Aug 19-Nov 6 Three New Installations Awaken New Perspectives
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

The Austin Museum of Art premiers three new exhibits that offer Austin eye-opening perspectives on the world and the world of art. You will want to stroll through these amazing collections while they're on view through November 6th.

Lu Ann Barrow's Soul-Journers:
Friends, Family & the Fabric of Daily Life

In her first retrospective exhibition, the oil paintings of Austin artist Lu Ann Barrow will display her narrative folkloric style, inspired by her rich imagination, fine sense of humor, and worldwide adventures. Barrow uses dots and dashes to pattern stylized compositions with a bright palette. She tells vibrant tales of Texas rural life that include characters of all ages and universal themes. This art is as entertaining as it is intricate.

Mary Lee Bendolph
Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond

Several generations of women from Gee's Bend, Alabama developed a bold, distinctive and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional African American quilts. Art critics worldwide have compared the geometric simplicity to the works of such artists as Henri Matisse and Paul Klee. The New York Times called the quilts "some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced." These quilts are paired with three-dimensional found object sculptures by Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley, fine art prints based on quilt designs, and a documentary film about the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama.

William Kentridge: Weighing and Wanting

South African artist William Kentridge has attracted international attention for his innovative animated films in which simple charcoal drawings seem to magically come alive to tell deeply personal stories that function as broadly allegorical tales for our times. William Kentridge: Weighing and Wanting is an installation of charcoal, pastel and gouache drawings and a film transferred to laser disk which is based on the drawings.

Aug 21-23 Exotic Cinema
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Exotic technicolor in all its splendor is featured this week at the Paramount. Unrivaled visual richness and lyrical storytelling await you. Go to austintheatre.org for showtimes, and imdb.com for movie reviews. Here's what's lighting up the screen at the Paramount this week:

21 - Black Orpheus
22, 23 - Black Narcissus, The River

Aug 23 The Mirror (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1975)
7:00 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse, 409 Colorado
(512) 322-0145, austinfilm.org

Part of the Austin Film Society's (AFS) 20th Anniversary Film Series, The Mirror portrays a fascinating perspective of a dying man's life review. Flashbacks, historical footage and original poetry are all part of this portrait that offers reflections on Russian history and society. For additional ticket information. visit the AFS website.

Still on Stage...

19: Antiques Road Kill, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
To 8/20: Patty's Aesop Adventures, Dougherty Arts Center, secondyouth.com
To 8/27: Live From Symphony Barn, Scottish Rite Theatre, ScottishRiteChildrensTheatre.org
To 8/27: I Am My Own Wife, Zach Scott, zachscott.com
To 9/17: Crowns, Zach Scott, zachscott.com
To 9/17: Keepin' It Weird, Zach Scott, zachscott.com
Ongoing: Superman Returns, Ride Around the World: A Cowboy Adventure, Texas the Big Picture in the IMAX® Theatre and The Star of Destiny in the Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Aug 17 Schubert Selections
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

This week's Thursday Noonday Concert features Angela Hand, soprano and Stephen Burnaman, piano performing selections from Schwanengesang by Schubert.

Aug 20 Concerts in the Park Swing to a Close
7:30 p.m.
Wooldridge Square Park, 9th & Guadalupe
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

The fourth fabulous season of Austin Symphony Orchestra/Hartman Foundation Concert in the Park comes to a close this Sunday. ASO's Big Band, under the direction of Anthony Corroa, will fill Wooldridge Square for the last Sunday evening of this summer. So pack a picnic and plan to participate in one of Austin's most playful live performances in the park.

Aug 23 Blues on the Green:
Double Trouble featuring Joe Ely
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Zilker Park Rock Island, kgsr.com/blues

Wednesday night's performance brings to life the essence of what Blues on the Green is all about. You'll get the best of Austin-style country, blues rock, Tex-mex and Western swing. The summer live music tradition continues and you'll want to be there. Go to the web site for details on the best ways to enjoy this free, totally Austin event.

Aug 17-Sep 11 Bill Stidham:
The Sacred Hearts of Musical Icons
Manuels, 310 Congress
(512) 472-7555, williamkstidham.com

Bill Stidham's Sacred Hearts of Musical Icons is an accolade to musicians who influence and shape the world. This vibrant watercolor portrait exhibit includes such legends as Willie Nelson, Bono, Bob Schneider, Kurt Cobain, George Harrison, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Both originals and reproductions will be available for sale.

Aug 17-23 Plant & Create at the Blanton
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

The Blanton lets your creative self blossom this week.

