FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA UNVEILS NEW MURALS AT ART WALK EVENT ON
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
BEE CAVE, Texas (January 16, 2020) -- Lifestyle and entertainment center Hill Country Galleria is thrilled to unveil three new permanent mural installations commissioned by local artists and inspired by Bee Cave and Central Texas. The Galleria partnered with Bee Cave Arts Foundation last fall in a call for artists to commission unique works representative of the city’s history and environment. To celebrate the completion of the new works, along with the steady growth of the local creative community, Hill Country Galleria is hosting its first-ever Art Walk on Thursday, January 30, where the public is invited to meet the featured artists, enjoy photo ops, and explore galleries.
At the Art Walk, guests will have the opportunity to view newly completed murals, including “Hi There” by Austin-based Helena Sue Martin. “Hi There” is a painted mural that features a curious golden-cheeked warbler. With a unique perspective and endearing expression, the mural invites a connection between the viewer and the piece and also seeks to bring attention to the special breed, an endangered species native to and found only in Central Texas. Martin’s vibrant murals can be seen throughout the U.S. and abroad. Portraiture, flora, fauna, and clever use of color are some of the signatures of her style. Hill Country Galleria has also commissioned a piece by Avery Orendorf / Avery O Design titled “Bijou the Bee.” Orendorf is a local mural artist and illustrator based in Austin, and her hand-painted and hand-drawn graphics utilize clean linework, strong color combos, and
repeating patterns to create intricate but simple art pieces with deep story potential. “Bijou the Bee” was inspired by a character from the children’s book “Skydancer: Adventures of a Monarch Butterfly” by Tania DeGregorio. A series of four panels, “Bijou the Bee” at the Galleria was the ideal opportunity for Orendorf to produce a piece inspired by the book and experiment with an illustration style different from her usual work. Known for his iconic stained-glass painting technique seen around the city, Austin-based J Muzacz will showcase his newest mosaic mural titled “Las Flores de Tejas y las Abejas Mexicanas" (Texas Wildflowers and Mexican Honeybees). Inspired by the vibrancy of various seasonal wildflowers in Texas, the mural features iconic bluebonnets, Indian blanket, spiderwort, and purple coneflowers in full bloom set against the background of a picturesque blue sky with fluffy white clouds. A honeycomb fabricated with copper and iridescent streaks
pays homage to the origin story of Bee Cave, which derived its name from the colonies of Mexican honeybees that lived on the banks of Barton Creek and Little Barton Creek, encompassing a large area of Western Travis County. Muzacz and his team (Yuki Takata, Ayaka Kawashima, Carmen Rangel, and Alison Skinner,
with install help from Mason Lackey and Daniel Goodwin) constructed the mosaic mural over a span of five weeks in-studio using 40,470 individually hand-placed glass tiles of more than 100 different colors, 200 pounds of thinset, 150 pounds of grout, and 60 feet o f steel framing. Muzacz used a digital process to prepare the collage and coined the phrase “digital impressionism,” describing his use of current technologies and modern materials coupled with time-tested techniques to create contemporary large-scale pieces with an impressionistic feel. Muzacz adds this latest piece to his impressive portfolio of 15 years as an artist and arts educator, painting and crafting mosaics internationally, from a four-story mural in Okinawa, Japan, to an installation at the Georgetown Municipal Courthouse lobby.
Taking notice of the ever-climbing costs of living in the Austin metro area and its impact on the local artist community , Hill Country Galleria is setting out to become a resource for local creatives, from offering affordable studio and gallery spaces to supporting events initiatives. In the past two years, the Galleria has welcomed tenants like ContraCommon, a nonprofit arts organization supporting emerging artists, and Flip’N Art, the gallery space for local artists created by Chacasso; as well as welcoming the new headquarters for the Bee Cave Arts Foundation known as The Hive. The completion of the new murals represents the next phase in Hill Country Galleria’s evolution into Bee Cave’s very own art district.
The Art Walk, taking place on Thursday, January 30 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., will kick off at The Hive, where guests will receive a handheld guide to stops throughout the property to explore galleries and take advantage of photo ops and meet-and-greet opportunities with the local artists. Guests will receive a complimentary swag bag and enjoy drinks samples and special offers at Galleria eateries. In addition to viewing the new murals, which will be well-lit for nighttime viewing, guests can browse a photography exhibition at The Hive, featuring works by renowned publicity stills photographer Van Redin and Dripping Springs and Lake Travis-area photography groups, take part in $10 acrylic pour workshops at Flip’N Art, and view live painting at ContraCommon.
For more information about the murals and Hill Country Galleria, follow on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter , or visit www.hillcountrygalleria.com .
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ABOUT HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA
Hill Country Galleria, a 1.3-million-square-foot lifestyle center, is located at the major
intersection of Bee Cave Road, Hwy 620, and Hwy 71, west of downtown Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The multi-use complex, which underwent a multi-million dollar transformation in 2017, features 713,000 square feet of retail, 285,000 square feet of Class A office space, 300,000 square feet of apartments, 100,000 square feet of residential condominiums, and 50 acres of green space, and is anchored by Dillard’s, Barnes & Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cinemark, and Whole Foods Market. Host to more than 150 family-friendly community events a year, Hill Country Galleria offers a vibrant, comfortable, and convenient destination where life and style connect. Hill Country Galleria is located at 12700 Hill
Country Blvd, Bee Cave, TX 78738 and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please visit
www.HillCountryGalleria.com or follow on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .
MEDIA CONTACT
Giant Noise | Carrie Hellinger & Jane Kim
hillcountrygalleria@giantnoise.com | 512-382-9017