Popped

Popped a pop culture and fine arts magazine

theatre a look into Zilker productions and its effect on aspiring

music Austin City Limits and its influences on local organizations

art Graffiti Park and art programs in middle schools

Special Thanks Amy Hufford Carmen Gattis Cathy McCartney Charles Reagan Hackleman Christina Park Clara McBrayer Desiree Laing George Llewelyn Hannah Hufford Helena Laing Joan Gillcrist Katrina Barber Katie Brickner Kevin Garcia LEWYV Lexie Shook Lisa Schmitt Mihuel Loo Nancy Hoover Nathan Nordstrom Nicholas Smith Rick Carney Ryan McCartney Sascha Biesi Wade Thompson

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Letter from the Editor

Our magazine, Popped, is made for aspiring artists, actors, and musicians in Austin. It is important for everyone to find their creative outlet and being a part of that community helps you find your niche. Popped not only offers the latest news as well as some insightful analysis on the events around town like Austin City Limits, the Graffiti Wall, and the Zilker Summer Musical, but also brings to light some of the lesser known fine arts programs like art program at The Girl’s School of Austin or Lamar Middle School.

I’ve grown up with the ability to pursue the fine arts that have interested me, but I never really was informed on what was going on around me. I was in a little uninformed bubble; though it was nice distraction, I would have benefitted from knowing more about my community. Sharing the knowledge we have obtained and researched I hope will get more people interested in the arts. There is something for everyone. There is no right or wrong. As Vincent Van Gogh said, “If you hear a voice within you saying, ‘You are not a painter,’ then by all means paint, boy, and that voice will be silenced.”

Morgan Strong

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4

Contents Contributors: page 6

Styles that Rile: page 8

More to the Music: page 10

Talent From Texas: page 14

Finding the Finest Art: page 16

Summer Showbiz: page 18

Art Bound: page 22

How to Draw the Female Body: page 24

A New Hope: page 28

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Contributors

Maddie Dixon

Maddie Dixon is a freshman at LASA who plays too much softball and is a member of the Alley Cat Players.

She thought she didn’t like the fine arts until she was introduced to tech theatre, which made her realize that there is a fine art for everyone.

Grace Kim Grace Kim is a ninth grader at LASA high school. She’s been involved in orchestra as a violinist for multiple years now. Piano and choir have also been hobbies that she’s loved being a part of.

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Morgan Strong Morgan Strong is a freshman at LASA high school. She enjoys playing soccer and volleyball at the club level as well as drawing portraits of people in her free time. She has always been interested in magazine production and is glad to have learned about the process.

Jacob Verastegui Jacob Verastegui is a 14-year-old who has lived in Austin for his whole life and attends LASA. He is involved in football and track which he has done for multiple years. His hobbies involve running and reading in his free time.

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Styles That Rile Jacob Verastegui

Piece This is a shorter version of the word masterpiece and is painted free-handed. It consists of three or more colors and takes a while to complete. Painting a piece often earns you credit from other artists due to the amount of detail and work it requires to make it.

Photo by Jacob Verastegui.

Heaven A heaven is a tag or piece of artwork that is located in a difficult place to reach. If you manage to do this you often earn lots of credibility and recognition from other artists.

Photo by Vinniebar. Courtesy of wikicommons.

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Poster A poster is an easy and quick way to get your art out into the world. This consists of creating a piece of artwork at home on any type of material. Then, place it anywhere of your choosing. Some artists may also use a sticker, which is a downsized version of a poster.

Courtesy of wikicommons.

Throw-up Throw-up is slightly more complex than a tag. It involves three or more colors and often involves bubble letters. This can be done quickly and repeatedly, and often is around the same style.

Photo by Jacob Verastegui.

Wild Style This is a more elaborate version of a Throw up. There are many different ways to create this which often uses spikes, curves, and many colors to give it a more intricate look. This form is most popular by professional graffiti artists.

Photo by Jacob Verastegui.

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More to the Music Austin City Limits’ influence on local businesses

Grace Kim

e

very year, Austin hosts its biggest event: Austin City Limits. With a crowd of 450,000 people, there is no doubt that this music festival is a smashing success. Early October consists of excited teenagers preparing for a weekend of fun, but how many understand its effects on other organizations?

