UPCOMING EVENTS
Merry Makers Market
Contracommon is proud to present our Merry Makers Market, a booth-style display of art and handmade goods from Austin-area artists, on view from November 18th through January 13, 2025. Visitors are invited to stop by and shop original artwork from exhibiting artists, and search for unique gifts this holiday season. Take a break during your holiday shopping at the Hill Country Galleria to support local artists and small businesses!
The gallery is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 12–6pm for the duration of the market. Private weekday shopping appointments can be scheduled at calendly.com/contracommon.
Merry Makers Market Closing Reception + Holiday Party
Contracommon is proud to present our Merry Makers Market, a booth-style display of art and handmade goods from Austin-area artists, on view from November 18th through January 13, 2025. A closing reception and holiday party will be held at Contracommon on Saturday, January 11 from 4-7pm. Visitors are invited to stop by and shop original artwork from exhibiting artists, while celebrating the end of the holiday season. This event is free and open to the public.
Figure Drawing Session Hosted by Kelsey baker
Improve your art practice in this self-guided, live model session! Bring your favorite materials to work with, and study the human form. The model will sit for a number of short gestures, followed by one long pose. Join us for this month’s session, hosted by Contracommon member Kelsey Baker.
This independently-led session is for artists aged 18+ only. Drawing boards, tall stools, and easels are available but in limited supply, so be sure to arrive early or bring one along!
Drink & Draw
December’s Drink & Draw will be held at Contracommon on Friday December 13th from 5-8pm. We’ll have supplies for a holiday craft this month! Anyone at any level in any media is welcome to participate! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, with refreshments provided by Sprouts.
BLACK FRIDAY (EXTENDED HOURS) - MERRY MAKERS MARKET
Join us for extended gallery hours on Black Friday evening following the Hill Country Galleria’s tree lighting event on the central plaza.
Shop art and unique gifts by 18 local makers, enjoy live music from Michele Zayla (@MicheleZaylaMusic), and free refreshments provided by Contracommon.
Drink & Draw in Bee Cave
November's Drink & Draw in Bee Cave will be held at Contracommon on Thursday November 21st from 5-8pm. We’ll have supplies for a holiday craft this month! Anyone at any level in any media is welcome to participate! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, with refreshments provided by Sprouts.
Drink & Draw - Austin Studio Tour Special Edition
Drink & Draw returns, this time for Austin Studio Tour!
Join Contracommon artists at Stop #69 on the Austin Studio Tour for a special edition of our monthly creativity and camaraderie session. Bring a current project (or just a pen and paper for some doodling). No expectations, judgements or prerequisites! Just bring yourself and your favorite materials to start off your weekend with some art; we’ll have some limited supplies to share also.
Drink & Draw typically meets at 6pm once a month at our headquarters in Bee Cave. All are welcome! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, and hosted by Epoch Coffee
AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR - MIRRORS
Contracommon is proud to present Mirrors, a temporary exhibition of work from organization members and friends, as part of Austin Studio Tour. This one-weekend exhibition will be hosted by Epoch Coffee at 221 W North Loop Blvd, Austin, Texas 78751 (Stop #69 on the AST map). The show will be on view for the WEST weekend of Austin Studio Tour from November 4th through 11th, 2024. All events associated with the tour are free and open to the public.
Drink & Draw!
This month's Drink & Draw will be held at Contracommon on Tuesday October 22nd from 5-8pm. Anyone at any level in any media is welcome to participate! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, with refreshments provided by Sprouts.
Friendly Feedback with Forrest Aderholt
Friendly Feedback is our virtual critique group hosted by Contracommon member Forrest Aderholt. This group is open to artists of all media, in any location. Our next feedback and brainstorming session will be held Saturday, October 12th at 11am via zoom. This event typically last 1 - 2 hours.
Neon Rodeo: Opening Reception for a mini solo show by chris tobar
Contracommon is proud to present Neon Rodeo: Act 1, the first in a series of solo exhibitions by Chris Tobar Rodriguez. The exhibition will open with a reception on Saturday, October 5th from 4 – 7pm including a performance by the artist. Neon Rodeo: Act 1 will be on view in the gallery from October 1st through October 28th, 2024.
