HOT: The Exhibit
A multimedia event about peri/menopause
Co-Created with Andee Kinzy
Co-Produced by Ground Floor Theatre
May, 2025
HOT: The Exhibit involved 50 artists and performers and menopause specialists with an art exhibit, performing arts showcase, workshops and panels.
Photo Credit: Sarah Anni Navarro
This project was supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
Artist Team: Rakhee Jain Desai & Melissa Knight
AIPP Program Manager: Alex Irrera
Facbricator: Kyle Albrecht & team at Welding Shop Austin
Engineer: Erin Salmatanis at Craft Structural
Renderings: Tom Mason
City of Austin Art in Public Places - An original work owned and commissioned by the City of Austin.
Harmonic Strings: The offset archways showcase tennis' energy, strength, and dynamism that built the community for 50 years. The colorful strings draw inspiration from the community, the tennis racket, rally and also pay tribute to Blondie Pharr, drawing inspiration from the lines of music and harmony.
Many thanks to everyone who helped and supported us along the way! Special thank you to our families!
Photo Credit: Jana Birchum.
One Million Stars Texas is part of the global star weaving project One Billion Stars (formerly The One Million Stars to End Violence Project), created by weaving artist Maryann Talia Pau in Australia (2012).
One Billion Stars is an international weaving project that invites communities around the world to weave these symbols of light, courage and solidarity for violence free communities.
“Building community connections and creating a safe sense of belonging is the heart of our star weaving movement. Every time a person weaves a star, they are making a small but active stance against violence. Weaving stars helps us to feel less alone, less overwhelmed by the enormity of violence and more confident to face the next step.” Maryann Talia Pau
We launched our Texas project in November 2020. Since then, we have grown a star weaving community in Texas. Our goals are to connect communities, be in conversation around issues of violence, collaborate with organizations and work together to grow our star weaving movement for violence free communities. In Spring, 2023 we reached our first milestone goal of weaving 10,000 stars together!
Follow on Socials: @onemillionstarstexas
A collaboration with mosaic artist Ryah Christensen at Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center (RZNC) located in East Austin. Community members participated in the design process and making tiles for the mosaic. The community-made permanent public artwork is on display at RZNC
Press for the Community Quilt Mosaic: KUT Arts Eclectic & KXAN Community Spotlight
Workshop photos by: David Comeau Photography
The Community Mosaic project was supported by: The Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, Austin Creative Alliance, Hotel San José, Fort Structures, Harvest Lumber Co., East Side Pies, The Side Bar, H.E.B. ( East 7th St location), and community members through Kickstarter.
FAIRYLAND
“Don’t you know that everybody’s got a fairyland of their own?” P.L. Travers (Author of Mary Poppins)
Fairyland Installation was part of Austin’s New Year, 2017-2019. This fairy flower circle installation was interactive and the installation grew over the course of New Year’s Eve to welcome in the new year. Visitors added a flower to the circle, wrote their wishes and intentions for the new year adding them to the installation and had the opportunity to create intention wands. ,Fairyland was filled with magic!
Photo credit: David Comeau Photography
Interwoven, held in October, 2017, was a series of four workshops held at Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center.
Through Interwoven, a designated community art space was created for people to come together to weave. Interwoven is a visual representation of connection and interconnection in our community. Throughout the project, participants would work on weaving one piece and the next week work on another. Interwoven was a truly collaborative project.
Special thanks to Nella Buffmire and Mary Kraemer for providing Spanish translation/interpretation and creative support for the workshops and exhibit!
Interwoven Exhibit was held in November, 2017 “Happening” of East Austin Studio Tour, contributing to this important cultural arts event.
Photo credit: David Comeau Photography
Interwoven was supported by The City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, Awesome Foundation Austin & Bread for the Journey of Austin
Pictured are some examples of the wonderful collage artworks made by participants, mostly children, at Maker Faire Austin, New Day (Elisabet New Museum), Travis Heights Elementary School’s Young Artists Workshop and Gilbert Elementary School.
During our community workshops, participants create collage designs using the artist’s colorful batik fabric. All materials are provided. Participants are offered the opportunity to create individual collage designs as well as contribute to a community collage art work.
For information about hosting collage workshops at your school or event, please contact me via the online form on my website.
Batik by Design's mission is to create opportunities for community building through artistic endeavors, collaboration, facilitating workshops and space for sharing our stories and experiences. Our vision is to continue to facilitate workshops, connect artists with community-based centers and organizations to build a network to create community art space and creative opportunities for the Austin community.