Austin City Limits (ACL) has been around since 2002. The music festival brings locals and people from around the world together. Approximately 140 bands and musicians are set to perform each year, including headliners like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and Eminem. Besides being a great place to indulge in festivities, music, and culture, ACL impacts in so many other ways-- ways many people fail to recognize.

Vendors, nonprofits, and music schools are just a few examples of those beneficially affected by ACL.

ACL serves as a convenient event where vendors can offer their services to a wide variety of people. Lexie Shook, JuiceLand’s marketing specialist, said, “ACL brings a lot of people into central Austin. We see a boom in business before and after the festival at our central shop

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locations.”

To GoodPops, a company known for their all-natural popsicles, ACL is a platform for acknowledgment and credibility. “Most people in Austin and Texas in general are very familiar with GoodPop since this is where we’re based, but to get the opportunity to spread our message to folks around the nation through ACL is an incredible opportunity,” stated Clara McBrayer, a marketing manager for GoodPops.

While most people assume that festivals most benefit vendors economically, it also provides a great experience for further development and growth. Nicholas Smith, the marketing director of Tiff’s Treats, discussed what ACL means for their company.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to grow as a team in a fast-paced environment while still providing the same quality product that you could get from any of our stores.”

The employees of these companies enjoy the chance to participate in such a big event.

“Our employees have a blast manning our vendor booth at the event and we love soaking in the fun atmosphere of the festival,” added Shook.

Shook elaborated on the planning process for ACL. “We first establish a partnership agreement with the festival.

Sometimes this agreement involves marketing support on top of our duties as a vendor. We… make sure that we have all of the correct permits to serve at the event.”

get that opportunity during the warm days at ACL.”

JuiceLand’s mission is to “encourage our community to embrace health, wellness, and a vibrant, plant-based diet to positively impact humankind and the sustainability of our planet”, according to Shook. They can practice this mission by serving “a refreshing way to hydrate during the festival and as a healthy alternative to soft drinks,” said Shook.

“After we have this groundwork set up, we recruit staff to work the event and make sure that we have all of the raw materials and merchandise to have a successful vendor booth. Part of this setup process is setting up the booth so that it fits within our branding, we always want our presence to be... undeniably JuiceLand!”

Though catering an event that attracts notable crowds can require rigorous preparation, the rewards and happy customers are worth it.

Additionally, ACL is a great place to exhibit and exercise the core values and mission of your company or vendor.

“By vending at ACL, we get to put a smile on festival-goers’ faces,” said McBrayer.

“Making people happy is what we like best and we certainly

Music group, Crystal Castles, performing at ACL 2017. Photo by Charles Reagan Hackleman.

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“

Festival-goers enjoying popsicles from GoodPops at ACLEats. Photo by Katrina Barber.

”

When people think of Austin, they think of ACL and being a local business, we love being a part of that community.

“When people think of Austin,” commented McBrayer, “they think of ACL and being a local business, we love being a part of that community.”

For music schools like the School of Rock, ACL provides an amazing performance opportunity for the youth enrolled in these schools. School of Rock has played at ACL for 10 years now.

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“ACL is a high level, marquee event that features some of the biggest names in the music business,” said Rick Carney, the manager and music director at the School of Rock.

“By giving our students the opportunity to play such a prestigious event, we give them an aspirational goal to worktowards.”

Seeing artists like Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper, and Drake play at ACL and then being able to perform on that very same stage can be transforming for the youth.

Many aspiring young artists find pride in their music, as ACL is an event that leads to major bragging rights. “Some will wear their artist wristbands until the fest next year!” Carney added.

ACL isn’t just a place for fun and music, but also provides a space for promoting nonprofit organizations. This year, an organization called Hotels for Hope has partnered up with ACL to give back to the community, specifically to a nonprofit called Kids in a New Groove, or KING.

KING provides free music lessons to foster children, locally based in Austin.

Carmen Gattis, the program’s manager, spoke out on the topic.

She believes that music can “create the lasting effect that would help youth in foster care create the things that were going to help them once they aged out of care, tools for success essentially.”

KING will receive $2 for every night booked through the ACL website. Gattis discussed the details of the partnership and how “it’s at no expense to the person that’s booking the room.”

