Austin has a plethora of museums. I am trying to visit all of them, especially the ones within walking distance of our downtown apartment. Last weekend a friend and I checked out Arthouse at the Jones Center at the corner of Congress Avenue and 7th Street.
This location used to be the Queen Theater in the 1920s and was purchased to be a contemporary art space in the 1990s. Recent renovations have made the second floor into usable space. According to the Arthouse web site, the 177 small windows are “clustered to selectively allow light into the building.”
“Graham Hudson Rehearsal at the Astoria” is the current exhibit. The artist (that would be Graham) has recreated scaffolding from the Astoria Theatre in London. Then the stage is used by musicians for rehearsals only. No performances are allowed.
An all-girl band called Schmillion was practicing when we visited last weekend. The idea is that the audience (that would be me, my friend, and parents of the band members) become part of the exihibit too. Which we were.
Arthouse at the Jones Center also hosts a Rooftop Architecture Film Series. As the name implies, this involves watching movies about architecture on the roof of the building. Can you believe that Bill has not been to a movie there yet?