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 Thursday, June 26. About 50 people came, saw, and raved about the screening of Lisa Orr and Troy Lanier's film about the pottery of San Jose de Gracia and Patamban, Michoacan. Those "piña pots" will never look the same to us! It was indeed a wonderful film.
And a wonderful evening. Our hosts, John and Melissa Torres, were so gracious, and everyone enjoyed seeing their collection of Oaxacan wood carvings and meeting Christopher Barnett, who recently completed a 4 x 15" mural for their kitchen. Lisa Orr introduced the film. AFFA had donated grant money for the making of it. The film was professionally done, with a professional voice-over.
 Friday, May 16. Austin Friends of Folk Art met for a tour of the Cathedral of Junk in South Austin.
"Yardist" Vince Hannemann has been building his Cathedral of Junk in South Austin since 1988 and he estimates it now contains over 60 tons of junk. "I just did it because it was kinda cool," he says. "It's my clubhouse. It's fun." He says he has about three different fantasies going on at the same time as he builds, and he enjoys sitting outside in the evening, looking at the structure, and thinking about what he'll add where.
We enjoyed our evening there, too.
The weather was cool, torches flared, mini-lights winked here and there around the structure and the moon peeked through the enormous oak tree that shares Vince's back yard with the Cathedral of Junk.
Cathedral of Junk
Address: 4422 Lareina Drive, Austin, TX [Show Map]
Directions: On the south side of town. US 81/290 to the Hwy 71 (Ben White Blvd E.) exit. Hwy 71 west to the Congress Ave. exit. Head south a couple of blocks, turn right on St. Elmo Rd W., then take the second left onto Lareina.
Admission: Free, donations accepted.
Hours: Most Saturdays. (Call to verify)
Phone: 512-299-7413
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Lucille Harmon strikes a regal pose in the
throne at the Cathedral of Junk. |
Monica Shomos hams it up when it's her turn. |
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| An artistic view from the top of the structure. |
The structure itself. |
Not photographed was the passageway topped by bedsprings with blue bottles. You have to see it!
All photos by Mary Paige Huey
More Cathedral of Junk photos by Sylvia Guyton
 April 5, 2008. Twenty-five members and ten art teachers went to see the Craft in America exhibit at the Contemporary Craft Museum in Houston. Although picture-taking was not allowed, the exhibit catalog, with a prologue by former president Jimmy Carter, had photographs of the fine wood craft, glass, metal, and woven objects in the exhibit. Later the group visited the Orange Show which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The three members standing in the Orange Show are Sharon Smith, Doug Rhodenbaugh, and Anna Prothro. A wedding was to take place here the next day.
 March 29 Opening Ceremony of the Crestview Wall of Welcome
Marcia Lucas, Susan Lowrance, Merry Wheaton, Gloria Pennington, and Terry Tannert represented AFFA at the opening ceremony for the Wall of Welcome at Crestview Center created by member Jean Graham and the Crestview community.
Pictured are Jean Graham, part of the wall, and the tile created by Merry Wheaton and Nancy Townsend for AFFA. AFFA gave a grant to the artist and also added to the gift given her at the ceremony.
Sat.
Mar. 8 The Secret Life of Junk: a found art workshop
with Beverly Mangham.
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| Beverly Mangham, our leader of the found object art workshop. She is giving us some general instructions to start our projects. |
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| Terry Tannert and Anna Prothro attended this day-long workshop in San Marcos. Anna worked on a memorial box for her deceased dog Obie. Terry's theme was courtly love based on poems by Byron. |
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Feb. 22 & 23. Visit by the Santa Fe Friends of the Spanish Colonial Museum.