Nonprofit organizations are exactly what they sound like— a corporation created with a purpose other than making money.

“As a nonprofit,” Gattis explained, “we have to fundraise, and we have to do grant writing in order to support the program.” Therefore, sponsors like ACL and Hotels for Hope are extremely important for the development and stabilization of these organizations.

As a small organization, being recognized by one of Austin’s biggest events is a huge accomplishment. “Getting to be involved in something that big, here in Austin, we feel pretty fortunate,” she said.

On average, a Texan foster child will switch homes six times. They are deprived of the luxuries other kids have and will face emotional, physical, or mental abuse some time in their life.

KING uses music to give this population a creative outlet during these stressful times.

Being based in Austin, music runs deep in the city’s roots, so it isn’t hard to realize why the program was founded here.

“I think we’re lucky to be in Austin because we have Austin City Limits…and get to see from very new and upcoming artists all the way up to people who have been around for a number of years, that the festival can do a lot for a musician’s career,” Gattis said.

“We just like to expose our kids to.... the world of music and what they can be involved in, and ACL is the perfect place to encourage this.”

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Talent From Texas Grace Kim

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Photo by Alexandria Rockford. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

BEYONCE

KELLY CLARKSON

Beyoncé Knowles was born in Houston, Texas. In the late 1990s, she was the lead singer of the girlgroup Destiny’s Child. “Single Ladies” and “If I were a Boy” are some of Beyonce’s biggest hits, and her most recent album “Lemonade” sold 2.5 million copies in 2016 alone. She focuses on contemporary R&B and Pop.

American pop singer Kelly Clarkson watched her career take off in 2002 when she won American Idol, a national talent competition.

Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Her Grammy-winning songs “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Stronger” are some of her most successful and familiar hits.

Houston, Texas

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Fort Worth, Texas

Photo by Larry Philpot. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Photo by Ames Friedman. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

WILLIE NELSON

USHER

Willie Nelson has a bright personality with a hippie vibe. His iconic braids, red bandanna, and blue jeans have become a part of his country singer reputation. Born in Abbott, Texas, Nelson began as a songwriter before expanding to a career in musical performance.

R&B singer Usher Raymond was only 15 years old when he released his first album in 1994.

He soon gained international fame, expanding outside of his Dallas roots. Like most musicians, Usher has also touched on other aspects of the fine art/performance world like acting.

Abbott, Texas

Dallas, Texas

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Finding the .

Would you rather walk or skip?

Would yo perform o

Pe rfo rm

Fine arts are a lot of fun to participate in, and no matter what your interests are, there is a fine art for you. Take this quick quiz to find out which one best suits you!

Ext

d.

I’d w

alk

Skipping is fun!

any d

ay.

rov erte

Do you have a lot of energy?

r ve tro n I

Are you good at using instruments or tools?

No...

Do you like to excersize?

Yeah, I’m a pro!

no .

Do you like to sing?

I love it!

No.

Yeah!

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Theatre

Dance

You should join theatre! You’re outgoing and love the spotlight.

You can become anyone or anything on stage, and love performing.

You should be in dance! While it may be hard work, your graceful movements can leave a crowd stunned.

Do you lik craft

Not really.

Yesyesyesyes!

No an d

Ew.

.

ted

Are you introverted or extroverted?

Choir You should be in a choir! You will harmonize perfectly with the other members, and sing beautifully.

Band/Orchestra You should join a band or orchestra! Instruments are your thing, and you play songs that move people to the core.

Finest Art Maddie Dixon

ou rather or create?

te. ea Cr

How much do you enjoy movies/plays? !

fun

Ye

.

Do you find behind the scenes stories fascinating?

t!

Beauty is best.

Do you prefer practicality or beauty?

No .

I could be better.

Practical is perfect.

How good are you at working in groups?

.

Would you rather observe your surrounings or create them?

Great!

You be

.

Definetly.

ing

No pe

I love them!

ke arts and fts?

Do you like to tell stories?

y th tm No

’s so s, it

Observe.

Create.

Art

Design

Technical Theatre

Film/Photography

You should pursue art! This includes painting, sculpting, and drawing. You like to create pieces that are expressive and emotional.

You should get into design!

This could be anything from architecture to clothing design, you will do great expressing yourself in many mediums.

You should join tech theatre!

