Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

During the 1960’s and 70’s a vibrant art scene opened the world to the creative imagination of New York City. That exuberant, if occasionally dark, vision becomes one of the iconic images of America.

Those same decades mark the beginning of a continuous artistic consciousness in Austin. The musicians of the early 70’s were determined to stay here and develop their craft. They may go on the road, an activity which has its appeal and pitfalls. The result is with years of playing and focus, many of the musicians of the 60’s and 70’s are leaders of the live music capital of the world.

In addition to musicians, there were other types of artists who made the commitment to make home in Austin. There were painters, authors, architects. Renaissance types who dabbled in science and myth.

About a hundred and twenty years ago there was an international Arts and Crafts movement which permeated every province of America, England and Europe. The tradition of the hand made production item as a cultural artifact was born out of the 1880’s and 1890’s. That was the same period that the voters of Austin decided to transform from old West Saloon town to a progressive haven. The Arts and Crafts movement went through about 3 generations before it died out in the 1920’s. It was hard to beat cellulose and gin.

The crafts movement was preserved in a handful of schools and academies around the country for 40 years. The 1960’s – 70’s saw a great revival of the arts and crafts movement. The basic design and execution skills were preserved only in the rarefied atmosphere of schools and academies. The explosion of creativity demanded new techniques had and new concepts of expression. Austin played a large part in that movement.

Austin provided enough venues for the traveling artist-craftsperson to have a financial home base. This, as with the musicians, is a lifestyle choice as well as destiny.

It is the grit of hard experience which hones the skill and design choices of the traveling artist. If anybody can make beads I might have to melt metal to stand out and attract a clientele. The stream of clientele is what sustains an artist’s life.

I like to think of the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar as an enterprise of artists at the top of their game. I have not been involved for many years. I only return every year as a tourist in my own town. I like to observe and visit old friends. Listen to the music. I usually find a gift for somebody. I don’t spend a lot of money, but they have stuff which costs a lot of money. That’s what it costs to produce a high level of impeccability. Impeccability in a handmade item is a matter of style and ability. Those very traits are what survive a decade, let alone 30 or 40 years of living the role of creator, inventor and chief accountant.

The current Armadillo Christmas Bazaar offers a venue to exceptional artists who may have started at the Renaissance Market two years ago or on the street in New York City 30 years ago. Prices range from 50 cents with, I suspect, nothing priced over $10,500. The greatest music is every night. Now days it costs money whenever you go down town to park your car. I would rather ride the trolley. Today, it still can’t be done. So you still have to park. That doesn’t seem to stop thousands of revelers 6^th streets, 3 blocks away.

I would like to conclude with a special note to my friends in Houston. This is the only art show in Austin which gives Houston a run for its money. As hot as the art scene is on 19^{th street or 11th}, Washington or Houston Avenue, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. would be a true spectacle and a treat to the Houston Art clientèle.