| At Fonda San Miguel where the Santa Fe friends joined with members of AFFA for dinner. Members of AFFA in foreground, Terry Tannert and Ann Bahan. |
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| During the visit by the Friends of Spanish Colonial art we met for a brief time at the home of Candy Becker. Pictured in the center are Candy and Ed Jordan chatting with Santa Fe guests. |
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 Sun. Feb. 10, 4-7pm Membership Party at the Home of John & Melissa Torres. Take a beautiful home, a fascinating collection of Mexican masks, Oaxacan wood carvings and other folk art, add friends, food, spirits, the music of Cienfuegos, dance demos and a lesson (line-dance style) by Candela.... It's a recipe for an event to share. See the video of AFFA dancing with Candela as Cienfuegos plays and Candela's rueda demo
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Merry Wheaton (in background) introduces the proposed 2008 board members, approved shortly thereafter by unanimous vote:
(l to r) Teresa Kendrick, mary Paige Huey, Sue Fairbanks, Barbara Jackson, Deborah Robertson, Sandie Huston.
Missing from photo are John Torres, Tom Ashbaugh, Susan Lowrance and Terry Tannert.
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Out back, while the band broke, AFFA board president Merry Wheaton gave an annual report of AFFA activities and grants for 2007 to the membership. |
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AFFA member Dick LeVan and new AFFA board member Deborah Robertson |
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Candela dancer taking a break. |
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 Sat.
Jan. 19 Visit to W.W. Treen-ware Co. in Elgin,
TX. In
a 1901 building on Main St., Nancy Lou Webster
makes hand-shaped wooden kitchen utensils using
native woods. Her traditional Welsh love spoons
are hotly collected. An interesting studio tour,
a chance to try our hands at making treenware,
a fun visit with a colorful Texas artisan, and
a special lunch treat.
Photos at right: Nancy Lou Webster at work at W.W. Treenware Co in downtown Elgin, TX.
Nancy Lou is one of fewer than 50 artists designated as a Texas Original by the Texas Commission on the Arts, for their work which embodies both excellence and uniqueness.
Below: Merry Wheaton (in back) and Gloria Pennington (in front) listen to Nancy Lou while Sue Fairbanks and Barbara Jackson check out Nancy Lou's fro, a wood splitting tool she with a wonderful torqued blade that she found at an antique fair. (Don't worry. If you don't know Barbara, she's a saint!) |
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Masters of Mexican Folk Art feria at the
yacht club at Chapala.
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Nov. 8 – 12 Rendezvous in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico for the Feria Maestros del Arte
Ajijic (Ah-hee-HEEK) is a beautiful village on the shore of Mexico's largest lake, Lake Chapala. It is located 700 miles south of the US border but just 30 minutes south of the Guadalajara International Airport. The area is noted for its exceptional climate; in November, daytime temperatures will be around 70° F. Ajijic is home to a vibrant international community of Mexicans, Americans, Canadians and Europeans, many of whom are devoted to helping sustain the traditional arts of Mexico.
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Teresa Kendrick helped organize the feria and encouraged AFFA members to attend. |
| The Feria Maestros del Arte is organized by just such a group. It brings artists from around Mexico—the famous and the yet-to-be-widely-known—to Ajijic, lodges them with families, feeds them two meals a day, and provides a place for them to sell their work—all at no cost to them. The group is non-profit and charges the artists no commission. The Feria is a wonderful opportunity to meet artists and buy their wares directly from them. |
 November 3, Day of the Dead Ofrenda & Chicken Mole and Potluck Feast. About 25 people celebrated AFFA's poignant Day of the Dead Ofrenda at the home of Merry Wheaton and Dick LeVan. The main course of chicken mole and a good variety of appetizers, sides, salads and desserts made it a real feast. AFFA members brought photos of friends and family who have passed for the ofrenda and the exchange of stories as we remembered them was truly heartfelt and touching.
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Here Nancy Townsend, Arnold Lopez-Cepero, Dick LeVan and Pat Brown (clockwise from bottom) listen as Carol Currens remembers Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro.
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Arnold Lopez-Cepero and Elayne Lansford prepare to serve it up. |
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Sandie Huston, Nancy Townsend, Lee Huston and Arnold Lopez-Cepero (clockwise from bottom) listen attentively. |
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Jean Cornelius, Shirley Weiler and her friend Jo (clockwise from top) chuckle in a light moment. |
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 Sat.
Oct. 27, 5 pm at Plaza Saltillo (5th and Comal). AFFA
Participates in Mexic-Arte's Annual Dia de los Muertos
Procession and Celebration. This year's
Dia de los Muertos Procession, sponsored by Mexic-Arte
Museum, honored Frida Kahlo, who was born 100 years
ago. Mexic-Arte's window featured this beautiful altar by
Polly Johnson
and Ed Jordan.
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Merry Wheaton, Susan Vigliano and all the other AFFA Frida's wore buttons saying,
"BESAME. SOY FRIDA."
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AFFA was there with two well-marked trucks! Sharon Smith's,
topped
by a basket full of chihuahuas, held a colorful group. And the stilt people rode along, too, while they strapped on
their "legs." |
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The Smith Gang.
After the parade, in the PEDESTRIANS ONLY area, Sharon
Smith
successfully defends her parking job.
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Terry Tannert's light-draped truck carried 3 generations
of Fridas: Nancy Townsend, her daughter, McKenna Welsh (our webmaster)
and
granddaughter, Ceilidh Welsh.
Merry Wheaton, Gary Plank, Candy Becker and Sharon Smith enjoy
curbside dining with
lively musical entertainment.
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There were poignant altars, including one for military and civilian victims of the War in Iraq. The entire event was very authentic and next year, we plan to participate again!
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 Mon.
Oct. 15: AFFA received a Community Arts Award
in appreciation of its donation of $3,500 in 2006 to
the commissioned artists who are creating artwork for
the seven way-finding obeliscos included in the East
Seventh Street Corridor Improvement Project. A reception
with other members of the arts community, Arts Commissioners,
and city staff followed the ceremony.
City of Austin Cultural Arts Program Manager Vincent
E. Kitch presents the award to Nancy Townsend.
Be sure to see the award at upcoming AFFA events.
Sun. Oct.
14, Philippe Klinefelter Studio Visit.
This amazing Austin architect, sculptor and architectural
artisan works in stone, metal and wood. He says his
3 years as an advisor on the Nowlin's Maya House, a
12,000 sq. ft. anachronism off City Park Road, drew
on 35 years of study of Mayan architecture and culture.
Go to www.pksculptor.com to see the intricate limestone frieze "Homage to
Uxmal", massive walnut columns, a 6 ton granite
Mayan turtle shell fountain sculpture, and the Nowlin's
pool, designed like a Mayan ball court, complete with
granite and obsidian rings.
Philippe says he expects to dedicate the rest of his
life to public art, some of which you can see mounted
high on the walls in the baggage-claim area of Austin
Bergstrom International Airport. The bas relief sculptures
honor the native trees for which the numbered streets
downtown were originally named.
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Philippe Klinefelter with some
of his Mayan
carving tools made of jade. |
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Precolombian artifacts |
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Tools from Philippe's collection.
AFFA guest, Sara Madera admired Klinefelter's
marble wall.
An additional treat was seeing the work
of Sun Yong Chung, who founded Ginko Studios
in 1985 and produces intricately inlaid
colored porcelain wares, tiles and one-of-a-kind
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Sun Yong only uses clear glaze;
all the color is in the clay. Her work is gorgeous!
Check it out: www.ginkopottery.com |
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| AFFA members enjoying snacks
in the couple's exuberant garden. Susan Lowrance
liked this plate. |
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Sat. Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m. Lance Aaron Guided Tour of
His Collection at Mexic-Arte, 419 Congress Ave. Repeated by popular demand! Curated
by James Oles, this exhibit features an important modern
Mexican art collection made possible through the generosity
of Lance and Erika Aaron. Many of us who saw this exhibit
with Lance on May 5, 2007 want to see it again, and
certainly anyone who missed it before should not miss
it this time!