While you may not like the spotlight, you have a great time behind the scenes of the show.

You should do photography or film! You can work magic with a camera, capturing the perfect moments.

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Summer Showbiz B e h i n d t h e s c e n e s a t t h e Z i l ke r S u m m e r M u s i c a l Maddie Dixon

Celeste Castillo (center) strikes a pose as she plays the Dragon in the Zilker Theatre production of Shrek. Photo by Dave Keslick

Anyone who has ever lived in Austin during the summer knows about two things. The heat and the musical.

The Zilker Summer Musical has been held at Austin’s Zilker Park every year since 1959. It’s a fantastic experience for the audience and the people running the show alike. It’s live theatre, which presents its own unique challenges and benefits.

Auditioning is the first step many actors take in becoming part of the Zilker Summer Musical. Hannah

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Hufford auditioned for 2017 musical The Wizard of Oz. “You only get a couple minutes in the audition room,” Hufford said, “so what you sing has to show your strengths as a performer.”

Helena Laing, who was in the 2015 Zilker Summer Musical Hairspray, received advice from the directors during her audition.

“They actually kinda worked with me on [my audition],” Laing said, “kind of like a little mini acting

lesson or something, and they were like, ‘I want you to do it again, but pump up your energy a bit.’”

When it was time for callbacks, Laing had a unique experience.

“It was really cool cause they remembered me, I’ve never had that sort of experience with [auditioning],” said Laing.

A major challenge everyone involved in these production experiences is the extreme Texas heat. While most theatre productions are inside in a theater, Zilker is not.

Helena as Little Inez in Hairspray.

Courtesy of Desiree Laing

“Zilker is an outdoor theatre,” Hufford wrote. “Because the shows are in the summer, you have to prepare yourself for the heat and how much you are going to sweat.”

As it turns out, sweating is a major issue for Zilker Summer Musicals. Actor’s sweat would even cause technical problems, as Ryan McCartney, who was also in Hairspray with Laing, remembered.

“We would sweat so much that it would often clog the microphones and we would have to get them aired out backstage,” McCartney wrote.

Heat is not the only challenge of the hillside, though.

The performance venue, because it’s not a traditional theater, is extremely large. Laing recounted some of the stress.

Ryan sprays a can of hairspray in the Zilker Theatre production of Hairspray.

Courtesy of Ryan McCartney

“The hillside is gigantic. We have techs up on the booth, our directors are in the middle of the hillside, and then we have techs over here,” Laing gestured to the left.

“So everybody’s trying to work this spread-out circle into one show” Hufford also noted how large the hillside is— specifically, the crowd.

“The audience is ... a lot larger than what it is in most performance venues (at the highest, the crowd was over 4,000 people),” Hufford wrote, “so the performers have to make all of their movements bigger than what they would do for a smaller crowd.

Hannah (far right) performs in a scene with Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Courtesy of Hannah Hufford

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Theatre’s live aspect is one of its more important and distinguishing features. Actors enjoy this and love the audience.

“You can get energy from the audience, which energizes the actors,” explained Hufford.

Laing agrees, a true ‘theatre kid.’

“Applause is my favorite thing in the world,” Laing laughed.

At the Zilker Summer Musical, no two shows will ever be the same, which is something McCartney likes.

“Every performance is always a different performance… In a way, it keeps you on your feet,” McCartney wrote.

Some of the variation in live theatre comes from mistakes. Actors quickly learn to accept that and learn how to move past them.

“If you trip over that pirouette or something, or crack on that high note, it’s kinda just like, ‘it happened, now it’s over, move on,’” Laing said. “You can’t wallow in it.

Hannah (closest pink dancer to camera) in the Zilker Theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. Courtesy of Hannah Hufford

Cause if you do that, then the entire thing’s just gonna be bad.”

Laing even enjoys that aspect of variability and error.

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“It’s just such a rush to be there, and know that you made the mistake, and just be like, ‘Well, here we are,’” said Laing.

At the musical, there are some difficulties with costumes, as Hufford remembered.

“Everyone has different visions for what the costumes should look like,” Hufford wrote, “and creating real costumes that met the expectations of the vision was difficult.”

Another challenge is the stark difference in temperatures between the first rehearsals and the ones located at the Hillside.

