Art City Austin took over the area around Austin City Hall this weekend. Over 100 artists  set up tents to display their fine art and jewelry in this show sponsored by Art Alliance Austin. While many artists were from central Texas, the show also attracted participation from far-away places such as Toronto, Boston, and Seattle. The weekend weather was a bit warm, but much nicer than last year’s stormy weather.

This year’s festival was shifted one block east, so that City Hall was in the exact center of the activities. Traffic was still snarled since Caesar Chavez and the First Street Bridge were closed, but just that one block change made it easier for us downtown residents to drive  over to I-35 or Mopac.

Artwork included painting, photography, mixed media, ceramics, and sculpture. Most booths displayed “No Photos, Please” signs, so I limited my picture-taking to just a few outdoor displays. Festival-goers were also invited into the City Hall building to view the 2013 art exhibit there called The People’s Gallery.

Art City Austin included a Kid’s Block with children’s craft activities hosted by local non-profits such as the Austin Children’s Museum and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. One booth was devoted to folding origami peace cranes to be used in the upcoming 20ft WIDE exhibition in a downtown alley later this week.