b-uncut

Austin, Texas: the hub of creativity

// July 4th, 2011 // b-Crowd, b-inspired // Kelly

A few weeks ago, I delved into some alternative art experiences in Portland, Oregon, and today, I wanted to highlight another American city that is a magnet for the arts: Austin, Texas.  Also, since it’s July 4th, I wanted to celebrate an American city that is gaining international recognition for bolstering creativity.

Austin is a young city – over 71% of the population is under 45 – and is known to be a burgeoning hub of the arts.  It is also a city that pours a lot of resources into promoting creativity: public art installations can be seen all over the city, Austin is known for its rich gallery and museum collections and is a recipient of the prestigious Mellon Foundation grant.

Charles Umlauf is an Austin-based artist who is at the forefront of promoting sculpture art in this amazing city.  Umlauf’s work ranges from carefully detailed naturalistic sculptures to lyrical abstractions.  However, it’s the various media that he works in that sets him apart.  He has been known to work in terra cotta, stone, bronze, wood and marbles.

Umlauf’s work is well-traveled and can be seen in public collections and museums throughout the United States, including the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the Metropolitan in New York.  However, it’s in Texas where you can visit the bulk of his work: there are more of Umlauf’s sculptures in public places than any other work by a single sculptor.

His subject matter is sensuous, introspective and delightful to behold. In person, the sculptures are captivating smooth and tell the story of their religious or mythological inspiration.

If you’re ever in Austin, first get a breakfast taco, and then head over to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.  Take a stroll around the garden to see the way that the curator intertwines art and nature.  Each exhibition displays the art in an entirely different way, focusing on a new perspective of the sculptures.

Here’s a look at some of the must-see sculptures from Umlauf’s collection.

War Mother

This statue, cast in 1939, shows the artist’s reaction to the Nazi invasion of Poland.  This piece is very emotional and is representative of Umlauf’s work during the 1940s.  The oversized hands of the figure denotes strength, but also emphasises the emotional distress of the subject.   The artist received both praise and criticism for this work, alerting the University of Texas to Umlauf’s sculptures.   The sculpture is made of case stone and is a mixture of marble aggregate and cement poured into a mould.

Lovers I (Amanti)

In Lovers I (Amanti), cast in 1977, we see a radical change from the emotionally distraught pieces from the post-ward period.  This bronze cast piece displays a light-hearted level of intimacy.  

Refugees II

Rufugees II is a bronze sculpture reminiscent of Umlauf’s earlier work.  Cast in 1945, this piece is an expressive and emotionally charged reaction to World War II.