“Where we had our rehearsals before we moved to the Hillside was a freezer,” McCartney wrote, “and then at the Hillside where it was blistering hot.”

Tech week, when all the technical aspects are added into the performance, is especially stressful.

“Everybody’s trying to work this spread-out circle into one show, and that’s why we call the tech week Hell

A group shot of the Hairspray cast. Courtesy of Desiree Laing

Week. Because it’s stuff like that. It really stresses people out,” said Laing.

For young actors, one great way to improve is to learn

from other more experienced actors.

“Absorb as much information as you can. When in rehearsals, observe what the other actors are doing and apply what they do well to your work,” Hufford wrote.

was really understanding, and it was great. It was a safe environment for me.”

While she may have been young, she did well in the performance thanks to the help of everyone around her.

“Everybody was really understanding, and it was great. It was a safe environment for me.”

“When you’re in theatre, important advice is to give your all into your work,” Hufford said. “It is important to always give 100%. Even if it seems difficult, going full out will push your limits as an actor/singer/dancer and make you a better overall performer.”

Even if you don’t want to act or be in the spotlight, you can still be a part of a troupe. This is one of the reason why Laing enjoys being in theatre.

“If you want to do theatre, you can do so many things!

Like costuming, or sound, or lights, which is why I love theatre so much, cause there are so many aspects to it,” said Laing. “You don’t have to just act, sing, and dance.”

In the end, as long as you give it a try, you’re golden.

“If you express an interest for it, go for it. Cause that’s what I did, and it really paid off.” Laing advised.

In general, the Zilker Summer Musical environment is positive and well-organized.

“They were just like, ‘this is what we’re doing, this is what we’re doing.’ It was all sorts of organized, and I was just like, ‘this is an amazing environment,’” said Laing.

For Laing, who was a newcomer to Zilker Theatre, the empathetic cast and crew were essential.

“Our choreographers, Karen and Davy, were the greatest. I felt really happy to work with them, because they were so understanding.” said Laing. “Everybody

“Everybody’s always willing to help each other out,” Laing recounted.

A Zilker Summer Musical’s cast forms strong bonds.

“We were like, ‘let’s get to know each other.’ We all had our bonding moments. Like, whether we went, well, not me. Cause I was little. But they went out all the time together on the weekends and stuff,” Laing said.

McCartney agreed wholeheartedly.

“It was amazing how well our cast bonded,” McCartney wrote.

Zilker Summer Musicals are professional productions that have many talented people working on them.

“That show was jam-packed with such a plethora of talent,” wrote McCartney.

Hairspray was a learning experience for Laing, who learned what is not only an important lesson in theatre, but an important lesson in life.

“From theatre I learned how to not focus on what I did wrong, but focus on what I can do better,” Laing said.

In the end, Zilker Summer Musicals are invaluable shows which can change anyone’s life, from audience to actor.

“Theatre is worth it,” Laing enthused.

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Art Bound looking into specific art programs around Austin Morgan Strong

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A

ustin is a place where artists can thrive. Their influence affects the art scene in schools. There are some quality art programs in Austin, supporting middle school artists to explore the fine arts.

An art programs that do projects like sketching live models, using advanced glazing techniques, printmaking onto shirts, using scratch board, and studying art history in the attempt to duplicate techniques are

with a 150 person capacity.

The GSA’s art teacher Nancy Hoover has been teaching all nine grades at the there for over ten years. Her passion for art drives her to teach all her students at a high level.

The major project for fall 2017 has been creating superheroes: the girls draw a superhero, give them powers, and a name.

They then display them outside the art room for all to admire.

For some girls, this is their first time focusing on art, so Hoover teaches them advanced techniques.

“Every child who comes to the GSA, is taught that art can be learned. You don’t have to have it as your specialty or your talent,” Hoover said.

One major competition the girls do is the Scholastic Art and Writing program, a competition which opened in 1923 and is open to 7th through 12th graders.

Art teacher at The Girls’ School of austin Nancy Hoover touches up on some artwork. Photo by Joan Gillcrist.

The students compete at a regional level for gold keys, silver keys, and honorable mentions with the chance of winning nationally, if they have received a gold key for regionals.

not abundant, especially at a middle school level, though some can be found.

