Category: Austin Texas

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Sanctuary screen printing in Austin

South Side Sanctuary El CaminoIn a warehouse in South Austin, the talented artists of South Side Sanctuary toil away on their computers and at their presses creating fashion that comments on art, music and fashion itself. Leaders Jon Pattillo and Jed Taylor do this for fun, cranking out three to five thousand t-shirts per month of their own design. But their designs are anything but mass-produced. Services also include custom designed screen-printed t-shirts, letter press-printed posters and business cards, banners, murals, and stickers. The duo started out creating merch for a record label and its touring bands. Today the company is housed in a 5,000 square foot location on South Congress Avenue. In addition to the three screen printing presses, SSS operates a 1947 Kluge open-face letterpress.

During this past year’s SXSW festival, the SSS crew could be seen rolling around town in their super-rad 1979 El Camino “delivery vehicle” equipped with a working screenprinting press in the truck bed.

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Austin Anarchist Soccer

Austin anarchist soccerSince 2000, Austin has hosted an “anarchist” soccer game on Sundays. Anarchist soccer has many names worldwide—such as radical, revolutionary, punk rock or community soccer. Why anarchist? Participants usually offer a blank look when asked. According to its website, anarchist soccer is community soccer, which differs from the usual pick-up game in many ways. Organizer “Simon Z” emphasizes that there are rules, just no rulers. The game is open to players of all skill levels and gender (several females play regularly). All that’s needed are a few friends and a ball. Boundaries and usual soccer rules—such as corner and penalty kicks—are ignored, and keeping score is unimportant. Hand balls tend to be followed by a hearty laugh, with the perpetrator subject to mild derision. The focus is on fun, rather than on scoring goals and ball skills to fuel individual egos.

Players are encouraged to sign up for the email list where posts keep players abreast of social events, as well as important world events impacting social issues. Environment is a sincere concern, as more than half of the players ride a bicycle to the match, oftentimes from a great distance. And the anarchists have a standing “leave no trace” rule: Leave the soccer field in the same condition or better than it was.

What seems to be most important to the anarchist players is fair play, fun, gathering, running, talking, falling, laughing, kicking, and building community.

  • What: Austin Anarchist Soccer
  • When: Sundays, 6 p.m. until dark (summer), 2-4 p.m. (rest of year)
  • Where: Rosewood Park in East Austin, 12th Street and Chestnut Avenue directions
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Mahler’s “Resurrection” at ASO

Gustav MahlerThe Austin Symphony’s 2008–2009 season closes with Gustav Mahler’s massive Symphony No. 2, scored for mixed choir, two vocal soloists, organ, and an offstage ensemble of brass and percussion. In roughly 80 minutes of blood-and-guts, the symphony expresses universal longings and signals the bitter end (Judgment Day itself) and beyond (the afterlife), etched out in brazen fanfares.

If you haven’t yet attended a performance of the ASO, I urge you to get thee hence to buy tickets. Support local arts before they vanish!

  • What: Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony
  • When: May 15-16, 2009 8:00 PM
  • Where: Michael & Susan Dell Hall directions
  • Conductor: Peter Bay
  • Featuring: Linda Mabbs, soprano • Susan Platts, mezzo-soprano • Conspirare Symphonic Choir