Articulations
Johnson/Long Boldly Go ...
By Robert Faires, Fri., Aug. 7, 1998
Invasion of the Incredible Artistic Types, Part IV
Don't be afeared; they're only artists. If you note a substantial increase in the number of creative types wandering around downtown this weekend, that's only because the Texas Commission for the Arts is hosting its annual Cultural Connections conference. Thursday through Saturday, artists and arts administrators from all across the Lone Star State will be gathering at the Omni Austin to discuss the art of the state, ways in which they might better promote themselves and the arts in general, and attract new audiences and broader community support. The keynote address for this year's affair will be delivered by national arts consultant George Thorn. In addition, 34 artists from TCA's Touring Company and Artist Roster will be showcased, and prominent arts supporters will be honored at an awards ceremony. For info, call 463-5535.
Skagen-Brakhage Split, Postscript
Last week we reported on the unfortunate demise of the art partnership of Rory Skagen and Billy Brakhage, creators of some of our town's most fun, funky murals and 3-D sculptures. Anyone who doubted that this parting of the ways had a disagreeable edge to it needed only to drive by the former team's studio at 1800 South First this past weekend. Sometime late last week, someone took some paint and made a little addition to the front of the building: a green triangle (of a shade that can best be described a bilious) in which were painted the words "Skagen Lies." Not exactly a diplomatic acknowledgment of one's differences, eh? More like a public assault ... with a kind of creepy flourish to it not unlike something out of a bad horror flick. As to what this defacement might be referring, we don't even care to speculate. We don't even know if it's what it looks like. It could be anything from a spiteful act of vandalism over a perceived wrong to a tasteless prank designed to get a rise out of the press. Suffice to say, it adds a curious postscript to this former partnership. Oh, and there's a P.P.S.: The painted phrase was still up on Sunday, but someone had strategically added a letter "F" to it so that the phrase now read, "Skagen Flies."
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