending in and out from collages of organic forms and colors. The mixed media compositions are decidedly tranquil, invoking the serenity of creation as a foil to destruction.

Nevena elaborates, “We are one with everything that surrounds us – with all of nature.

But we have been drifting away from every-

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thing natural. We have been treating nature as a one-way relationship where we just draw from her resources; we rarely ask ourselves how to give back or to do no harm.”

She credits the artistic direction she found while producing “One” with saving her from the personal turmoil of her past. Shedding the identity of her former self – and the fraught relationships with time, money, and purpose that came with it – allowed her to step more fully into a transcendent awareness of her place in the world.

This evolution of self has brought Nevena a sense of peace that is palpable in her art, a feeling she hopes resonates with others in a way that spurs people to take action to protect our shared environment.

“You don’t have to just plant trees to make an impact,” says Nevena. “You can do whatever is right for you; you just need to use your platform.”

“We are one with everything that surrounds us... But we have been drifting away from everything natural. We have been treating nature as a one-way relationship where we just draw from her resources; we rarely ask ourselves how to give back or to do no harm.�

{the inspirational side of austin}

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27

Book a FREE Pilates Intro Class Today!

Contact the studio for membership specials.

CLUB PILATES EAST AUSTIN YOUR LOCAL PILATES STUDIO Our belief is that Pilates is for every body, no matter your age, fitness level, or prior experience!

One of the great things about a Pilates practice is how it encompasses all four elements of fitness: strength training through low impact and full body controlled movements with resistance; flexibility to increase your range of motion and overall mobility; cardiovascular endurance to increase oxygenation, circulation and metabolism and balance enhancement with a stronger core and stability.

Now more than ever, our attention to health and well-being is paramount! Our goal is to provide a supportive and safe space to give the community the opportunity to come back into a wellness routine to nourish their bodies!

Meet Kevin & Anita Prescott “Developing a Pilates practice has slowly brought us back in the habit of exercising every day. We are able to enjoy physical mobility that we have not had in many years. Anita and I both continue to get a little stronger with each class we attend.

We have noticed that our bodies are shaping up! Our arms have tightened, and stomach muscles are coming back, along with flexibility being so much better.”

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Plaza Saltillo: 1011 E 5th Street, Suite 130 | (512) 878-3271 | www.clubpilates.com/eastaustin

Go+ do

Oct +Nov 2020

30 go& serve

AN EAST AUSTIN COUPLE IS SERVING NEW ORLEANSSTYLE MEALS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.

32 go& see

EXPLORE THE LATEST MURALS THAT ARE MAKING A STATEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

eastside | go&do

How It Works

Red Beans & Ricely Yours Serving a Meal When it Matters Most

Sam Lauron PHOTOS BY Shelby Bella WORDS BY

Every Sunday morning since mid-April, Maris Clegg and Chris Cubas wake up early, fire up the stove, and cook large batches of red beans and rice in their East Austin home. But these hearty servings of comfort food aren’t for them to consume; the dish is instead packaged up and delivered, along with fruit, a baked good, and a drink, to locals in need of a meal.

30 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

A

t the onset of the pandemic, Maris and Chris wanted to help out their community, especially those who lost their job and were financially insecure, but they weren’t sure how. That is until Maris, who’s from New Orleans, found inspiration in her weekly cooking routine.

“Before COVID, I would make red beans and rice on my day off and would eat leftovers throughout the week,” she recalls. “So I thought, maybe a homemade meal would be nice [for others].”

For their first attempt at what is now Red Beans and Ricely Yours, they had a goal of providing 22 free meals. While they were admittedly not prepared for the full day and night they spent cooking and delivering everything themselves, Maris and Chris have now established more efficient processes and leaned on the invaluable support from the community. In addition to the responses from those in need of a meal, the pair have received an overwhelming response from locals willing to help with the initiative.

with everything from making deliveries to baking the sides that are included with the 44 meals Maris and Chris prepare each week.