Aug 17 - Free Admission Thursday

Art Fix: Lifestyle - Gardens and Memories - Gardening - 6:00 p.m.

Join Tom Spencer, KLRU host and producer of Central Texas Gardener and Austin Now, for a discussion titled The Landscape of Memory. Participants can examine the spiritual aspects of gardening and explore individual spiritual connections with landscapes they've encountered. This event repeats on August 23.

Public Tour: Art is Leisure - 7:00 p.m.
Themed tours of the collection and special exhibitions. This evening's tour is free.

Aug 19 Public Tour: People's Choice - 2:00 p.m.
Choose the works of art you want to explore and discuss in this interactive tour of the Blanton?s collection. Free with museum admission.

Aug 20 Public Tour: America/Americas - 2:00 p.m.
The museum offers themed tours on the collection and special exhibitions. Free with museum admission. Free with museum admission.

Aug 18-20 Grand Images: The West Coast Collection
Art on 5th, 1501 W. 5th
(512) 481-1111, arton5th.com

You'll want to view and consider adding the work of 30 artists never before shown in Austin to your collection. Grand Images: The West Coast Collection will be here for three days only. The show includes 300 unframed originals and limited editions on paper and canvas. Hours: Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday: Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Aug 18-Sep 25 Two Shows Open at the Volitant
Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress, Ste. 100
(512) 236-1240, volitant.com

Two new exhibits open at the Volitant Gallery. Opening Receptions for both will be held Friday, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

duck, duck, GOOSE

In his first solo effort, Matthew Rodriguez charms us with a menagerie of unlikely personalities that sing their way into the audience's heart, humming the favorite tunes of the artist. His work, comprised of paintings, drawings and photographs run the gamut from outright absurd to confectionary sweetness.

The Long Drive South

New works by Brian Belott, Joshua Blank, Lance de los Reyes and Ginna Triplett are on display in The Long Drive South, curated by Andreis Costa. This is an exhibition about travel, history and the influence of unexpected crossings and connections while negotiating the terrain.

Still On Display Downtown...

To 8/19: below the surface, d berman Gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 8/19: Dana Sparks, Wally Workman Gallery, wallyworkmangallery.com
To 8/20: New American Talent: The Twenty-First Exhibition, Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 9/1: Spirits, Machines and Simulacra, La Pena, lapena-austin.org
To 9/1: Nueva_Villa: Reflections, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 9/9: All Dressed in White, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 9/10: The Serie Project: Serie XIII, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 9/10: It STILL Ain't Braggin' if it's True: The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 9/24: Workspace: Carol Bove, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 10/1: YLAII: Juventud Desenfrenada (Youth Gone Wild), Mexic-arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 11/6: Lu Ann Barrow "Soul Journer's," Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/6: Mary Lee Bendelph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/6: William Kentridge, Weighing...and Wanting, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/20: The Avenue: Austin's Main Street Since 1839, Austin History Center, ahca.net
To 12/9: Rembrandt's Etchings, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
Ongoing: European Paintings from the Permanent Collection and America/Americas, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org

Aug 18-20 2006 Fall Home & Garden Show
Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez
showtechnology.com

The 11th Annual Austin Fall Home & Garden Show will feature the city's largest showcase of home and garden products and services. There's something for everyone all under one roof, whether you're building new or sprucing up your home. Hours: Friday: 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Totally Austintacious

Aug 19 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
(512)236-0074, Austinfarmersmarket.org

The market downtown features fresh and local vegetables, herbs, cheeses, eggs, meats, breads, honey, flowers, prepared foods, drinks and artisan crafts. Free parking around the park and in the State parking garage at 3rd and San Antonio. Free admission.

Aug 19, 20 West 6th St. Artists Market
709 W. 6th
(512) 698-8099, 6thstreetmarket.com

The West 6th Street Artist's Market is a festive outdoor art fair, featuring a variety of work by independent artists from Austin and Central Texas. Open every Sat. & Sun, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Aug 19 Xtreme Fight Championships
Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez
xfconline.com

Texas Cage Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts. Main event: Jeremiah O'Neal v. TJ Waldberger.Tickets on sale at xfconline.com.

Aug. 19 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
austinfarmersmarket.org

From 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., W. 4th St. will be closed between Guadalupe and San Antonio for the Austin Farmers Market.

Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 Sewer Line Installation

Red River Street, between 9th to 10th, will be closed from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The closure is necessary for the installation of new sewer lines.

This closure is expected each weekend for the next 6 - 8 weeks.