Austin Art Yard Tour 2012: The List
April 14 (10am to 5pm) & 15 (noon to 5pm)
A week before the tour we will have a downloadable list and map, so check back...
Currently we are showing invited ("invited") and confirmed ("stop in" or "drive by") yards. Yards will get firmed-up as we get closer to the tour dates.
We've also added, at the very bottom, a new list called "Graveyards" listing art yards that are, sadly, no more...
invited = invited to participate on the tour and waiting for confirmation
stop in = stop in and peruse the property, chat with yardist
drive by = observe from street/sidewalk, do not enter property
the cathedral of junk: 4422 Lareina Drive invited
Banned by the city last year from the tour, the cathedral is back and now compliant with city codes. This is the descendant, the progeny, the daddy, the grand-daddy, the great-grand daddy, and the Adam and Eve of art yards in Austin. An absolutely stunning yard of love, joy, and (probably...) more than 30 tons of junk, wire, and inspiration. This yard is not to be missed!
the faist plaist: 1503 karen street invited
A giant bamboo teepee fire pit, bowling balls, license plates, a house painted in digital camoflage (using Martha Stewart colors), and misc yard ephemera make this a must stop in the center of Austin.
the bottle haus: 2209 south 1st street invited
Susan Maynard lovingly assembled, with the help of Chris Green and Vince Hanneman, this beautifully mosaiced bottle house next to what used to be the Spunky Monkey, an early Austin art yard environment (remants of which can still be seen next door....). The house, located toward the back of the property, is now used as a studio.
the watterson whimsy: 1701 canyon edge drive invited
They said the Hill Country couldn't be made more beautiful. One hundred bowling balls, bottles, and a "leggy" tree later, it's clear that they were wrong.
the west lynn gorilla: 710 west lynn street drive by
The gorilla on West Lynn, dolled up to honor the holiday du jour, is an Austin art yard classic.
the el paso art bridge: 402 el paso street stop in at the bridge
Just to the east of this address is a small art deco-ish bridge that Stefanie Distefano has slowly been turning into a huge (and gorgeous) mosaic. Giant koi fan across the sidewalk while city scenes peek out from the concrete drainage below. And don't miss taking a peek at the southern end of the bridge!
bobby's bone tree sculpture garden (NEW YARD!!!): 1410 travis heights boulevard invited
Bobby Lou Pearl's yard not only holds a tree of bones, it tells the story of her grandmother's escape from the pogroms of Russia through a series of beautiful sculptures. And there's also the bust in the tub in the front!
comfort yard for a comfort house: 515 kemp street invited
Florence Ponziano opens her home to area children as a safe (and fun!) place to be. Her energy is infectious, and her yard and home are vivid expressions of her positive artistic energy. Florance is an accomplished mosaic artist, well known for her magically adorned guitars (and bras!).
gadgetrees: alley behind 4410 Avenue D invited
Lloyd has some strange things growing in his back yard... Grown from buried cell phones? You can only see via the alley.
alleycat: 1401 corona drive invited
Where do bowling balls go when they've lost their (rock and) roll? LuCretia Sisk's front yard seems to be the place. Several hundred bowling balls tastefully arranged in this yard featured by John Kelso and Texas Monthly. This year LuCretia is opening up her backyard as well featuring found art and rock funness!
 texotica gardens: 4405 avenue D invited
This quirky Hyde Park yard lovingly tended by Arlinda Abbott brings a smile to strollerbys (and art yard enthusiasts) with her bowling balls, bottle trees, and recycled materials. Be sure to also stroll up the alley as well.
 goldie's toys: 1613 cloverleaf drive invited
Goldie, with the help of her neighbors, has turned her front yard into a delightful menagerie of native stone and whimsy. Her yard gets better and better and brings health and goodness to those who enjoy the simple life!
 by george: 204 attayac street invited
Barry George sculpts with steel and found objects with amazing detail. The yard and fence about his studio and abode also features his inventive imagination. Be sure to see this year as it may not be here next year...
 jill nokes: 4200 avenue F invited
Jill Nokes' back yard features a whimsical stone-and-stuff fence. Jill is co-author of the book "Yard Art and Handmade Places" published by UT Press.