Thanks, in part, to the community’s support, Red Beans and Ricely Yours recently hit a major milestone for their homegrown operation: delivering their 600th meal.

While the weekly initiative has undoubtedly brought comfort, security, and joy to those receiving the home-cooked meal, the routine has also helped Maris and Chris get through this challenging time by allowing them to focus their energy on a cause for which they care deeply.

“It’s been cool to feel connected to the city when you are so disconnected and kind of isolated [at home],” Maris says. Chris adds, “[Food] is something everyone needs, but it’s also something that everyone derives comfort from.”

As for the duration of Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Chris states that “as long as people need a meal, we’re going to try to give it to them.”

Nearly five months since they cooked their first batch, Red Beans and Ricely Yours now has a network of volunteers who help out find more at eastsideatx.com

Contact:

redbeansaustin@gmail.com @redbeansaustin

Red Beans and Ricely Yours delivers 44 free meals every Sunday to anyone in the Austin area. Each meal comes with a serving of red beans, rice, and sausage, as well as a baked good, Rambler sparkling water, and an orange. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving a meal, the anonymous signup sheet is posted on Facebook and Instagram every Tuesday at noon and closes when they reach capacity. If you’d like to volunteer as a driver or are interested in contributing monetary or food donations, contact Maris and Chris at redbeansaustin@gmail. com.

{the inspirational side of austin}

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31

eastside | go&do

6

best

1

BLACK ARTISTS MATTER

On East 11th Street, bystanders can find a very similar mural to the bold yellow letters across Congress Avenue, reading “Black Artists Matter.” East Austin’s art community abounds in a historically Black neighborhood. Thus, in an effort to demonstrate support for Black artists, this location was chosen as the ideal spot to house this work of art.

Rogers aimed to create a space where everyone could come together without judgement.

Ánimo Austin

Murals Right Now

Voicing and Healing through Art WORDS BY

Gigi Hernández

PHOTO BY

Beautifully painted by Ryan Runcie, in partnership with Six Square and Raasin in the Sun, this mural honors the transformation of Masontown—one of the thirteen freedman neighborhoods in Austin during the 1860s. The mural features brothers, Sam and Raiford Mason, who purchased the land that later turned into Masontown. Runcie portrays the “breaking of the bonds of slavery...and their new found right to education and land ownership.” Locate this mural at the Residences at Saltillo.

2

Vegetarians of the World

This mural is located across from Mr. Natural, a health conscious restaurant and bakery owned by Jesus and Luisa Mendo-

za since 1988. In an effort to spread awareness about vegetarianism and demonstrate that vegetarianism is more than a trend, the couple hired artists Uloang and Nano Berks to create a mural which depicts 15 portraits of the world’s most famous vegetarians including Buddha, Cesar Chavez, Rosa Parks, and Natalie Portman.

3

The Beauty of Liberty and Equality

Ryan Runcie

Murals have been used by communities around the world not only as a means to draw people together and ornament urban spaces but also as a modern coping mechanism to illustrate societal happenings through art.

The Rise of Masontown

Mexic-Arte Museum has always hosted some of the most vibrant and heart-warming murals of the city, including Ánimo Austin by artist Ulysses Cueto. The colorful mural portrays a couple, wearing face masks and holding hands across a bin of heart bubbles with the words “Animo!” flying over. “Ánimo,” often used in México as a way to say “cheer up.” It is one of those beautiful Spanish words that carries no direct English translation.

However, no translation is needed to have your spirits lifted up by this work of art.

If He Can’t Breathe, Then We Can’t Breathe

Adorning the exterior of Native Hostel’s front entrance, passersby can admire this mural by Chris Rogers. This art, which portrays Floyd’s face along with the faces of other victims who died under police brutality, was completed June 2020. At the center of the mural also lies the iconic portrait of football quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, kneeling in form of protest. Through this work of art,

One of Austin’s biggest murals extending across 12 stories of The LINE Hotel, this was commissioned as part of Downtown Austin Alliance’s Writing on the Walls. Artists Sandra Chevrier and Shepard Fairey created this mural to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement with an illustration of Wonder Woman tearing a chain with her bare hands and the American flag accompanied by the words “Women Vote” and “Equality” displayed in large letters. Shepard added that this “also serves as a reminder that rights may be won, but fairness and equality are always a work in progress and active struggle.”

