East Austin Studio Tour’s Humble Beginnings

Words by Jessi Devenyns Photos Courtesy of Big Medium

Before East Austin Studio Tour was a two-weekend experience welcoming tens of thousands of visitors, it was a sweat-soaked stroll down a shady street on one fall afternoon. Twenty-eight participants comprised the roster of artists, between whose studios 500 visitors meandered. The year was 2003.

The early aughts of the millennium saw a burgeoning community of artists begin to occupy homes east of Interstate 35, and it was as a part of that influx that Shea Little, Jana Swec, and Joseph Phillips found themselves creating on the Eastside – but it was largely a solitary pursuit devoid of organized events or a central hub at which to access art. To bring collaboration to the nascent creative hotbed, the trio set their sights on building a walkable tour where local artists opened their doors and welcomed curious passersby into their homes to exhibit their creations.

This idea turned out to be the linchpin that was needed to put art on the map for Austin. 

Big and small, creators convened once a year to display sculpture, painting, leather goods, pottery, and abstract expression. Passionate patrons would seek out particular destinations where they knew the artist and bring a beer along to wile away the afternoon in deep discussions regarding the inspiration behind a particular piece. Often the conversation would wind up in a transaction. But just as often, it would wind up in a mutually beneficial connection that continued to grow the artistic community of East Austin. 

Three years after its inception, art aficionados were making pit stops at the then-famous Fisterra Studios. Flatbed Press similarly drew crowds of hundreds as the number of pilgrims to the Eastside ballooned to the thousands and the number of studio stops reached 86. Artists were making names for themselves that were recognized at cocktail parties across the river and west of the highway. 

This trajectory continued to propel the careers of many artists who call Austin home. Jennifer Chenoweth, today’s ICOSA Collective, Jennifer Balkan, and Mychal Mitchell gained notoriety over the years becoming destinations on the tour. But still the event remained an open invitation to inquisitive visitors seeking intimate moments with artists. 

Some may miss the studio tour’s humble origins, but those who are interested in understanding the minds behind the masterpieces will still find it. They are hidden in lofty solo studios, in backyard cabanas, and alongside high-rise apartments. It just takes a splatter of inspiration to step away from the crowd and walk on another path.  

So, veer off the well-worn paths of the East Austin Studio Tour and turn the corner. The sights hidden just on the other side of a neighbor’s fence may incite a new idea, a blossoming friendship, or simply result in a new piece of local art for the living room wall.