Sometimes it feels like it’s hard to know who Austin is exactly for these days. Hippie Hollow goers who remember Willie’s first Fourth of July picnic? Thankfully, we’ve still got a few of those left to keep Austin weird. Tourists and bachelorette parties? They’re sneaking up behind you, watch out! Tech workers, and even young families? We’ve got all in abundance.
That’s what makes the work of the Downtown Austin Alliance special. Our friends at the DAA work to make downtown Austin welcome for everyone. This year our publisher kicked off his holiday season with a joyous kung-fu movie in the park, thanks to the DAA and Shaolin Jazz. And now we’re here to turn you on to another exciting program.
The Downtown Austin Space Activation (DASA) Artist Residency Program is helping to transform downtown by filling underutilized real estate with art from some of the city’s most exciting new creative voices. And in a new series, The Barbed Wire’s sponsored content team is thrilled to highlight a few of these outstanding artists and their inspiring work.
Meet Dan Jimenez
An Austinite for nearly 20 years, Dan has seen some of the best our city has to offer. After a short stint working as a staffer at the state capitol (experiencing the best and the worst of Austin, no doubt), Dan worked in the local film industry, before starting his own production company and then moving into animation. Now, Jimenez has been given the opportunity to push the boundaries of digital art. His latest project, a video game set in the heart of Austin, is a powerful showcase of his skill and imagination. With inspiring visuals and immersive gameplay, Jimenez’s creation is a must-see for gamers and art enthusiasts alike.
Jimenez himself states, “During my six-week residency at the DASA program, I developed a video game set in downtown Austin. The residency enabled me to create “motion-capture animations, 3D print characters from the game, and draw inspiration directly from the vibrant energy of the city.” The DASA residency, according to Jimenez, has given him the ideal environment to bring his vision to life. You can experience Dan’s amazing work for yourself by attending the opening reception of “Moments in Motion: Downtown’s Changing Canvas” on January 17 from 6 to 9 PM at 506 Congress in Austin. Stop by to hear from Dan and seven other exhibiting artists – some of whom we’ll be highlighting in this ongoing series – you’ll be in great company. RSVP today, and we’ll see you there.