6

To Show Up Imperfectly But Open to Change is Better Than Not Showing Up at All

Located off 6th and Medina and painted by Marissa Cuevas, the art was part of a series of murals commissioned by the ATX Mural Project—a collaboration consisting of local artists and businesses across the city to use art as a means for protest in response to racial injustices.

12 BEST MURALS: In a city like Austin, where artistic expression is continuously thriving and evolving, it can become hard to track the city's best murals. Read more about 6 additional murals worth visiting at eastsideatx.com/6-best-murals: La Loteria, Las Cruxes, Cesar Chavez Mural, Voyage to Sousville, Hillside Miracle, and You’re My Butter Half.

32 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

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It’s Your Community.

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We are here to help you invest in your community.

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Home + away

Oct +Nov 2020

36 home

STEP INTO NATURE WITH THESE WHIMSICAL, BOTANICAL-INSPIRED SCENERIES CREATED

BY AN INTERIOR ARTIST.

38 away

HEAD WEST TO A SMALL DESERT TOWN FOR A WEEKEND ADVENTURE UNDER THE STARS.

eastside | home

Imaginative Interiors Blending Nature, Fine Art, & History into One Space WORDS BY Sam

Lauron

There are countless ways to infuse art into one’s home.

Oftentimes, though, the design process sees the art and the interiors as two separate elements; the surfaces of a home are used merely as a base to display the pieces of art. But for artist Cecelia Claire, she believes a home’s walls can be transformed into art itself.

ress

A

longtime artist, Cecelia can recall the exact moment she realized there was a crossover between art and interiors. While working in Europe as a traveling translator, Cecelia stumbled upon a classified ad for an apartment.

Little did she know, the apartment happened to be at Antoni Gaudi’s renowned architectural masterpiece, Casa Milà in Barcelona, Spain. “Inside, it has hand carved elements, murals, and hand painted wallpaper,” she describes. “The entire building is a sculpture.”

Living in this work of art opened her eyes to the idea that interiors themselves could be an art medium and, ultimately, informed the work she does now.

36 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

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Using her fine art background, Cecelia works with acrylics and watercolors, as well as materials like silk and gold foil, to create hand painted interiors in the form of wallpapers and murals. Her art has clear European influence, due to her time spent overseas, with some pieces that are even reminiscent of the large panoramic murals often seen in Italy.

Combined with her affinity for all things botanical, Cecelia’s hand painted interiors follow a distinct motif that is usually as ornate as it is peaceful. Though she looks to historical archives, textiles, and murals for inspiration, she’s also influenced by nature and combines all of those elements to create a space that “people want to live with now,” she says.

As fate would have it, Cecelia has once again found herself drawing inspiration from her surroundings, this time a little closer to home. The artist is currently living at East Austin’s Rain Lily Farm. As she works on painting in her new studio at the farmhouse, she’s constantly reminded of the inspiration she draws from nature, especially having the farm as her backdrop.

Whether she’s working on an on-site mural in someone’s home or creating bespoke wallpaper, Cecelia never loses her sense of style.

She does, however, understand the intimate connection people have with their homes and translates that into her work. “I get to bring a really personal touch to a space,” she says. “So my goal is to make it a harmonious piece of its environment.”

“

Little did she know, the apartment happened to be at Antoni Gaudi’s renowned architectural masterpiece, Casa Milà.

In addition to Cecelia’s custom on-site murals and original painted designs, she also produces digitally printed wallpaper.

Visit ceceliaclaire. com to brouse her portfolio of work.

