With the end of 2008 rapidly approaching, it’s time to make artsy plans to ring in the New Year. First Night Austinhas commissioned many local artists to dazzle us this year and Art Seen Alliance is proud to announce a few of our associates that will be participating:

Front and center on Auditorium Shores will be Community Art Makers, led by Marillee Ratcliffe and Dave Umlas. These two are veterans at creating fantastic larger than life installations that are completed by the most glorious fires. For 2008-09 their group presents a 34 foot tall functioning clock sculpture that revelers can move in and around before it is set ablaze as the finale to the Grand Procession.
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Adjacent will be John­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Van Strien’s interactive lighting performance space. Dance troops and novices alike will enjoy the light play John presents in his giant dome. Movement and color will mesmerize on lookers as well as participants. John is a diverse artist who also works with glass, fire, and paint (to name a few mediums). His work can also be found at the Mexican American Cultural Center.
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Re:Growth, by Danielle and Jason Mika, is a site specific bamboo installation creating a unique sculpture using bamboo splits and poles. The piece will also be dramatically lit with projections and led lights, creating a festive intimate space. Re:Growth is inspired byDanielle and Jason'swork with Gerard Minakawa at the 2008 Coachella Music Festival.
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Enhancing two of the installations is Kanya Lyons with Anda Mandala. She will be inspiring participants to create digitally animated mandalas at the clock during the day, then projecting completed mandala films at the bamboo structure once it’s dark. Kanya is also a committed City employee working hard with the Library media department to get us all reading!
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Jonathan Sylvan will also be enriching Auditorium shores with two fresh musical compositions created for the clock and bamboo sculptures. Jonathan is a talented graduate of the UT music program and has worked with many artists of varied disciplines.

Sustainable waves will entertain us on the shores with their solar and wind powered sound stage, one of which is a former fire truck! The acts will be as diverse and creative as the stages themselves. A green power provider, Sustainable Waves’ commitment inspires us all to go green in any way we can.
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There are many other wonderful artists presenting their talents this year. Art Seen Alliance looks forward to meeting them and sharing Austin’s canvas to usher in 2009. The tides of creativity are swelling on Ladybird Lake. Will you be there to catch this wave of public art?

There are volunteer opportunities available through the links above and more information about First Night Austinhere.