Neill-Cochran House Museum
Sunday Sept 18, 2022 11am – 3pm, Museum Day!
Stop by my booth and say “hi!”

I’m really excited to be participating with this fabulous group of artist for the 2021 WEST Austin Studio Tour, November 6-7 and 13-14. Come out to Circle C to visit and see the art and maybe pick up a gift for yourself or others! Food Trucks in front and snacks and drinks on the patio.
Participating artists: Lyle Adair, Neelu Amar, Paige Booth, Katie Conley, Eva Glock, Elizabeth Jenkins, Gena Destri Keffer, Leslie Kell, Supriya Kharod, Joyce LaBaw, Doreen Landrum, Helen Mary V. Marek, Meena Matai, Adriana Mederos, Rhea Pettit, Teodora Pogonat, Vera Smiley, Cristina White-Jones, Amanda Zappler.

I also will have a piece for this show for EAST! Tour Stop #297. The Creative Arts Society and Link and Pin Art Space present “12 Square EAST” during the Austin Studio Tour.

Experiential Turbulence

And be sure to stop by Cannon Coffee in the heart of happening south Austin this weekend to experience Experiential Turbulence a digital immersive space by my son, Harrison Marek, Troy Candelaria, and Tyler McBeth. An official stop on the 2021 Austin Studio, the exhibit also includes other digital art pieces by Harrison Marek, along with work by Tokyo-based artist, Veronika Ikonnikova, exploring the magical aspects of daily environments through atmospheric illustration. While enjoying the exhibit, enjoy some coffee, tea or light snack from Cannon Coffee. There will be free wine and beer too thanks to our sponsors. 😊
Presented by

Sponsors: Technology Futures, Old School Liquor, Austin Beerworks, VanMarek Design, Alligator Wrangler, Family Business Beer Company [others to be added]

@veronika_ikn. @interval_design for more details.

After a very strange pandemic year, things have really picked up art-wise in 2021.

In early 2021, I saw a call for art for a bluebonnet show at the Neill-Cochran House Museum (NCHM). I had been thinking of other ways to incorporate upcycled materials in my art, and thought the acrylic tubes I used for the “Grove” series last year, would work for bluebonnets too. So, I created a special piece for the bluebonnet call. It was even chosen as “favorite” by visitors! This led to our non-profit, Art 84, creating a virtual video tour of the bluebonnet show and that led to our presenting The Struggle and the Glory – Works by Cornelius Carter with the NCHM!

Talking about Upcycled Art — I was thrilled to have two pieces chosen for the Round Rock Arts “UPCYLCED” this Fall at the Downtowner Gallery. Several more of my upcycled pieces will be displayed at other locations soon!

Outside Art shows:

I did my first outside art market for NCHM’s “Art on the Lawn” in the Spring and then again in the Fall. I’ll be doing a third Art on the Lawn on Nov 28, 2021.

As I’ve mentioned, I try to incorporate lots of upcycled materials in my art. A favorite place is the Austin Creative Reuse Center. It’s like a candy store of fun “what can I do with this?” items! I did a Market Days event at ACR in the Summer and plan on another on Nov 27, 2021.

Through the Summer of 2021, we at Art 84 were so honored to present The Struggle and the Glory: The American Experience — works by Cornelius Carter this Summer with/at the Neill-Cochran House Museum.

Videos: The in-person exhibit closed Sept 5, 2021, but continues as a Virtual Video Tour. To highlight Cornelius Carter’s love of the Tango, Esquina Tango Austin entertained us with two beautiful dances on the porch of the historic Neill-Cochran House Museum. (Highlights. Full dance)

To celebrate the beauty of the Texas State Flower the Neill-Cochran House Museum (NCHM) in Austin is displaying a collection of local art inspired by the bluebonnet. I’m thrilled that one of my sculptural pieces is in the show.

I posted photos from the show opening, and one of my friends asked if there was a virtual show. What a great idea! I reached out to the NCHM staff and the Art 84 team and we agreed that Art 84 would create a virtual tour of their “Hope for Spring: the Flower of Texas” exhibit! My son, Hudson, and I met with the NCHM staff and Hudson videoed an intro and all the individual art entries. The virtual tour video came out great and it allows more people to view the show and see it after it closes on April 11. Enjoy the show! (Art displays start at 5:33). 

There’s a great backstory of how the Dames of Texas helped encourage the Texas Legislature in 1901 to choose the bluebonnet by displaying “Bluebonnet and Evening Primrose” by Mode Walker and presenting each Legislator with a jar of bluebonnets. That painting hangs at the historic home.

If you haven’t had a chance to view “Hope for Spring: The Flower of Texas” exhibit at the Neill-Cochran House Museum (NCHM) in Austin, we encourage you to visit. The in-person show closes April 11, 2021. There are 37 artists and over 50 pieces featured including art by Art 84 EAST artists Randall Soileau and myself.

Direct link to virtual tour video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cp8ev3A7yQ.

Finally put the final touches on “Texas Bluebonnets – A New View.” It’s made of acrylic tubes, repurposed water bottles, strings and beads, with acrylic paint.

One of these days I’m going to set up a purchase site to buy online my jewelry. In the meantime, here are some of my designs. I also do custom work if you have a special outfit you need jewelry for! Contact me about prices at hmvmarek@tfi.com. Thanks for looking!!

Seasonal Flowers Digital Collages:

My seasonal flowers are digital collages using my images of paintings with flowers and architectural elements added. I think they are really cheerful! Clockwise from top left: Summer Sunflower, Winter Rose, Spring Daisy, Maura’s Daisy*, Summer Sand Dollar, and Fall Flower.

Matted Prints are $50* (image 7×7″, mats 12×12″)

*Note: 50% of sales of Maura’s Daisy goes to Maura’s Voice a non-profit started in memory of the daughter of a friend who was the victim of gun violence: https://maurasvoice.org/

Architectural Digital Collages:

“Stairway to the Unexplored” and “Climbing to New Heights” (below) are also digital collages. The backgrounds are from my paintings “Aquatic Pirouette” “Aquatic Expanse” before the beads were added. The stairs are superimposed over the images. I plan to make more of these in 2020! Contact me about prices.

Totes & Zippered Bags

I use the seasonal flowers and some of my paintings on totes and zippered bags.
Each bag is a little different.

Bags are $25.

The 13×13″ tote bags are available in several different colors and large enough for a computer tablet, papers, few groceries, etc.

The 9×6″ zippered bags are flat with a long rope shoulder strap that’s great for travel or dancing when you don’t want to leave your purse on the table. They are available in black and natural and have beaded zipper pull.

What a fun evening for the Opening of Art for the People Gallery’s shows:
Art of Celebration, Celebrities – People & Pets, and Art Art Art. AftP is a beautiful gallery and gift shop at 1711 S. First Street in Austin. Show runs through April. Stop by and soak in all the beautiful art. Visit their webpage to purchase art: https://artforthepeoplegallery.com/