Contact:

ceceliaclaire.com @ceceliaclaire

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37

eastside | away

Christmas Mountains Permit applications for day use of Christmas Mountains as well as topographical maps can be

A Weekend In

Terlingua The Old West 2.0 WORDS BY Ben

Haguewood

People often talk about vacation as a time to 'get away' only to spend their time cramming into theme parks, standing in lines, waiting for a table at a crowded restaurant, or boxing out for a small parcel of sand on the beach. Terlingua stands as the antitheses of all those diversions.

In fact, none of those things are really an option, and mobile phone service is spotty at best. There's desert, sky, solitude, hot days, cool nights, and long segments of time that are surprisingly peaceful. So forward the phones, turn on the automatic replies, point the car west, and drive.

38 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

obtained from

Driving west on I-10 through the hill country towards to the desert, make a stop in Alpine. There are no breweries in Terlingua, so the last chance for fresh beer is at Brick Vault Brewery and Smokehouse in Alpine's historic Gage Hotel. It’s a great place to fill a growler, grab some true Texas style barbecue, and be on your way.

It’s time to see what’s out here. The best way to cover a lot of ground (or water) is on horseback or floating the Rio Grande. Lajitas and Big Bend Stables help visitors saddle up. If water is more your style, there are several river guides who will take guests down the Rio Grande through the majestic Santa Elena Canyon, or for the adventurous, rent a boat and be your own guide.

Staying in that sleeping bag until the sun warms up the desert valley may be tempting, but the sunrises in West Texas are not to be missed.

Ranch Lodge

Pack up early and head for the hills: the Christmas Mountains to be more precise. The range is situated on research property owned by the Texas State University System, so visitors need to get a permit in advance. A little extra effort will go a long way because hikers are rewarded with miles of spectacular 360 degree views. When it’s time to head back, Espresso Y Poco Mas will fuel the return back to the big city.

search/christ-

The purpose of the trip is to enjoy the peaceful landscape, so try something a little different that brings nature closer. Book a Teepee at Basecamp, or consider one its transparent bubbles for true luxury beneath the stars.

While in the area, eat like a local. At the Starlight Diner, patrons can catch live Texas tunes, and order up tequilamarinated Texas quail, wild boar sausages, or the Texas Red chili that’s made the area famous.

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the Terlingua or are also available at www.tsus.edu/ about-tsus/remas-mountains.html Vehicle permits can be obtained through the Terlingua Ranch Lodge: www.terlinguaranch. com/christmas-mountains

WE’RE MAKING THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD.

With more than 500 residents and homes from Central Texas’ best builders, Easton Park is a neighborhood designed for Austin’s creative class. Home to a vibrant maker community, Easton Park offers 350+ acres of planned parks featuring a 13.5 mile planned trail system and our beautiful amenity center, The Union. With a resort-style pool and club-style fitness center, The Union is the perfect place to find your muse or amuse yourself.

PHOTO FROM MAKER’S MARKET AT PAST EASTON MADE EVENT

MEET A FEW OF THE EASTON PARK MAKERS

Easton Park is known for stylish homes and an active resident community, so it makes sense that it would attract some of Austin’s many creative entrepreneurs from professional musicians and beauticians to chefs and artists. We sat down with a few of them to find out how why they love making their homes at Easton Park.

@BRUMMELANDBIVVY Stacey and Shawn Matthew L., Bryant Park residents since 2017 On one of their first dates, DIY-ers Stacey and Shawn Matthew made hand-poured candles.

Friends demanded their samples, and in 2015, their business was born. Shawn Matthew says, “We make layered ‘smellscapes’ that tell a story; you can picture being in the location when you smell the candle.”

During their courtship, the couple would frequently bring their dogs to walk around Easton Park. “We would drive here after dinner while the houses were being built,” Stacey tells us.

“We probably did it several times a week for months and months.” They married in October of 2017, and in December, they bought their first home in the Bryant Park section of Easton Park.

The strong sense of community was one of the things that drew them to the neighborhood.

“People here are open and welcoming; they support each other,” Stacey says. “There are foodies and chefs that do supper clubs and potlucks; the creativity is here.”

