Famous Artists from Austin Keep It Weird

By Rachelle Moere


This emerging metropolis which invites folks from all kinds of life to enjoy its extremely unique culture. Artists of all types head to the city of Austin to find sanctuary from the ordinary, the tried-and-true, and the cubicle. It has its share of world-renowned artists who have discovered that the city of Austin has everything a person could want without the fanfare or pretense of the big city. Even household names have moved to Austin to "keep it real" and very definitely weird. Austin famous artists, unusual or not, know there's no place like home.

Todd Sanders

Todd Sanders, a self-described "urban archaologist" makes neon signs paying homage to those made in the 1930s and 1940s that lit the way all of the way across Route 66. Calls himself an "urban archaologist" targeting neon signs based on designs by sign makers from the 1930s and 1940s. Researching the systems employed by mid 20th Century employees, he gets his inspiration from snapping cultural relics and taking country drives. Sanders ' business, Roadhouse Relics, lately was commissioned to make two neon works for Blake Shelton and Miranda Kerr's wedding. His pieces recall nostalgia for Route 66, drive-ins, diners, Las Vegas a far simpler time. Sanders is probably one of the famous artists in Austin who draw other artists to town in droves.

Richard Linklater

His film, "Slackers" (with Jeanne Garofalo, Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke) was to Generation X'ers what "Breakfast Club" was to a generation before. Linklater, born in Houston, studied at Sam Houston State University, but left early to take a job on an off-shore oil rig in the Gulf. Boring hours at sea meant masses of reading and movies. It was in this time that Linklater decided he wanted to be a filmmaker. He acquired himself a Super-8 camera, revising gear and a projector and moved to the city of Austin. He began to attend Austin Community College to study theatre. In 1985 he set up the Austin Film Society to draw in famous artists from Austin and is credited for being answerable for making Austin the hub of indie film making. Linklater made Slackers for only $23,000. He also remade "Before Sunrise. "Bad News Bears" and "Waking Life", again using Ethan Hawke. He's nicknamed "St. Richard of Austin" and is a major force of Austin famous artists.

Matthew McConaughey

Screen star Matthew McConaughey was born in 1969 in Uvalde, Texas, and got raised in Longview, where he graduated from high school. Instead of dig in the oil business like his father and brothers, he took a year off in Australia prior to going back to the U.S. And attending U.T. Austin. He modified his major from and commenced acting in TV commercials and student films. The actor was introduced to Richard Linklater at a bar in Austin, and Linklater cast McConaughey in the movie "Daze and Confused". Originally he was due to be in three scenes but the role expanded to 300 lines once McConaughey did some improvisations. He also appeared in "Texas Chainsaw Massare: The Next Generation" with fellow Texan Renee Zellweger. The sudden influx of film offers prompted him to go to Los Angeles, where he filmed "Contact", "Amistad", "Lone Star", "A Time to Kill" and "The Newton Boys". More latest films have included "The Wedding Planner", "Reign of Fire" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". Famous artists in Austin like McConaughey have put the city on the map.

Famous artists from Austin have chosen to live in Texas because it's equidistant to both coasts, they feel grounded and secure in the Hill Country and they know the city is on its way to stardom itself. The creative community in Austin is firmly grounded and thousands-strong, and the "Keep Austin Weird" crowd is prepared for Austin to have its close-up. Austin famous artists make their city a real destination point.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment