Art in Austin: the Open Canopy Experience

Austin, Texas is home to a thriving arts scene, championing the arts as a major societal influence. Canopy, an art complex brimming with a varied group of creatives, occupies a redeveloped warehouse in East Austin. It is one of the pivotal locations in the city for showcasing art and building a connection between art and citizens who are interested in art in Austin.

One way that Canopy is contributing to vitalizing the arts in the local community is through Austin art exhibits in 2022. The artists and gallerists of Canopy host exhibits during a range of events, including their monthly studio event called Open Canopy. The Open Canopy experience connects art and artists with the public, bridging differences in culture and class along the way.

Canopy is a top spot for experiencing art in Austin. The burgeoning community of creatives who make art at the Canopy presents Open Canopy and other events throughout each year as celebrations of art and the creative processes of artmakers. During the Open Canopy event, visitors are welcomed into the studios and galleries of Canopy creatives to learn from the artists themselves and engage with art in a more directly personal way. Artwork on display at Open Canopy is for sale; visitors are welcome to purchase existing pieces or inquire about commissioning pieces.

Art From the Streets, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports the artistic endeavors of people who are experiencing homelessness, secured space at Canopy in September 2021 to use as its studio and gallery. (Art From the Streets previously operated on a much more limited scale out of a church basement in downtown Austin.) One year into its residency at the art complex, the art organization for transient artists is thrilled to be able to participate in events such as Open Canopy.

Open Canopy events are held on the first Saturday of every month between 1 pm and 4 pm. Art From the Street’s final Open Canopy show of the 2022 season was on September 3rd--an exhibit of a collection of artwork created by several of the transient artists served by the non-profit art organization. The art show, which was guest-curated by Allee Beatty, Gallery Director for West Chelsea Contemporary, was a great success for the artists themselves and as a way to share with the community some ways they can help support the arts while also helping the homeless population in Austin.

Art From the Streets will continue to participate in future Open Canopy shows in the new year and beyond. For now, the organization continues working to achieve the Art From the Streets mission “to provide a safe and encouraging environment in which the positive spirit and creativity for those experiencing homelessness are nurtured through their own artistic expression.”