The Bastard Child Of Texas

MIKE SHINE’S AUSTIN ART ADVENTURE

FAMILY DYSFUNCTION IS A RICH, CREATIVE VEIN IN literature and film, and often, that one rebellious, misfit sibling makes the story a story. In the bible, the dark and evil Cain murders his pious brother Abel. In The Godfather, the conflicted Michael Corleone struggles to legitimize the family businesses. In The Brothers Karamazov, Alexei, the good-hearted black sheep of the brood, strives to navigate the twisted sins of the family. Love them or not, oddballs can make life interesting.

Austin is the younger renegade sibling of its Texas kin—a complex persona of sinful gratification, ambition, creativity, cleverness and sophistication. It’s not only the state capital, but also the music and technology capital, creative capital, even the beer, bar and nightlife capital of Texas. Climate aside, it seems to have more in common with its distant cousin, San Francisco, than with nearby brothers Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio. It’s like the bastard child who grew up free of the parental restraints of the older, more legitimate kin. It’s home for SXSW, music and film festivals, UT, Whole Foods, decriminalized marijuana, and Willie Nelson. It’s liberal, not super-religious, and has a vibrant LGBT community.

So, yeah, Austin is the black sheep of Texas.

I traveled there in early summer for what was intended to be a couple weeks of projects, including a show at the Preacher Gallery, some commissions, and a mural. I stayed a month. The bastard child did not disappoint.