Last year, the school received 14 regional gold keys, 4 silver regional keys, and 3 honorable mentions. The school began competing in 2008 and have received almost 200 medals in total.

In the neighborhood Tarrytown lies a small private school by the name of The Girls’ School of Austin (GSA), a K-8 school

“I think it’s a fabulous program in that it invites students to participate across the country and like many things,” explained

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o t e h w t o w H a dr dy

F

h ug

o r h t

1.

24

a em

o B le

Start off by drawing a head in the shape of an oval. Heads vary in shape in size, so keep that in mind.

2.

3.

In this step, just add a spine (2 heads). hips (little more than 1 head), and shoulders (one head)

This step, you are adding the extremities.

Shoulder to elbow and elbow to wrist are 1 head. Hips to knee is 1.5 heads, and knee to ankle is 1 head.

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4.

5.

Make any proportional edits in this stage. Also, add it the musculature of your drawing.

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Erase your helping lines, clean up your sketch, and line your artwork with a thicker pen.

Lisa Schmitt, The Girls’ School’s principal of over 10 years.

“It’s nice that our students here don’t have to compete with each other because we’re such a small school, but I like the idea of competition, so it allows us to compete but not have to compete against each other.”

Most schools don’t participate in Scholastic and some don’t even know about it.

Generally, their art programs are not as extensive as The Girls’ School’s. Lizzie Cardenas from O’Henry Middle School, also in Tarrytown, described her favorite project from her 7th grade year: she took a picture of a celebrity off the internet, cut it in half, and drew the other half. This is an average project for a public school.

The techniques Hoover implements in her teaching are not often found at a middle school level; ones like layered glazing, graphite, Tulusa track, just to name a few.

“Probably the fact that it features fine arts, an understanding of the artists and their techniques, even at such a young age is a little unusual. I’ve seen that at the high school level before. It’s unusual to see that in a K-8 program,” Schmitt says.

Most public schools’ art programs do not have the budget from AISD to do the same projects as the Hoover does, but Lamar Middle school, a public Fine Arts Academy for 6th-8th graders, has an AISD budget but is still able to produce high quality art.

“The purpose is to provide a meaningful, deep art experience for kids who have had experience in art or have had no experience in art, and hopefully teach art in a way where they learn to appreciate the art around them and the art inside of them and share that art with others,” explains George Llewelyn, Lamar’s principal.

He says that he has had students interested in science and technology, but after taking a year in art, they discover they love art and they didn’t realize their artistic ability, affecting their own view of their future.

Lamar’s main source of competition is the TAEA Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), whose goal is to recognize exemplary work, but they are also competing in Scholastic starting this year.

Llewelyn explains that they haven’t yet competed in Scholastic due to it being in the fall whereas VASE takes place in spring.

Though extensive art programs are not prominently seen for younger ages, they can be found.

These are only two out of a handful of top-notch middle school art programs.

The art scene is changing; as the standards raise, as teachers become more on the same page , school’s art programs will improve. A bright future is ahead.

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A New Hope Hope Outdoor Gallery Jacob Verastegui A one of a kind park where vandalizing the walls is legal is moving to a new location after years of bringing joy.

Helping Other People Everywhere (HOPE) Outdoor Gallery is a well-known graffiti park located in Austin, Texas. It goes by many other names including Castle Hill, Graffiti Hill, and much more.

This park has been a big tourist attraction and a well known spot for Austinites. It is going to be moved to a new location after all of its years of being on Baylor street.

Now, all we have to look forward to is the future and new location, but we can look back at some of the new and old memories.

HOPE outdoor gallery located at 1101 Baylor St, Austin, TX 78703. Photo by Jacob Verastegui

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There are a lot of different feelings when it comes to Castle Hill moving. Some people believe that it’s the right time for it to move, while other are still not ok with it. There are also a lot of vendors who go to the spot to sell pictures of past art that was on the walls. Artists who paint at the location sell their art if they can. “I would be a feel a little bummed for

some of the people who rely on that place as a means of income.” explained LEWYV, an artist at Castle Hill “A lot of vendors come

has run its course.”

A lot of artists do think that the location has served its purpose and is ready to move.

They are now looking for a new place to put HOPE Outdoor Gallery, which most likely will not be referred to as Castle Hill anymore.