BRUMMEL & BIVVY

As they’ve settled into their new home, their business has also grown. “It’s a really cool side hustle,” Shawn Matthew says. “We’ve had people cry when they open a candle. Smells can trigger memories. People say, ‘This is home. I never want to not have this in my house.’”

@BRANDYDESIGNSTUDIO Brandy Hughes, Union Park resident since 2020 After high school, Brandy Hughes moved to New York to attend The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and then worked in Los Angeles for two years before coming home to Austin to work for a private bridal line. In her heart, Brandy always knew she wanted to open her own bridal design business.

“As I’ve gotten older, I wanted to do my own thing on my own time. The only way I could do that was to move into a house where I could have a studio,” she said. “We were one of the first to put down our deposit when Union Park opened, and it was all so I could use the extra space for my business.”

BRANDY’S IN-HOME STUDIO

Now, Brandy works with brides to create custom looks—everything from altering existing wedding dresses to highly original one-of-a-kind gowns. She’s currently working on a black wedding gown!

When she’s not designing, Brandy loves being outdoors. “Being able to walk out my front door and walk miles of trails is a huge bonus for me,” she says. “It’s a lot more than just a neighborhood. I feel very lucky we found this place when we did.”

READ MORE OF THEIR STORIES AND WHY THEY LOVE EASTON PARK AT EASTONPARKATX.COM/BLOG/MEET-THE-MAKERS BRANDY DESIGN STUDIO

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Sip+ taste

Oct +Nov 2020

44 taste feature

HOW A CATERING AND EVENTS BUSINESS EMBRACED A PIVOT DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

46 taste expert

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48 dining guide

A CURATED GUIDE TO THE BEST PLACES TO GRAB A BITE IN EAST AUSTIN

50 sip

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COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER JON WOLFE LAUNCHES A TEQUILA BRAND CRAFTED FROM THE JALISCO HIGHLAND AGAVES.

eastside | taste

Open for Business Beth and Rafael have long had aspirations of opening a restaurant of their own, and now, thanks to the success of their taco delivery business that dream is coming to fruition. The pair have plans to open an El Camaron food truck this fall.

El D Camaron

A Twist on Tacos WORDS BY

Sam Lauron Bella

PHOTOS BY Shelby

Bethany DiBaggio and Rafael Rodriguez could not have predicted that they’d be starting a taco delivery business just a few months into 2020. At the height of a busy season for their catering and events company, La Pera, the pandemic suddenly put a halt to all the events on their bursting calendar, forcing the two to quickly pivot their experiential food service.

44 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

rawing inspiration from one of their beloved catering appetizers, crispy shrimp tacos, the pair decided to launch a pop up delivery eatery focused solely on tacos. They figured the mini taco would serve as a simple way to bring La Pera’s Latin-inspired dishes straight to doorsteps, plus the couple had a personal history with tacos being the center of family dinners.

“I can remember Raf telling me about these tacos at least 12 times in the first month of us dating,” Beth laughs. “But now I understand why; they’re addictively good.”

The tacos that brought them together derive from a family recipe created by Rafael’s dad in the '80s. A restaurant owner himself, the patriarch would often travel to Mexico to gather inspiration for his Veracruz-style dishes. One day, he decided that he wanted to put his own spin on a classic crispy potato street taco by adding shrimp to it. And thus, the crispy shrimp and potato taco was born. The meal became a staple in Rafael’s household; he recalls his mom regu-

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larly making these snackable tacos for him and his siblings growing up. “Ever since I can remember, I would peek up at the stovetop. She would have the pan of oil, and the tacos would be getting crispy,” Rafael describes. “We would always ‘sample’ a couple before we actually sat down to eat.”

This family favorite became the foundation for El Camaron. A crispy outer shell houses a balanced combination of savory shrimp and red potato and is topped with fresh cabbage, tomato dressing, locally-sourced radishes, lime, and queso fresco from Antonelli’s Cheese. The taco is complete with Tapatio salsa, a Rodriguez family favorite.