Consumate collector Lance Aaron will guide us through
an exhibit of more than 100 pieces from his collection
of Mexican fine and folk art produced 1886-1957. This
includes art of masters such as David Alfaro Siqueiros,
Dr. Atl (Gerardo Murillo), Carlos Merida, Rufino Tamayo,
Maria Izquerido, Roberto Montenegro, Alfredo Ramos Martinez,
Olga Costa and Juan Soriano, as well as exquisite and
rare pieces of folk art from the period.
The exhibit is divided into four categories:
- Rediscovering the Folk addresses the rediscovery,
promotion and appropriation of rural folk art traditions
by urban sophisticates.
- Reinventing the Nation explores how art was used to
forge a national identity based largely on idealized
visions of the peasantry.
- Return to Classicism includes images of mythical and
allegorical figures more closely tied to a generic Greco-Roman
past than to local realities.
- Portraying the Self focuses on portraits and self-portraits.
Based on Lance's own words in his small book that accompanied
the exhibition of his collection at the MUNAL, the collection
is focused geographically on Mexico, figuration rather
than abstraction, chronologically emphasizing modern
rather than contemporary, focusing on items from the
Golden Age of Mexican art (1920's to 1950's).
Lance has huge paintings and a lot of sculpture as well
as old pottery, exquisite lacquerware, one of four known
masks in the world that is quite old and unique, small
sculptures of wax figures, embroideries....
He has supporting documentation from books on most artists
or pieces and that is all very interesting. Besides
the history and details on all pieces of art, he knows
the provenance of most, and the period the artist was
in when he completed a piece. This is not a gallery
walk, but a chance to hear stories and facts you'd never
know, while getting a glimpse into the heart and soul
of a collector.
Cost is just the price of admission to Mexic-Arte; free
with a Mexic-Arte member card.
Wed. Sept.
19, San Antonio Excursion. The day started with a visit to Barney
Smith's Toilet Seat Museum in a garage in upscale
Alamo Heights. |
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Barney (in apron) was delighted
to have us view the 800 toilet seats he has decorated. |
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doggie seat was the retired plumber's first project.
"I realized how much I liked the seats as
a canvas," says 86-year-old Barney, who has
been making art on toilet seats for over 30 years. |
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His
museum has been featured in national media, including
an interview by Barbara Walters.
Barney uses all sorts of objects, witness the
spoon handle turkey seat, the American Sign Language
Seat, a very dangerous looking seat, and the colorful
"Free to Go" parrot seat below. |
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| Candy
Becker and Susan Frost took turns signing a toilet
seat. Barney will later engrave the signatures
and create an AFFA seat to remember our visit by. |
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the garage was not air conditioned but David Stark
found a way to keep cool and everybody, including
Pat Brown, Sharon Smith and Patricia Wise, left
with a smile. See more about Barney Smith at roadsideamerica.com. |
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Next stop was Mi Tierra
for lunch. |
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The poised Carolina Rubio gave
us a sneak preview of the Huipiles exhibit at
Museo Amaneda, where photography was not allowed.
Merry Wheaton models her new huipil from Coban,
Guatemala. |
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silver by the last surviving master from the Spratling
era, Sigi Pineda, (2) silver jewelry by contemporary
Mexican silversmiths, and (3) huipiles from our
own Sally and David Hamilton. |
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The trip concluded with a visit
to the wonderful "new" home of Susan
Toomey Frost, where we enjoyed her collection
of San Jose tiles, glass, and other art. |
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Susan's gracious home invited relaxation,
conversation and good times.
Terry Tannert enjoys the garden room.
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Ed Jordan and Gary Plank are deep
(?) in conversation, and Barbara von Mertz enjoys
chatting with Susan Frost and a friend of hers in
the
lovely tiled kitchen.