Summer’s Almost Gone: Opening Reception for an exhibition by Michael Guerra Foerster
Contracommon is proud to present Summer’s Almost Gone, a solo exhibition from Michael Guerra Foerster in which the artist explores ideas of intimacy, separation, solitude, grief, and memory through ceramic sculpture and installation. On view in the gallery from October 1st through October 28th, 2024, the exhibition will open with a reception on October 5th from 4–7pm, including a discussion with the artists.
Neon Rodeo: Open Gallery Hours for a mini solo show by chris tobar
Contracommon is proud to present Neon Rodeo: Act 1, the first in a series of solo exhibitions by Chris Tobar Rodriguez. The exhibition will open with a reception on Saturday, October 5th from 4 – 7pm including a performance by the artist. Neon Rodeo: Act 1 will be on view in the gallery from October 1st through October 28th, 2024.
Summer’s Almost Gone: Open Gallery Hours for an Exhibition by Michael Guerra Foerster
Contracommon is proud to present Summer’s Almost Gone, a solo exhibition from Michael Guerra Foerster in which the artist explores ideas of intimacy, separation, solitude, grief, and memory through ceramic sculpture and installation. On view in the gallery from October 1st through October 28th, 2024, the exhibition will open with a reception on October 5th from 4–7pm, including a discussion with the artists.
OPEN CALL: Merry Makers Market
Contracommon is accepting applications from artists for a booth-style exhibition in our gallery. The Merry Makers Market will be on view from November 18th, 2024 through January 13th, 2025.
Applications due 11/3/24 10/31/24
Drink & Draw!
September's Drink & Draw will be held at Contracommon on Thursday the 26th from 5-8pm. Anyone at any level in any media is welcome to participate! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, with refreshments provided by Sprouts.
Figure Drawing Session with Holly Cerna and Darryl Demps Jr.
Improve your art practice in this self-guided model session! Bring your favorite materials to work with and study the nude figure. The model will sit for a number of short gestures, followed by one long pose. Join us for us for this month’s session on September 22, cohosted by Contracommon members and figurative artists, Holly Cerna and Darryl Demps Jr.
This independently-led session is for artists aged 18+ only. Drawing boards, tall stools, and easels are available but in limited supply, so be sure to arrive early or bring one along!
Art in ATX: Zine Fest
JOIN US FOR A DAY OF CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS SHOWCASE THEIR UNIQUE ZINES!
The Gallery ATX Presents: Art in ATX - Zine Fest
Join us for The Gallery’s DEBUT indoor zine market where over 20 local artists will showcase their unique creations. Discover one-of-a-kind zines and support Austin’s vibrant creative community!
RSVP HERE: https://atxzinefest.eventbrite.com
Intermediate Stained Glass: Build Your Design
Each student will leave the workshop with a completed work of stained glass designed by themselves! Some experience is necessary, all tools and materials will be provided. This workshop is intended for artists aged 14 and up; participants under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian.
Beginning Stained Glass: Feather Suncatcher Workshop
Each student will leave the workshop with a completed suncatcher made of stained glass. No experience is necessary and all tools and materials will be provided. This workshop is intended for artists aged 14 and up; participants under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian.
OPEN CALL: October Pop-up Market
Contracommon is inviting artist vendors and creative businesses to pop-up outside our gallery space at the Hill Country Galleria during the Galleria's annual trick-or-treating event. The market will run from 11am-3pm on Saturday, October 26th.
Vendor applications due 10/4/24 @ noon.
Second Annual Pride Market
CELEBRATE AUSTIN PRIDE WITH HILL COUNTRY ART MARKET, MUSIC, ACTIVITIES
Contracommon’s second Pride Market is a nighttime festival celebrating queer arts and community on August 31st, from 6pm to 10pm, on the Hill Country Galleria’s central plaza. The festival will feature 30+ creative vendors, live music from Queer Vinyl Collective, complimentary refreshments provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, activities from local 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations, and testing services with the Aids Health Foundation. Attendance is completely free of charge! This festival directly supports the queer-identifying artists and organizations of Central Texas by connecting them with a huge community of art lovers throughout west Austin and the Hill Country. This project has been financed in part by the City of Austin’s Elevate Grant Program.
Drink & Draw!
August’s Drink & Draw will be held at Contracommon on Thursday the 29th from 5-8pm. Anyone at any level in any media is welcome to participate! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, with refreshments provided by Sprouts.