A lot of businesses in the surrounding area are being tagged on because they are located close to the park. Their property is being vandalized due to people thinking that it is ok to tag on them since it is close to Castle Hill.Even surrounding houses have graffiti on their fences.

Nathan Nordstrom, a graffiti artist and curator. Courtesy of Nordstorm

out and sell their art and I have became friends with them over time, so it would be sad not to see them doing what they love every weekend.”

Nathan Nordstrom, also known as “Sloke One”, has been painting there since the 90’s (when it was illegal), and is going to be a curator of the new park.

Nordstrom said, “I have talked to some of the community, the neighbors, and a lot of them are very adamant about it moving.

They don’t [the vandalism] Me personally, I wouldn’t want people in my yard tagging my car. I mean there are a lot of things that have happened that if I was in the neighborhood, I would be upset.” People doing this also does not give graffiti such people out there a great name.

“I mean, you got painting murals for 8 to 16 hours a day and then somebody scribbling on it then taking a selfie. It’s not cool. In some cities, you would get shot for that.”

Nathan also added, “I think it just boils down to respect.”

“It has outgrown its place” and “the property has been sold and it’s time to move on.” Nordstorm said.

What a lot of artists also do not like about the park is that artwork is not preserved. It takes about a day for it to be tagged over and gone.

Wade Thompson, also known as Manwithpencil, said “The spot on Baylor

Nordstrom explained, “Where it actually was a place to have art created and stay

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up for a little while kind of just became a bunch of scribble on the wall.” A lot of people go there just to tag their name on the wall, but most of the time it covers other artwork and ruins it.

Wade said, “I feel the new location can have better attention and care to ensure that the work by legitimate artists can be preserved for everyone to see.” Currently there are no rules or regulations about going over someone else’s artwork.

Everyone paints whatever represents them, whether that be a struggle in life or a passion that they have.

Photos taken by Jacob Verastegui

While talking about this matter, Nordstrom said something that was pretty strong, “I mean, you got people out there painting murals for 8 to 16 hours a day and then somebody scribbling on it then taking a selfie. It’s not cool. In some cities, you would get shot for that.”

A lot of these artist put in a lot of time and work, even though their work doesn’t usually stay up for more than a couple of hours.

There are a lot of opinions when it comes to how the park represents the community.

LEWY said, “Castle Hill is a place where people can freely express themselves in a rather large format for the public’s eye to see.”

Wade said, “I believe it represents the ‘Austin’ scene very well on both sides of the coin. There are the artists who put in real work and time to make art for everyone and because of that everyone wants to come and draw nonsense all over it. It represents the community perfectly, Austin thinks it

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Photo by Jacob Verastegui.

Photo by Jacob Verastegui.

knows what art is, but all the while it is dumping garbage on top of its artists.”

Each person who does graffiti has their own reasons behind it. Doing it because of a struggle or to relieve stress are just a few examples.

Nordstrom made a metaphor when it came to describing how the public treated Castle Hill. He said,” I always tell people it’s like a public restroom. How clean is a public restroom? Generally [not that clean].

Exactly same with Castle Hill. So when you give the public something and you don’t have any type of staff or direction, it becomes a mess.” HOPE has been trying to regulate how the art is kept, but it is hard since they are a nonprofit organization and don’t have employees.

Most of these artists have been painting here for years, while some are still new. All have good memories while being at castle hill.

LEWY said, “My first experience at Castle Hill was after seeing the photos from Instagram for so long, I just had to put some of my own art on the wall. I met some local artists [and] they welcomed me to paint, and we still talk to this day.” Wade said, “I have spent a lot of hours out there painting and hanging out with friends”.

Nordstrom said, “It is the freedom of expression, it’s something I have been doing 28 years now, and I will be doing it all of my life as long as I can move and breath, you know.”

LEWY said the reason he does it is because “ Painting a large wall with spray paint gives you the opportunity to get a message across. I feel like I have this gift to spread positivity, so if I have the opportunity to create a mural of the energy and message I want to send, then I take it.”

Wade said, “My own conflict’s with myself. It’s something I have learned and developed to help me cope with problems and complications in my life.”

Each person has their own reason for doing graffiti but they all have one thing in common. They all have a passion for it which will continue for years to come.

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