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Meanwhile Sylvia Guyton couldn't be happier with her
genuine Mexican strawberry paleta.
Rush hour traffic on IH-35 home was the
only part of the day we would't jump or repeat. |
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On the lid of the
AFFA seat, Barney attached some of the nuts we
gave him around our group picture. He added the
logo from the package of nuts along with this
comment, "At the rate I'm going, I'll end
up in the nut house." On the underside, he
put the AFFA logo and thank-you letter. We are
the newest seat, and our number is 824. |
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Sat. Sept. 15, Shield, Story & Song in the Lakota
Tradition: A shield-making workshop for children ages
8 - 12, with mixed-media artist, Tim White Face. Fifteen Scouts and Webelos from Troop 345, sponsored by
Knights of Columbus at St. William's Church in Round Rock,
and some of their siblings spent an afternoon with Native
American artist and sun dancer, Tim White Face, and they
made shields to prove it. |
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Drumming |
James |
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White Face, who visited Austin from his home on
Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, started
the afternoon with a prayer in the Lakota language,
stressed the importance of treating each other and
our world with respect, and then sang and drummed
three songs. "The drum represents a heartbeat,"
he told the group. |
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Mr.
White Face showed the children how to stretch
fabric around a hoop and when this was accomplished,
they decorated their shields with enthusiasm and
creativity. James gave his design considerable
thought before setting to work. |
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| Christian,
a 5th grader and a member of the Dragon Den, made
a reversible shield. |
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covered his completely with bright squiggly lines,
and another Scout drew a very impressive longhorn
on his. |
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Alex
and Nick with Mr. White Face |
Asked what
his favorite part of the afternoon was, Scout Nick said,
"Pretty much everything." Everyone involved
was delighted with the program. "Scouts have
to do four craft projects to earn the Craftsman badge,
so this was great for us," explained Cubmaster Laura
Giovannetti. President of AFFA's board Merry Wheaton
said, "Awakening an appreciation for folk art among
children is an important part of our mission," and
board member Barbara Jackson noted, "The children
really got into it in a way we adults sometimes have difficulty
doing."
For a group photo of the Scouts with Mr. White Face, see
the "How We
Support Folk Art" page. |
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 Sunday,
Aug. 19, 5 pm Indian Classical Dance Drama, Krishnam
Vande Jagatgurum. The Silamban Dance
Company is touring the US in a revival of this classic
about "Krishna as a child, lover and God...playful,
romantic and awe-inspiring by turns..." It premiered
in India to rave review last year and those of us who
saw it in Austin enjoyed it, too. Plus the audience
was a veritable fashion show, with Indian women dressed
to the nines. Dinner at The Clay Pit followed, with
a delicious and varied menu. It's at 17th and
Guadalupe, and reportedly has a great happy hour with
half-price appetizers. Check it out at www.claypit.com.
 Saturday,
July 28, 2007 Opening of Mexican Masters Galeria.
The gallery--absolutely full of high quality folk art
from Guadalajara, Tonala, Tlaquepaque, Oaxaca and elsewhere
in Mexico--opened to an enthusiastic crowd. Sales
were lively, the food was delicious, the margaritas
and agua de piña were terrific-even the weather
cooperated! Thanks to Teresa Kendrick, Carmen
Sepulveda, Roberto Garduño, Linda Hannah, Suzy
Kirchberg and Roberto Alvarado for all their efforts
to bring this beautiful folk and us together!
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Teresa Kendrick makes a sale
Susan White Vigliano and Elayne Lansford, lookin'
good!
