How does art connect us?

Mocha Madness (above) connected me to Ryan at Thunderbird Coffee, a barista who put his all into this mocha art, inspiring me to admire and photograph it before drinking it. © Jann Alexander 2007

ART CONNECTS ME to the whole wide world. It's in the details of everything I see, be it a painting in a gallery window, a pair of earrings on a friend, a stranger's chic shoes, a shadow cast, a colorful guitar on Congress, a paint-worn doorway, a well-designed typeface or a fine contemporary building arising above a 1950s neon sign, or the color in the sky--the art of it all connects me to everything my eyes can take in. So all of this becomes part of my world, and I'm part of it all, and more inspired and energized because of the connection.

Art connects us all, though we may not think much about it. I've been giving it some thought lately, thanks to Art Alliance Austin's 2009 campaign, ART CONNECTS. You can share your story about how art connects at ArtConnectsAustin.blogspot.com

Holiday Art Festival Kicks Off the Holiday Art Festivities December 6-7

Above, Sundown at Mayte's by Jann Alexander ©2007, on exhibit this weekend at Laguna Gloria, Austin

OUTDOORS ON THE BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS OF Austin Museum of Art-Laguna Gloria in central Austin, from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7, some 60 regional artists will exhibit art in a range of media, including my photography. The Vanishing Austin series, some 50 images to date, will be on exhibit there, along with new work in the Pattern & Light series, my Mission Mexico series, my Natural Details photography and more.

My new poster, Endangered Species of Austin, debuts there, too. The poster is a 24 x 36" signed, custom print featuring Austin architecture, and is available to order for holiday delivery (email me at austindetails@mac.com for more information).

There's lots more holiday art opps all around Austin and online--see more at on exhibit at my website, AustinDetails.com.