 smut putt heaven: 509 gate tree lane stop in
There's no smut and there's no putt, but there is art yard heaven here. Bottle cap snakes, mannequin heads, doll heads, and crutches galore! Another must-see, this back yard is chock full of yardist Scott Stevens' serial fixations. The latest? Ironing boards! A locale described in several local, national, and international documentaries.
 the sharon smith: 1204 choquette drive invited
Sharon is an artist that works with ceramics and found objects, so it's no surprise that her yard is adorned with ceramics and found objects. And a tree full of bird cages!
 museum of natural and artificial ephemerata:
1808 singleton avenue stop in
As might be expected, a museum of natural and artificial ephemerata also has a yard of natural and artificial ephemerata. And the museum will be open! As it always is every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm. Visit their website at www.mnae.org.
flat fork studios: 709 w gibson street invited
Faith Schexnayder is the mastermind behind Flat Fork Studios and this art yard in 78704. Adorned with a giant chicken and various mosaics.
jim hates work: 208 w north loop blvd invited
Yardist Jim Mansour may hate work, but he loves his giant installation in his front yard (last year = lollipop; this year = teddy bear head that has now decomposed to a teddy bear skull). His back yard features various assemblages and a good time. As seen in "Humble Trash" and written up by John Kelso.
sparky texas: 3701 grooms street stop in
A cool little pocket park nestled into a fold of Hyde Park. Features a karstic grotto wall fused about the structure of a electric sub-station.
abandoned holiness: just south of 1500 pleasant valley
stop in (tell the lot watchers you are there to see the golf course)
Not a yard, per se, but an abandoned miniature golf course where the Holiness is a hole in one. You can "generally" get in from Pleasant Valley. Just tell the guys at the front "campo de golf" and they should let you in...
dixon's art hut: 4202 bellvue avenue invited
Dixon is a pal of ours who died several years ago. Besides leaving behind good memories of a good friend, he also left his art hut. One of the earlier yardists in town, Dixon made his hut portable which has allowed it to be here in his brother's back yard. Brother Dan also frankenstein's bikes.
black & white: 4605 philco drive invited
Clinton Hofmeister, who's involved with an art program for teens at the Dougherty Art Center, has populated his front yard with large, abstract, Picasso-esque sculptures made out of cardboard.
 yellowball: 2212 alta vista invited
YellowBall says it all: A collection of spherical objects in the hue of Big Bird.
the tree of tooth: 3404 kirby lane drive by
Overheard at a dentists' convention: "The tooth? THE TOOTH?!?!?! YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TOOTH?!?!?!?!"
 ira poole's classic: 2400 mlk drive by
This front yard is a classic of Austin art yards. This stalwart of an art yard has been here since 1972 meeting and greeting visitors to this fine city from the East.
 flower power: 4715 philco drive invited
PJ Liles takes scrap metal and turns it into art, often flowers and hearts. His front yard is ablooming with giant metal fan blades and gears.
 super bonn bonn: 1004 olive street invited
A champion of found materials and castings, Bonnie Ramsey has turned her neighborhood into a much better place.
 flamingos du jour: 1705 redd street drive by
A parade of pink flamingos decorated to reflect the nearest season greets pedestrians along Redd.
roly's: 815 keasbey street invited
A late entry to the tour! Roly recycles stuff he finds (and hauls to the dump) and turns it into art. For the yard, of course!!!
Graveyards (austin art yards that are sadly no more...)
bloo plate special: king street (art yard no more)
This yard in Central Austin features several hundred blue bottles and several hundred license plates as well as highway signs and repurposed junk. Yardist Robert Mace was inspired by a landlady's bottle tree in New Mexico in creating this bottle prairie.
mano poderosa: east 2nd street (art yard no more)
Mano Poderosa means "helping hand", and this bottle-lined labryinth, in the stylized shape of a hand, is meant to protect and bless. Yardist Mary Kraemer has also artfully planted citrus, roses, crysanthemums, and various types of hibiscus. Take a deep breath, find your center, and slowly walk the path.
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