Ed Jordan with a clay figurine from Santa Maria Aztompa,
Oaxaca
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Terry Tannert and Don Johnson
Anna Prothro admires the pottery
John Torres -- gotta have this fun canela pot by Nicasio
Pajarito Gonzalez
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Sharon Horowitz and Elayne Lansford
check out papel picado
Susan Lowrance, Monica Shomos and Ron Taylor (above,
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Mexican Masters Galeria is pleased to offer,
here in the U.S., high quality Mexican art by Master folk
artists, as well as by up-and-coming artists who work
in Mexican traditional arts. Artists are selected based
on the merit of their work as well as their ability to
continue making it. Art that has been in the same family
for generations is of particular interest to the gallery.
Mexican Masters Gallery is a joint project of the acclaimed
El antiQuario magazine and works in conjunction with the
Feria Maestros del Arte, a completely non-profit, 3-day
market in Ajijic, Jalisco, that takes place each November.
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AFFA members who visited the Mexican Masters
of Folk Art show in Round Top, Texas, in April 2007 got
a glimpse of the quality of art we offer in the Mexican
Masters Gallery. http://www.mexicoetc.com |
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 Thursday,
June 21, 7 pm AFFA
Movie Night
A mix
of documentary, children's story and narrative drama,
Cave of the Yellow Dog is a beautifully filmed adventure
all ages will enjoy. The charismatic Mongolian family
portrayed in the film are a real family—not professional
actors, the scenery is breathtaking, the story is compelling,
and the intimate look at a very different lifestyle
is thought provoking. The Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes
Film Festival, this movie is both heartwarming and pragmatic.
93 minutes. Sitter on hand.
AFFA's
Cinco De Mayo Event ,
May 5, 10am -3pm
This was a triple treat
5 de mayo! Los Amigos del Arte Popular (LADAP), who
came from Houston, had arranged for Lance Aaron to give
each group a guided tour of his important collection
of fine and folk art from Mexico's Golden Age (1920-1950),
much of which was exhibited at MexicArte.
The exhibit "From Revolution to Renaissance"
included more than 100 pieces from the collection of
Lance and Erika Aaron. Lance talked about how he defined
the collection and shared information about the artists,
as well as anecdotes about how he acquired some of the
pieces. Following that, we had lunch with the LADAP
folks at the art-filled home of Nilda de la Llata, and
then the LADAP members visited the colorful Mexican-inspired
home of Merry Wheaton and Dick LeVan.
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At Mexic-Arte where Lance Aaron gave AFFA a tour
of his collection of Mexican fine and folk art
Aaron's Sculpture (left)
Lance at MexicArte (above) |
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Hostess Nilda de
la Llata and Sandie Huston |
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Susan White Vigliano
and Susan Toomey Frost enjoyed talking with Francisco
Kochen Berenstain, of Mexico City, who attended
the Lance Aaron opening for ARTES DE MEXICO magazine. |
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At Nilda's house
where AFFA and Los Amigos del Arte Popular (LADAP)
members had a delicious Mexican lunch and got
to know each other. |
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Saturday,
February 24 8 am-5 pm Peckerwood Garden & Mexican
Folk Art Gallery Hempstead, Texas
This outstanding repository of rare plants &
unique folk art from Mexico and the U.S. exists to encourage
people to rebuild the common heritage that lies in our
shared ecological & cultural experiences. You can
read about John Fairey's 30-year effort and see gorgeous
images of the garden at www.peckerwoodgarden.com
but his folk art collection is rarely open to the public
& there are no images on the web, so this opportunity
to see it with AFFA was very special. We thoroughly
enjoyed the gallery and the gardens, the chance to shop
for plants at adjacent Yucca Do Nursery, and the delicious
lunch at The Secret Garden Tea Room. |
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Camelias and palm (left)
Shirley Weiler enjoys fine wine at the pit stop
on the way back from Hempstead. (above) |
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Andrea Prestridge's purchase (the
table) comes in handy at the pit stop. (above,
left)
Nancy Townsend strolls the gardens (above, right)
Dagmar Grieder and Anna Prothro stroll along the
creek. (left)
Quiet corner by the fountain (above) |
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For
19 Years of AFFA, click here.
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