El Camaron’s tacos are served in packs of 12 and are delivered frozen. Simply pop them in the oven and top the crispy bites with the fresh ingredients included with each kit. The shrimp taco is their original, but El Camaron created two additional tacos for the menu: a Texas-style brisket and potato taco and a seasonal vegetarian option of squash and yuca. The menu al-

512.351.5632

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so includes complementary sides like street corn, rice and beans, and unique sweets like nopal cupcakes.

Although La Pera is beginning to pick up with small in-person events, Beth and Rafael plan to continue delivering an at-home experience through El Camaron. “We find so much joy in gathering people around a table of food,” Beth says. “And right now, El Camaron is a way for us to do that and stay connected to our community.”

SPECIALIZED SERVICES “We find so much joy in gathering people around a table of food. And right now, El Camaron is a way for us to do that and stay connected to our community.”

Contact:

elcamaronaustin.com @elcamaronaustin

• Full Charge Bookkeeping • • Payroll • QuickBooks • • Inventory • Invoicing • • Purchase Orders • • Accounts Receivable • • Preparation of Annual & Quarterly Taxes • • Sales Tax • LLC Formations • alitca @ agruedabookkeeping . com

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| (512) 963-9387

Stop by: 2823 e mlk blvd. Suite 130

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eastside | taste expert

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Amaranth Skulls, Pumpkin Empanadas, and Horchata WORDS BY

Justin Butts RECIPE BY Kayla Butts Benevides

PHOTOS BY Rachel

On Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, the souls of the dearly departed are said to return to earth for a brief visit. It is not a spooky visit, but a joyful celebration of a loved one’s life, filled with happy memories, good eating, drinking, and music.

T

he ofrenda is an important feature in this celebration. Ofrenda is the Spanish word for offering and also the name of the collection of objects placed on an altar to guide the soul home. Candles light the way, and the loved ones’ favorite foods and beverages are displayed to refresh them after the long journey through the spirit world. Marigolds, photographs, and prized trinkets also decorate the ofrenda.

46 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

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Pumpkin Empanadas (Empanadas de Calabaza) Makes: 12 hand pies Prep time: 30 minutes Inactive prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Pastry Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 T. sugar, plus 1 T. for dusting 1 t. salt 1 t. baking powder 1/2 c. pastured pork lard 2 eggs, plus 1 egg white 1/2 c. milk Filling Ingredients: 2 c. roasted pumpkin (or one 15 oz. can organic pureed pumpkin) 3/4 c. brown sugar 2 T. butter 1 t. cinnamon 1/4 t. salt 1/8 t. nutmeg 1/8 t. cloves

These Dia de los Muertos traditions originated with the Aztecs. They made cavaleras from amaranth grains. Marigolds represented the fragility of life, and the Aztecs believed the flowers guided spirits to the altars.

When Herman Cortes and the conquistadors invaded the Aztec Empire, they thought the ancient ritual was pagan sacrilege. They attempted to stamp out the tradition forever, but it survived. Eventually, it was synchronized with All Soul’s Day and is now celebrated across the Americas.

Upon learning of this sacred and colorful tradition several years ago, we couldn’t wait to get home and make our own calaveras. We wanted to honor the Aztec roots of the holiday, so we used amaranth and local honey. This version is surprisingly delicious and is healthier than sugar skulls we tasted at our first Dia de los Muertos Festival.

To pop amaranth, place a very thin layer at the bottom of a hot, deep pan and stir until fragrant. Most kernels will pop within two minutes and turn a snowy white. Decorate the skulls with dried fruit, nuts, royal icing, edible paint, or edible gold leaf. These skulls are beautiful, unique, and actually good for the body and soul.

What’s a Spanish celebration without empanadas? So we used heirloom pumpkins from the garden and made these delicious pumpkin empanadas for Pan del Muerto. Most empanada recipes call for vegetable shortening, but we opted for pastured pork lard. Lard from locally raised pastured porkers has a great flavor, is free of trans-fats, and is rich in hearthealthy fats.

Horchata is a sweet and refreshing chilled beverage made from rice and cinnamon. We experimented to find a version with less sugar that doesn’t sacrifice on taste. Coconut sugar adds a rich caramel flavor with just a hint of coconut that creates a perfect sweetness.

This year, if you cannot find a live Dia de los Muertos Street Festival, we have you covered with sweet and savory home-made recipes to celebrate the life of loved ones from home.

Directions: To prepare dough, mix dry ingredients in a large bowl or standing mixer. Add remaining ingredients and mix until just combined. Form dough into a disk, cover in plastic wrap, and cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Combine ingredients for the filling in a large bowl. Whisk until well incorporated.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 12 pieces. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a 1/8” to 1/4” thick circle, depending on preference. Spoon ¼ cup of filling into the center of the dough and fold the dough over, making a half circle. Seal the pie by crimping with your fingers, or pressing the edges with the tines of a fork. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Lightly brush the empanadas with egg white and dust with sugar. Bake the pies for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Amaranth Skulls (Calavera de Amaranto) Makes: 4 large skulls Prep time: 20 minutes Inactive prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes

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Ingredients: Non-stick cooking spray 1/4 c. local raw honey 1/4 c. granulated sugar 2 T. water 4 c. popped amaranth Directions: Spray skull molds with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan, combine honey, sugar, and water. Cook over high heat until mixture reaches 255°F. Pour amaranth into honey mixture and stir to evenly coat grains. Pour mixture into molds and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until completely set.

Remove calaveras from molds and decorate with adornments of your choosing.

Calaveras will keep in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.

Horchata Makes: 48 onces Prep time: 15 minutes Inactive prep time: 4-12 hours Ingredients: 1 c. uncooked, long-grain rice, rinsed 1/2 c. raw, unsalted almonds 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces 3 c. filtered water 1/2 c. coconut sugar 1 c. whole milk Directions: Combine rice, almonds, cinnamon, and water in a large bowl.

Cover and store mixture in the refrigerator for 4-12 hours.

Remove rice mixture from the refrigerator and blend until smooth (about 4 minutes on high speed).

Strain rice mixture using a cheesecloth-lined colander.

Add coconut sugar and milk to the remaining liquid and stir well. Serve over ice.

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O U R FAV E R E S TA U R A N T S

Pick 10

FOR THE EASTSIDE

eastside dining guide S-H Donuts

This unassuming store-front houses an outstanding array of fluffy-light donuts, a variety of kolache flavors, and savory breakfast croissants. Even if the food wasn’t enough, the warmth of the owners Sochea and Sarong make the trip to S-H worth it every time. 5313 Manor Rd.

Oddwood Ales

Designed as a cozy neighborhood pub, Oddwood Ales provides a variety of flavorful ales, home-made pizzas, and Italian dishes in a relaxed atmosphere with arcade games and a pet-friendly patio.

3108 Manor Rd. | oddwoodales.com

Artessano Mour Cafe

Featuring a rotating selection of the world’s most satisfying dishes, Mour Cafe is where gastropub meets comfort. They serve environmentally conscious ingredients sourced from local farmers, which brings flavor that’s uniquely Austin to each soul-filled dish. mourcafe.com | 1414 Shore District Dr. Bldg. 3, Ste. 120

The fresh tropical fruit juice and the arepas are why you need to visit Artessano. As a food trailer specializing in Colombian food, expect dance music and lots of friendly conversation when you visit. 1211 E 6th St.

Cherrywood Coffeehouse

With an expansive patio and a continual rotation of events, you’ll find yourself frequenting for the community as often as food, which is an inviting array of tacos, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and smoothies.

1400 E 38th 1/2 St. | cherrywoodcoffeehouse.com

Flyrite Chicken

Disrupting the fast food industry one sandwich at a time, Flyrite is a drive-thru with all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken as well as gluten-free and vegetarian options.

