Art City Austin- Who's Who??!

I realize that many of you have been holding your breathe with anticipation, wondering who all these fabulous looking people I photographed in Austin are.  I apologize for the loss of sleep that my disregard for your burning curiosity must have caused.  Fear no longer, your questions are about to be answered.  Yes, it's time.  You are ready, young grasshopper, to have a glimpse into the world of Art City Austin that I was fortunate enough to experience.

If you are reading this, tilting your head like a dog listening to high-pitched sound, wondering what the hell I am talking about- that can only mean you have not "liked" my photography facebook page.  To remedy this, you should click this link: http://www.facebook.com/synergyimpressions

Ok, now that we have the formalities out of the way...

While in Austin last week, I was fortunate enough to experience Art City Austin.  While migrating through the crowds of onlookers surrounded by artisans from near and far, I decided that one way I could express my inspiration was to do so with my camera.  Not only would this be a way to merge into the creative energies that were swirling around the streets of Austin, but an attempt to cross-network with other artisans.  My hope is that some of you may see examples of their creation, check out their work, visit their websites, and maybe even decide to have some of their work live with you.

What you'll see is a quick snapshot of the artisan, potentially a snapshot of their work, and below those images, links to their websites for additional information: their bios, stories, adventures, and any other interesting facts they may have online.  I urge you to take the time to view their work, get inspired, stalk them on facebook, and show your support.  In fact, I know a few of these artisans will be coming to Park City as well- which means you local Utah folks may even have a chance to meet some of these brilliant people.

Ok, on with it!  Here you go!

Artist: Michael O'Brien

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michaelobrienart

Artist: Leif Holland
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LeifHollandArt/107887802626904
Random video I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdHdeYH3fh4

Artist:  Brianna Martray
Website: http://www.briannamartray.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briannamartrayfineart

Artist: Todd Alexander
Website: http://web.mac.com/toddalexanderart/Todd_Alexander/Home.html

Artist: Wendy Newman
Website: http://wendynewmanjewelry.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-Newman-Jewelry/110758455637864

Artist: Jerry Allen Brem
Website: http://www.jabrem.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-by-Brem/270669166924?sk=wall

Artist: Kreg Yingst
Website: http://kregyingst.com/

Artist: Michael Chen
Website: http://michaelchenphotography.com/

Artist: Mychal Mitchell
Website: http://ionahandcraftedbooks.com/

Since I know all of you reading this are avid art connoisseurs and thus have spent the last 3 hours pouring over each featured artists website, I will refrain from making this post any longer with further commentary from myself.

Thank you to the artisans for allowing me to photograph them and sharing their creations.  Also, a huge thanks to you, the readers, for continuing to supports artisans and creators alike.  Please feel free to leave comments and future showing information below!  Go forth and be inspired!

Art City Austin Inspiration

Before you read any further, please know that I am operating remotely in Austin, Texas and my computer (as well as any processing abilities) remain in Salt Lake City, Utah.  That being said, I have access to a computer at the moment and cannot wait to spill the contents of my over-flowing brain onto this blog.  I wanted to draw your attention to the first sentence so that I could expose my inability to share my photos and videos of the subjects I am about to describe.

Art City Austin.

How fortunate that I arrive in Austin, Texas during an art festival!  Creative energies everywhere.  Inspiration leaping from canvas to metal sculpture... enlivened persons wandering from booth to booth, gently caressed by the warm Austin breeze.  Yes.  This is how the world should involve art.  Whole hearted-ly and with reckless abandon.

Inspired by the surrounding area and infused with a newly awakened inspiration to connect with a place I had previously know so little about- I spontaneously launched a "Get to know the People of Austin" project.  As you roll your eyes and wonder what debauchery I have gotten myself into THIS time... let me explain.  A society is a sum of it's parts, those parts, by default are the people that inhabit that specific geographic region.  Demographic and cultural tendencies not withstanding, I wanted to capture moments of the people that inhabited this area that seems so vibrant.  I wanted to connect with them for a moment, to form a bond, to maybe even create a future relationship or some greater far reaching effect that is not even realized yet....

What amazed me, more so than my own eagerness to photograph seemingly random people, was their own eagerness to be photographed.  It was their own willingness to open themselves up to a complete stranger with a big camera from Utah (you know, that state that has those crazy liquor laws) that inspired me to continue to harass (speak with) people and take their photo.

This idea became even more interesting as I walked into the art festival.  All of a sudden, every 10 feet there was a new face, another inspired being, a fellow artist.  Although it would have been slightly unrealistic to photograph each and every artist, it was incredible to cross paths briefly, explain the project, exchange business cards, snap a photo and wander on.

Why would I want to take random photos of artists and put them on my website??

Simply put: to connect.   To connect our inspiration, to connect our ideas, our websites, our social media outlets, our insecurities, our strengths, our weaknesses, our art.  I hope to share websites and potentially cross-link our respective visions.  I'm sure some of the artists will look at my website (yes, I handed my biz card to everyone I shot) and think... pshaw, this girl isn't my style of photography.  I decided that was ok.  As nerve-racking as it can be to deliberately send other artists to your website, the potential to assist in the creation of an artistic network made it worth the knowledge that my photography could very easily be judged by the same people I was so eager to capture in one shutter click.

So there it is.

Art is greater than the individual.  With that in mind, the more individuals that interact the greater the chance of an increased societal impact of said art.  That's just my personal opinion anyway.

Oh yea, and I will actually put all those pictures up when I get back to Salt Lake City, since I'm not going to want to out in the snow anyway....