by Caroline Hicok

In the painting "Marionette" by Marc Silva, the strings attached to each finger of a mechanical hand lead up through a cloudy surface to the shadow of another hand. Silva explains the revelation depicted in and offered by the painting, "So you want to know what goes on behind closed doors, underneath the surface, behind the scenes? You follow the strings up into the shadows, hoping that they will lead you to the Puppet Master, to the one controlling the drama below, but instead you find a marionette." Silva's journey into depicting self-empowerment continues with "The Manner of Holding the Device for Retrieving the Memorie." This statuette stunned me when I came across it. It not only captured for me the act of remembering but also provided a memory of being a child with a powerful imagination with its simple mystical appeal. I was so fascinated, I clicked on the next image.

Boasting over 100 galleries, Austin offers a promising new season of visual artwork. A stroll in the historic downtown area which is home to many of these is a great way to spend an afternoon, but you may want to narrow your search first. Many Austin artists and galleries have websites that will give you an idea of where to start. The Viewtopia website offers the most comprehensive collection of local artwork. This site offers 400 pieces from 13 of Austin's galleries including the Artist's Coalition of Austin, Women and Their Work, and the Texas Fine Arts Association. Each gallery site features a collection of artwork shown there. Most also provide a mission statement and additional information such as a schedule for the upcoming season.

Several galleries and artists also have their own websites. The Violet Crown Gallery, named after the "hazy purple halo some say surrounds the city of Austin almost every evening at dusk" is featured on the Austin360 website.

Whether the purple halo is illusion or real, the Violet Crown features the work of 10 artists who paint Austin a visual heaven with a full pallete of colors. Also located on Austin360 is a partial list of Austin galleries, locations, and hours.

Some independents include Jim Janknegt's visual gallery entitled "Suburban Allegories."

It has all the feel of a real gallery from the comfort of your own swivel chair as you begin with a virtual room in which all the paintings are hung -- just click on the ones you want to see. All nine walls contain works that tell the story of life in the American suburbs, specifically those things "to rejoice in" and "be thankful for" such as a "Gardener's Prayer" and "Saturday Dusk." The Lyons-Matrix Gallery, where Janknegt's work will be featured in July, also contains links to the virtual galleries of 12 other Austin artists.

So if you're in the market for a new piece for over the couch, you want to see in advance which galleries are worth visiting or you just want to do a little stimulating surfing, the internet is a great place to check out the Austin art scene. Don't forget the bookmark. ;-)