2129 E 7th St. | flyritechicken.com

Cisco's Intero Restorante

Intero, meaning “whole,” is dedicated to the thoughtful use of every ingredient in their dishes. Homemade pastas, farm-totable plates, and artisan chocolates make up their bold, yet intimate, Italian menu.

2612 E Cesar Chavez St. | interorestaurant.com

La Fruta Feliz

A happy place where breakfast is served all day. Of course, you can also get lunch, but why would you when you can have chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and authentic breakfast tacos at 8pm? 3124 Manor Rd.

48 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

The menu at Cisco’s provides flavorful TexMex options for any meal of the day. Order favorites like their mouth-watering breakfast tacos or comforting cheese enchiladas for dinner. Either way, the food and the service will have you wanting more.

1511 E 6th St. | ciscosaustin.com

Paper Route Bakery

Hidden behind a little window next to Cenote, this tiny operation serves up small-batch organic baked goods daily: from cheddar chive scones and strawberry balsamic pop tarts to custom orders. 1010 E Cesar Chavez St. | paper-route-bakery. business.site find more at eastsideatx.com

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Did You Know?

Jon Wolfe has seven No. 1 singles and is currently working on a new album which he plans to release in 2021.

To achieve this range of flavor from crystalline, citrus-forward blanco to the amber tones of vanilla and plum of an añejo, Jon describes how each agave spear goes through a careful process whereby they are individually selected by jimadores before roasting in a brick oven for 48 hours to soften the nectar that is then separated and fermented in a vat fortified with champagne yeast. The tequila takes on the elements of the Jalisco region that infuse it with flavor notes Although this process is commonplace in tequila production, Jon hints that the secret ingredient that gives Juan Lobo Tequila its fresh notes is the classical baroque music that is played during the fermentation process.

“The Vivanco family treats the fermentation process with a great deal of respect, and they believe that classical music influences the molecular structure of the tequila as it’s fermenting,” Jon shares. With a wry tone to his voice, he offers his own, less scientific analysis, “It responds to the airwaves, and I can attest that it does actually impact the end taste.”

Regardless of which tequila Jon reaches for, he finds that each distinctive flavor profile embodies one common truth. A bottle of Juan Lobo Tequila is much like his own music: it’s where revolution meets tradition.

The Call L of the Wild WORDS BY

Jessi Devenyns Shelby Bella

PHOTOS BY

Juan Lobo Tequila bridges tradition & modern flavors.

Tequila lovers know the joy of a silky agave tequila bursting with aroma and flavor hitting their tongue. However, crafting a tequila that can delight the senses of those with refined tastes is often generations in the making.

50 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2020

ocal country singer and musician Jon Wolfe, also known as Juan Lobo, recognized the need for expertise in the American tequila market and set out to find it, beginning in the traditional tequila-growing region of Jalisco where blue agave spears run across the landscape. In the highlands of this region, red clay contrasts the misty blue of the native agave.

It was in these highlands at the Vivanco family ranch that Jon found the nectar of the gods.

“Highlands agaves are born in a different climate and soil content which make the agaves sweeter, floral, and a bit more fruit-forward,” Jon explains.

Jon was entranced by the idea of a tequila so pure that he built on the Vivanco family’s traditional recipes to craft a range of spirits that ignited the senses through subtlety and versatility. “[We] want people to really taste the agave and know that they’re drinking tequila. At the same time, we want the flavor to be balanced and smooth,” Jon insists. While he says he can’t pick a favorite from the traditional varieties, he explains that the añejo was crafted with bourbon lovers in mind and is aged in American Oak for 22 months before being poured into a bottle. find more at eastsideatx.com

Mix It Up

The trills and crescendos of flavor in a bottle of Juan Lobo Tequila are best enjoyed on the rocks or in a novel beverage such as a capilla. Featuring tequila blanco, the beverage adds a splash of Topo Chico, a squeeze of lemon and a dash of rosemary simple syrup for a fresh, yet warming, beverage that speaks to the weather transition of Austin in the fall.

Contact:

juanlobotequila.com info@juanlobotequila.com

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