Austin Art Yard Tour 2012: The List Here's the FINAL downloadable list and map! (added Purple Martin Passion) NOTE: FLAT FORK STUDIOS IS NOW A DRIVE BY DUE TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY! We've also added, at the very bottom, a new list called "Graveyards" listing art yards that are, sadly, no more... invited = invited to participate on the tour and waiting for confirmation
stellhaus (NEW YARD!!!): 1511 Suffolk Drive drive by For the past 12 years, Tim Stell has delighted his neighbors and friends with an annual freshen-up of the tall tree stump in his front yard. After passing on burning man to finish bringing down the tree, he stopped at one point and realized the tree looked like burning man. Since then the stump has been Betty Boop, the Grinch, and other characters, usually upgraded before All Hallow's Eve. (Bonus yard: Check out the praying mantis up the street at 1612 Suffolk!)
leland cartoon house (NEW YARD!!!): 507 Leland Street drive by Although (ahem) technically not an art yard, this exhuberant paint job can't help but carry over and exhuberfy the surrounding landscape. Check out the nice touch of the design carrying over across the windows! Lance Bradley painted the house.
purple martin passion (NEW YARD!!!): Virginia Avenue & Meghan Lane stop in The Josephs' have dedicated their ample side yard to the spacey housings of Purple Martins and the educating of the masses about said the benefits of said birds.
found object art yard (NEW YARD!!!): 3905-B Grayson Lane stop in Barbara Irwin repurposes metallic castaways into spirited sculpture, much of which is in her yard and much of which is also in her house. She also plans to give tours of her delightful studio. Visit her online here.
kenny dorham's back yard (NEW YARD!!!): 1106 East 11th Street stop in Richard McMillan has converted this empty lot that borders 11th Street into a neighborhood outside art center. Stop in to admire the murals and gardens, partake of some trailer food, get a cold drink, and (ahem) use the (portable) facilities.
woodhenge (NEW YARD!!!): East Cesar Chavez Street & Red Bluff Road drive by There are guerilla yardists in our midst (sounds like a movie: "Gorilla Yardists in out Midst") who, in the deep of night, install yard art in public places. This is one of those places. (Bonus: Check out the sculpture on the grounds of The Artpost across the street. [Coincidence?])
woodnado (NEW YARD!!!): 38th Street & Guadalupe Street drive by There are guerilla yardists in our midst (sounds like a movie: "Gorilla Yardists in out Midst") who, in the deep of night, install yard art in public places. This is ANOTHER one of those places. Megakudos to the property owner for allowing this woodnado to exist here for more than five years now. (Bonus: Get caffeinated at the Starbucks [and use the facilities!])
the foundations municipal (boondoggle) park (NEW YARD!!!): 1002 Baylor Street drive by This name comes from Google maps, but this is not a (ahem) santioned municipal park. It's not a yard either, although long ago these concrete foundations where envisioned to be someone's homes (and yards), so here we go... Note that there are "No Trespassing" signs posted and that the place can be a little dangerous to crawl about if you trespass (which you shouldn't, you know).
the cathedral of junk: 4422 Lareina Drive stop in This is the descendant, the progeny, the daddy, the grand-daddy, the great-grand daddy, and the Adam and Eve of art yards in Austin. An absolutely stunning yard of love, joy, and (probably...) more than 30 tons of junk, wire, and inspiration. This yard is not to be missed!
the faist plaist: 1503 karen street stop in A giant bamboo teepee fire pit, bowling balls, license plates, a house painted in digital camoflage (using Martha Stewart colors), and misc yard ephemera make this a must stop in the center of Austin.
the bottle haus: 2209 south 1st street stop in Susan Maynard lovingly assembled this beautifully mosaiced bottle house next to what used to be the Spunky Monkey, an early Austin art yard environment (remants of which can still be seen next door....). The house, located toward the back of the property, is now used as a studio.
the watterson whimsy: 1701 canyon edge drive stop in They said the Hill Country couldn't be made more beautiful. One hundred bowling balls, bottles, and a little of this and that later, it's clear that they were wrong.
the west lynn gorilla: 710 west lynn street drive by The gorilla on West Lynn, dolled up to honor the holiday du jour, is an Austin art yard classic.
the el paso art bridge: 402 el paso street stop in at the bridge Just to the east of this address is a small art deco-ish bridge that Stefanie Distefano has slowly been turning into a huge (and gorgeous) mosaic. Giant koi fan across the sidewalk while city scenes peek out from the concrete drainage below. And don't miss taking a peek at the southern end of the bridge!
bobby's bone tree sculpture garden: 1410 travis heights boulevard stop in Bobby Lou Pearl's yard not only holds a tree of bones, it tells the story of her grandmother's escape from the pogroms of Russia through a series of beautiful sculptures. And there's also the bust in the tub in the front!
comfort yard for a comfort house: 515 kemp street stop in Florence Ponziano opens her home to area children as a safe (and fun!) place to be. Her energy is infectious, and her yard and home are vivid expressions of her positive artistic energy. Florance is an accomplished mosaic artist, well known for her magically adorned guitars (and bras!). Visiti Florence's Comfort House.
alleycat: 1401 corona drive stop in
flat fork studios: 709 w gibson street drive by
jim hates work: 208 w north loop blvd stop in
sparky texas: 3701 grooms street stop in
abandoned holiness: just south of 1500 pleasant valley
dixon's art hut: 4202 bellvue avenue stop in
black & white: 4605 philco drive stop in
the tree of tooth: 3404 kirby lane drive by
graveyards (austin art yards that are sadly no more...)
bloo plate special: king street (art yard no more)
mano poderosa: east 2nd street (art yard no more)
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