Written by Brittlyn Jackson and Kayla Fleming
To wrap up an exciting and informative weekend in Austin at the Texas Tribune Festival, LEAP students visited the Blanton Museum of Art. Founded in 1936 and located on the edge of the University of Texas at Austin’s campus (with an astonishing view of the Texas State Capitol), Blanton houses more than 22,000 pieces from a variety of cultures, time periods, and artistic styles.
Professor Yawn pointed out many great artists throughout our visit, including one of his personal favorites, Jerry Bywaters. Bywaters was a Texas regionalist, and his piece, Oil Field Girls, gave us a view of the West Texas landscape and conditions during the 1940s.
We also learned about Thomas Moran and Albert Bierstadt, important artists associated with the Hudson River School who created paintings depicting the American West. Their paintings, The Golden Hour and Indian Canoe, allowed us to see how Americans viewed the West in the late 1800s. The warm tones of what appeared to be a setting sun, along with the beautiful landscapes, made these paintings visually striking and compelling.
We also encountered art pieces from the Spanish Americas, many of which had unknown artists. I noticed a lot of the Spanish art consisted of religious paintings and sculptures. We also came across another Texas native and Latino artist, Luis Jiménez, whose fiberglass sculpture, Border Crossing [Cruzando el Río Bravo], immediately caught my attention. The sculpture itself stands around 4ft tall and features bright neon colors. The sculpture, like most of Jiménez’s work, features bright colors he associates with Mexico, making it all the more captivating.
We then got to see examples of Pop Art, including Andy Warhol’s painting, Farrah Fawcett. We also viewed artists who specialized in cubism and abstraction. One of the most well-known artists we saw was Pablo Picasso, who had two paintings on display when we visited.
We also got to visit Ellsworth Kelly’s chapel, titled Austin, located outside the museum. The Chapel was solid white with geometric designs and colorful stained-glass windows that looked stunning in the light, a staple of Kelly’s work.
My favorite piece personally was Madam C. J. Walker by Sonya Clark, a portrait of Madam Walker made entirely out of hair combs. I really liked how the individual combs came together to create the portrait. I also enjoyed the creativity and symbolism behind using the combs, especially because Madam Walker rose to fame in African American hair care products.
After the museum, we had the chance to drive by the Elisabet Ney Museum on our way home. It was built in her former home and art studio in Hyde Park, standing out because of its limestone castle-like structure. We were especially interested due to our tour of the Capitol, where she has two prominent statues in the South Foyer. They are of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, two prominent figures in Texas History.
The museum was a perfect way to end an exciting and educational trip. LEAP students learned a lot and enjoyed their time there tremendously. From exciting panels sparking new ideas to culinary adventures like Skipjack Oyster, it was a trip to remember. We are excited to take our lessons and newfound ideas back to Huntsville, where we can use them in our everyday lives.