Inventory-ing: Opening reception for a multimedia group exhibition
Contracommon is proud to present Inventory-ing, a multimedia group exhibition thematically organized around the concepts of archives and the storing or sharing of information. On view in the gallery from August 23rd through September 21st, 2024, the exhibition will open with a reception on August 24th from 4–7pm, including a discussion with the artists. In addition, The Gallery ATX will be hosting a Zine Fest on Saturday, September 21st from 12–6pm, alongside a closing celebration for the exhibition.
This project has been financed in whole or in part by the City of Austin’s Elevate Grant Program.
INVENTORY-ING: Open Gallery Hours for a multimedia group exhibition
Contracommon is proud to present Inventory-ing, a multimedia group exhibition thematically organized around the concepts of archives and the storing or sharing of information. On view in the gallery from August 23rd through September 21st, 2024, the exhibition will open with a reception on August 24th from 4–7pm, including a discussion with the artists.
This project has been financed in whole or in part by the City of Austin’s Elevate Grant Program.
Figure Drawing Session with Holly Cerna and Darryl Demps Jr.
Improve your art practice in this self-guided model session! Bring your favorite materials to work with and study the nude figure. The model will sit for a number of short gestures, followed by one long pose. Join us for us for this month’s session, cohosted by Contracommon members and figurative artists, Holly Cerna and Darryl Demps Jr.
This independently-led session is for artists aged 18+ only. Drawing boards, tall stools, and easels are available but in limited supply, so be sure to arrive early or bring one along!
Tie Dye Workshop with Kelsey Baker
Embrace your inner child and play around with a summertime favorite: tie dye! This workshop will cover several classic tie dye patterns and techniques, using bleach to give a tie dye effect to dark fabrics, and an overview on how to use color theory within your designs.
This workshop is intended for artists of all ages.
Materials: (optional)
2-3 fabric (majority cotton) items from home to dye or bleach dye at the event
Plastic grocery bags for transporting dyed items
Drink & Draw!
July’s Drink & Draw will be held at Contracommon on Thursday the 25th from 5-8pm. Anyone at any level in any media is welcome to participate! Sign up below to let us know you’ll be joining us. Free to attend, with refreshments provided by Sprouts.
Figure Drawing Session with Holly Cerna and Darryl Demps Jr.
Improve your art practice in this self-guided model session! Bring your favorite materials to work with and study the nude figure. The model will sit for a number of short gestures, followed by one long pose. Join us for us for this month’s session, cohosted by Contracommon members and figure drawing regulars, Holly Cerna and Darryl Demps Jr.
This independently-led session is for artists aged 18+ only. Drawing boards, tall stools, and easels are available but in limited supply, so be sure to arrive early or bring one along!
Tie Dye Workshop with Kelsey Baker
Embrace your inner child and play around with a summertime favorite: tie dye! This workshop will cover several classic tie dye patterns and techniques, using bleach to give a tie dye effect to dark fabrics, and an overview on how to use color theory within your designs.
This workshop is intended for artists of all ages.
Materials: (optional)
2-3 fabric (majority cotton) items from home to dye or bleach dye at the event
Plastic grocery bags for transporting dyed items
Friendly Feedback with Forrest Aderholt
Friendly Feedback is our virtual critique group, now hosted every first Saturday of the month. This group is open to artists of all media, in any location. Our next feedback and brainstorming session will be held Saturday, July 6th at 2pm via zoom and will be hosted by Contracommon member Forrest Aderholt. This event typically last 1 - 2 hours.
Kendra Scott Give Back
Contracommon is proud to partner with Kendra Scott for a giveback shopping event at their North Lamar location on June 30, 2024 from 3-5pm. Enjoy light refreshments while shopping, and 20% of proceeds will benefit Contracommon.
Those unable to attend in-store can support Contracommon by shopping online at KendraScott.com and entering the code GIVEBACK-GUVLE at checkout. This code will be valid from June 30-July 1, and 20% of purchases will be donated to Contracommon.
Synthetic Symbiosis: Opening Reception for an Exhibition by Sydney Parks
Contracommon is proud to present Synthetic Symbiosis, a solo exhibition of works by Sydney Parks from June 24th to July 22nd, 2024. The opening reception will be held at Contracommon on Saturday, June 29th from 4-7 pm, featuring an informal talk from the artist at 6pm. Both the reception and artist talk are free to attend and open to the public.